Tyson Invitational
Natalia Madison commenced action once again Saturday morning, as she placed seventh in the high jump (1.65m), marking her last outing before she embarks on the pentathlon in Lubbock at the conference championships.
Having raised her career-best two weeks prior, Asherah Collins secured UCF history at the Randal Tyson Track Center. After advancing to the finals with a 13.09m jump in her second attempt, the senior smashed her previous best and claimed the program record with her 13.30m mark.
Propelling Collins to third place in the event, she joins Latasha Smith (400m), Rosie Chamberlain (800m), UCF Hall of Famer Anne-Marie Blaney (5000m), Rayniah Jones (60m/100m Hurdles) Lizzie Harris (High Jump), Sonnisha Williams (Long Jump), Jhane’ Carter (Shot Put) and Brittany Floyd (Multis) as Knights to hold program records in the same event in both indoor and outdoor.
The performance ranks fourth in the Big 12 this year and is among the top 20 in the nation. Sophomore Alexis Waller followed her teammate in 17th, tallying a 12.21m mark. Paige Archer led the Knights’ charge in the 200m, placing 26th with her time of 24.21. Freshman Aaliyah Gipson continues to show progress and she set another personal record in the event with her 24.65 display.
Saturday’s activity concluded with a superb showing from the 4x400m relay squad, besting their own program record and placing third in an eye-catching field. Twanseise Johnson, Kiah Williams, Jazmen Newberry, and Deja Shaw-Huckaby clocked a 3:29.93, breaking their previous best at Texas Tech two weeks ago (3:34.25), confirming their Big 12 lead.
Music City Challenge
Abby Clements and Madison Patchan opened day two in Nashville with a pair of personal records in the 3000m, as the former climbed into eighth all-time with her time of 10:01.04 and eighth-place finish. The freshman followed suit with her 10:31.55 outing,
Specializing in short-distance events, freshman Raquel Edwards embarked on her second 400m of the season, claiming a personal record with her time of 56.96 and 10th-place finish. In the 800m, Norfolk State transfer Yvone Sandui placed 11th with a promising 2:11.51 performance.
In the second 3000m and final event of the day, junior Penelope Sosa was under a second off of her career best, tallying a 23rd finish with her time of 9:49.70.
A second Big 12 Indoor Championship is on the horizon for the Knights, as coach Boone and her squad will strive to better their 13th-place performance from a season ago. The two-day event will be held at the Sports Performance Center in Lubbock, Texas from Feb. 28 to Mar. 1
