Track and Field Positioned for Celebration Pointe Classic in GainesvilleTrack and Field Positioned for Celebration Pointe Classic in Gainesville

Track and Field Positioned for Celebration Pointe Classic in Gainesville

by Alex Clough

ORLANDO - The penultimate weekend of the UCF track and field team’s indoor season will see the distance squad return to action as they make the short trip north to Gainesville for the Celebration Pointe Classic, hosted at the Alachua County Event Center.

Thirteen athletes in the distance group will compete tomorrow, providing assistant coach Bryan Harmon with plenty of performances just weeks before the program’s second Big 12 Indoor Championships.

STARTING BLOCKS

  • The Knights have had a youthful infusion through the early stages of the 2025 campaign. Headlined by Raquel Edwards’ remarkable performance in the 1000m at the Orange and Purple Invitational, clocking the school’s fifth-fastest time of 2:57.13, she is one of multiple freshmen to have already made an impact for the Knights.
  • Familiar faces have also propelled the squad’s promising start as Kendall Hughes, Abby Clements and Penelope Sosa have both dropped times and led the field at their respective meets. In Clemson two weeks ago, the latter climbed to third in program history with her 9:48.07 in the 3000m. Hughes currently holds the third-best time in the 1000m (2:55.21).
  • Another pillar of success for the distance squad came off the course in the fall, as the Knights were named a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country team. The honor is given to schools boasting an average GPA of 3.0 or higher, with UCF’s success continuing the program’s emphasis on academics.

EVENTS TO WATCH

Mile (10:55 a.m.) - More than half of the traveling party will compete in the mile, with eight Knights set for the starting line. Seven will be making their season debut in the event, including Norfolk State transfer Yvone Sandui and newcomer Bailey McLain, marking the beginning of their careers in Black and Gold.

600m (2:10 p.m.) - The short-distance squad will place four in the mini-mile, highlighted by the aforementioned Sandui joining the established trio of Karin Dobiach, Edwards and Hughes. The former stands as the only athlete to have competed in the event, clocking a 1:34.11 a season ago.