Williams, Madison Set Program Records to Commence Big 12 ChampionshipsWilliams, Madison Set Program Records to Commence Big 12 Championships

Williams, Madison Set Program Records to Commence Big 12 Championships

by Alex Clough
UCF Results (PDF) Opens in a new window Live Results Opens in a new window

LUBBOCK, Texas - On the first of two action-packed days at the Sports Performance Center, the UCF track and field team looked vibrant from the jump, setting a pair of program records, collecting multiple points and advancing four to tomorrow’s finals.

The Knights scored in two events, headlined by the pentathlon program record falling in dominating fashion, along with the 400m best being topped by an expected face.

Competing in her fourth and final pentathlon at the conference championships, senior Natalia Madison commenced action with a brilliant performance in the 60m hurdles, clocking an 8.64 to place seventh. Garnering 987 points in the process, Madison set herself up well for a trio of field events.

While falling short of her personal best, the Palm Beach Gardens native still placed within the top five in the high jump with her 1.89m mark. Within striking distance of the top spot, a massive personal record in the shot put propelled her into first, placing second in the event with an impressive 12.29m throw.

Looking to build a buffer before the 800m, Madison authored a brilliant first-place performance in the long jump, setting a personal record and the program’s eighth-best mark of 6.01m. Having missed the podium by three spots in 2024, the fourth-year left doubt with her gritty showing in the 800m.

Her personal-best 2:34.27 secured her a trio of honors, most resoundingly the program record, becoming the first Knight to surpass 4,000 points. Moreover, Madison tallied the first bulk of points for the squad with her fourth-overall finish, as her tally of five makes up the third most a UCF athlete has garnered at the Big 12 indoor championships to date.

Pentathlon Results

OVERALL - 4th (4,002 Pts.)

60mH: 8.64 (7th) - 987 Pts.

High Jump: 1.69m (5th) - 842 Pts.

Shot Put: 12.29m (2nd) - 680 Pts.

Long Jump: 6.01m (1st) - 853 Pts.

800m: 2:34.27 (17th) - 640 Pts.

With the precedent of 14 points taken away from the 60m hurdles last season, a pair of Knights looked all the more capable of replicating that total tomorrow afternoon. The Nigerian tandem of Adaobi Tabugbo and Ese Awusa were emphatic in their qualifications, with the former leading the first-round field with a personal-best 8.02.

The time matches three-time indoor All-America honoree Jackie Coward for second in program history while pushing the senior to a more firm position in the NCAA rankings. While Awusa didn’t surpass her record, she will still line up alongside her teammate with the chance of beating her sixth-place finish today, as the finals of the event is set for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday.

60m Hurdles R1 Results

  1. Adaobi Tabugbo: 8.02 (Q)
  2. Ese Awusa: 8.29 (Q)
  3. Y’Vette Harris: 8.29

While UCF missed out on a finals ticket in the 60m, three of the five Knights competing produced career-best performances. I’Asia Wilson led the field with her 7.35 in 12th, with Coco Branch clocking a 7.42 in a personal-record outing to place 19th. UAlbany transfer Jazmen Newberry finished 22nd with her 7.46 (PR), followed by Khristel Martindale in 24th at 7.53. Freshman Aaliyah Gipson continued to drop times during the regular season, with this afternoon being no different as the Texas native ran a 7.56, the best time of her young career.

Joining her fellow freshman on the track, Raquel Edwards tallied a respectable 22nd-place finish in her indoor championships debut, running a 1:24.06 in the 600y. 

A point of focus for Boone and her squad ahead of this weekend was to qualify a Knight into the finals of the 400m, as UCF was left ticketless in 2024. Not only did Kiah Williams secure her spot this time around, she was joined by Kansas State transfer Twaneise Johnson as the pair were energetic donning the Black and Gold.

Williams breezed out to an early lead in the first half, gliding through the 200m mark and towards the finish line. While already having two personal records under her belt this season, it would be the program record which finally was in the senior’s possession. The Miami native clocked a 51.59, becoming the first Knight in program history to go sub-52 seconds while placing second overall.

Johnson also climbed up the all-time lists as she secured her spot in the finals with a 53.06, the third-fastest time in school history. While Jazmen Newberry missed the final eight by just two spots, her 53.27 performance was a massive personal record and the fourth-best time recorded at UCF. To put it in perspective, three of the four fastest 400m times in program history came within five minutes of each other, an incredible achievement for the long sprints squad.

While placing 21st, Deja Shaw-Huckaby joined her 4x400m squad with a personal record of her own, clocking a 54.59.

400m R1 Results

  1. Kiah Williams: 51.59 (q)
  2. Twaneise Johsnon: 53.06 (q)
  3. Jazmen Newberry: 53.27
  4. Deja Shaw-Huckaby: 54.59

Arguably the most stacked event in Lubbock, four Knights embarked on the 200m. Already possessing one ticket, Williams capped off her career day with a personal-best 23.23 and seventh-place finish. With the 400m and 4x400m relay already on the tabs, the senior will have to produce another stellar showing in a trio of finals tomorrow afternoon.

Janiah Pulliam and Gipson followed in 12th (23.43), clocking the eighth-fastest time in program history, while Gipson collected her second personal best of the day with her 24.19 performance.

In 2024, Asherah Collins joined Rayniah Jones with a pair of medals. On Friday, the senior completed the first step to repeat that success, placing eighth in the long jump (5.96) to secure a point for the squad. She will strive to one-up her placement tomorrow in the triple jump.