Track and Field Hosts Black and Gold Invitational to Open Outdoor Campaign

ORLANDO - Fresh off an exciting indoor campaign that saw the program’s inaugural Big 12 title in the 4x400m, along with multiple All-America honors at the NCAA Championships, the UCF track and field team is set to welcome in the outdoor season this weekend as it hosts the Black and Gold Invitational.

Hosted at the UCF Track and Field Complex, the two-day event serves as one of the nation’s premier meets to commence action on the outdoor track.

With over 40 programs set to make the trip to Orlando, Knight Nation will get their first look at the squad as it embarks on the latter half of their slate. For fans wishing to attend, admission is free. Parking will be available in Garage F.

STARTING BLOCKS

• A tradition to open action at home, the Black and Gold Invitational serves as a headline meet for the program. One of two home competitions along with the Knights Invite, which will now be held in April, UCF will be one of seven Power 4 programs to compete this weekend.
• Last Time Out: Five Knights competed last weekend at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Virginia Beach, the most under head coach Dana Boone, each tallying Second-Team All-America nods. Adaobi Tabugbo (60H) and the 4x400m squad consisting of Twaneise Johsnon, Jazmen Newberry, Kiah Williams and Deja Shaw Huckaby, placed ninth, while Williams finished 15th in the 400m.
• The aforementioned relay squad consisted of three transfers who will now make their outdoor debuts. Johnson (Kansas State) and Newberry (UAlbany) each solidified their place among the top four in the 400m during the indoor slate.
• Outlook: With Williams and Asherah Collins concluding their storied UCF careers, the Knights will now look for new leaders both on the runway and the track. Tabugbo will embark on her first outdoor campaign in Black and Gold, while the distance squad will once again be led by a strong group of juniors. Natalia Madison, who set the program record in the pentathlon last month, will look to conclude her collegiate career with similar fortunes in the heptathlon.

EVENTS TO WATCH

200m (Friday at 5:40 p.m.) - With over 140 athletes currently entered in the double-hundred, six Knights will rep Citronaut blue. Janiah Pulliam, who broke into the indoor 200m all-time top-10, will strive to continue her progress in her second outdoor season, while Shaw-Huckaby and freshman Aaliyah Gipson will also be named to watch.

1500m ( Friday at 6:20 p.m.) - Seven Knights will set forth on the metric mile, one of the busiest events this weekend. Headlining the field is Kendall Hughes, who currently holds the eighth-fastest time in program history (4:33.10).

Triple Jump (Saturday at noon) - For the first time this decade, fans will not see Collins sprinting down the runway, as assistant coach Brody Honeycutt will look to keep up the momentum without their five-time All-American. Sophomore Alexis Waller, who enjoyed a breakout indoor season, will be joined by Angelina Horn and McKenzie Suggs.