Track and Field Concludes Day One of Black and Gold InvitationalTrack and Field Concludes Day One of Black and Gold Invitational

Track and Field Concludes Day One of Black and Gold Invitational

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

ORLANDO - Repping the Canaveral blue Citronauts uniforms in honor of 3.21 day, the UCF track and field team took flight to open the outdoor campaign, securing multiple strong performances during day one of the Black and Gold Invitational.

A pair of ‘Nauts embarked on the long jump to open up action. While fans wouldn’t be seeing Asherah Collins on the runway for the first time this decade as the senior concluded her collegiate career during the indoor season, they were still given a show courtesy of Natalia Madison.

After breaking the program record in the pentathlon at the Big 12 Indoor Championships in Lubbock last month, Madison authored a dominating display through six jumps, crossing the 6-meter mark twice, headlined by her personal best and event-winning 6.12m.

The Florida native also broke into the all-time lists, landing in ninth ahead of former Knight Diana Chin. While not competing in the heptathlon this weekend, today’s result is a good sign for the senior as she strives to best her third all-time tally of 5,247.

Sophomore Alexis Waller tallied a 27th-place finish with her opening jump of 5.22m.

Madison’s day wasn’t finished as she competed in the 200m alongside five other Knights. After enjoying a breakout season during the indoor campaign, sophomore Janiah Pulliams looks primed to continue her good form into outdoor, placing sixth with a time of 23.59. Deja Shaw-Huckaby, fresh off a trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships placed 14th with an impressive 23.89.

Coco Branch followed in 23rd with her 24.23, while newly minted indoor All-American, Twaneise Johnson, set a personal best in 26th with a 24.33. Madison’s second personal record of the day (24.47) and Khristel Martindale’s 24.59 rounded out the display in 33rd and 39th.

200m Results

A group of seven competed in the second heat of the 1500m, as Penelope Sosa led the way with a personal-best 4:35.87 in 13th. Sophomore Abby Clements followed closely in 23rd (4:40.46) with a personal record of her own. 

Making her outdoor debut in Black and Gold, Norfolk State transfer Yvone Sandui clocked a 4:44.44 to place 31st, followed by newcomer Bailey McLain who ran an impressive 4:45.10 to finish 33rd. Twins Paige (4:50.79) and Riley (4:57.16) Jaszczak preceded Kendall Hughes’ 5:08.18 to round out the Knights field.

Freshman Madison Patchan tallied a 16th place finish with her time of 18:20.41 in the 5000m before  Avery Latto concluded day one in the 1000m with the seventh-fastest time in program history, crossing the line in second with a time of 37:16.51, one of the best performances by a freshman at UCF.