Track and Field Authors Strong Performances at Duke and USF InvitationalsTrack and Field Authors Strong Performances at Duke and USF Invitationals

Track and Field Authors Strong Performances at Duke and USF Invitationals

by Alex Clough

ORLANDO - The UCF track and field team boasted multiple impressive performances during an action-packed day at both the Duke and USF Invitationals, with multiple top-10 outings and event-winning marks to grow from.

Today was a good day. We had lots of personal bests. We have a big weekend next weekend and this will give the team confidence moving foreword.

Dana BooneHead Coach

With the jumps and multis squad in Durham, North Carolina, Natalia Madison was the first Knight to compete this week, opening her first heptathlon of the season on Thursday.

Setting the UCF program record in the pentathlon during her final Big 12 indoor championships in February, Madison laid strong foundations for another quest for the heptathlon program record.

Heptathlon Results

  • OVERALL - 7th (5,040 Pts.)
  1. 100mH - 13.93 (3rd) + 988 Pts.
  2. High Jump - 1.69m (4th) + 842 Pts.
  3. Shot Put - 12.30m (5th) + 681 Pts.
  4. 200m - 24.53 (3rd) + 930 Pts.
  5. Long Jump - 5.67m (6th) + 750 Pts.
  6. Javelin Throw - 25.38m (10th) + 389 Pts.
  7. 800m - 2:50.36 (14th) + 460 Pts.

The senior commenced action on Thursday with her first sub-14-second performance in the 100m hurdles, clocking a 13.93 to place third. In the first of two jumping events, Madison secured a 5.67m mark to tally another top-five finish, keeping pace with a competitive field.

The second of two personal bests during the opening day came in the shot put, with Madison throwing a 12.30m attempt to land in fifth. In the finale, the Palm Beach Gardens wasn’t far off her record in the 200m as she crossed the line at 24.53 to secure her second third-place finish of the day.

Friday saw Madison jump 5.67m in the long jump to place sixth, before a pair of 10th and 14th-place finishes in the javelin and 800m to round out her overall performance in seventh with 5,040 points.

Alexis Waller opened up competition on Saturday in Duke, securing 22nd in the long jump with a 5.36m mark before smashing her personal best in the triple with a third-place finish and 12.44m mark, continuing her climb towards the UCF top-10 list.

Newcomer Bailey McLain claimed first to open up action in Tampa in the 1500m with a time of 4:45.79 in the first distance event of the day. Tennessee transfer Kylah Buckle clocked a 55.40 in the 400m during her UCF debut, placing 12th.

One of three seniors on the sprints squad, I’Asia Wilson authored her best performance to date in the 100m, winning the event with the fifth-fastest time in program history, matching former Knight Kaylor Harris’ 11.27. Jazmen Newberry followed in third with a personal-best 11.42 of her own. Khristel Martindale rounded out the field in 15th with an 11.68. 

In the 800m, Yvone Sandui ran a season-best 2:09.83 to secure a fourth-place finish, while Tampa native Kendall Hughes crossed the line in 2:12.87 to place 11th. English native Jasmine Jolly tallied a personal-best 1:02.83 in the 400m hurdles.

Newberry continued her strong day with a 23.17 in the 200m, the ninth-fastest time ever by a Knight.

Seven Knights embarked on the 5000m, with Penelopa Sosa leading the charge in second, running a 17:02.70, the fifth-best time in program history. Sophomore Abby Clements followed shortly in fifth, securing a spot of her own in the top-10 lists, landing in seventh with her 17:13.85. Isabella Richardson, Avery Latto, Paige Jaszczak and Riley Jaszczak each tallied top-10 finishes, while Madison Patchan followed shortly in 13th.