Tabugbo and Madison Highlight Strong Friday at Big 12 Outdoor ChampionshipsTabugbo and Madison Highlight Strong Friday at Big 12 Outdoor Championships

Tabugbo and Madison Highlight Strong Friday at Big 12 Outdoor Championships

by Alex Clough

LAWRENCE, Kansas - UCF track and field's hurdles prowess highlighted another quality day at the 2025 Big 12 Outdoor Championships. Senior Natalia Madison got the Knights on the board in the heptathlon, before four more donning the Black and Gold qualified for tomorrow's finals.

Heptathlon - Day 2 (Final)

OVERALL: 

  • Long Jump: 1st (5.93m)
  • Javelin Throw: 15th (27.89m)
  • 800m: 18th (2:41.60)

After being the lone athlete to place among the top-five in each of the first four events Thursday afternoon, Madison opened today’s action with a heptathlon best 5.93m mark in the long jump. While not a personal best, her performance kept her second in the field and on pace for an overall record.

An 18th-place finish in the 800m (2:41.60) landed Madison in sixth to conclude her final collegiate heptathlon. Garnering three points for the Knights, their first of the weekend, the senior’s season-best outing served as a fitting farewell for the multis legend. 

Field Events - Prelims

Making her return to the runway earlier this season in Orlando, Hayley Manners concluded her final meet in Black and Gold with a season-best 5.46m mark in the long jump. Battling through an injury sustained in the fall of 2023, the Canadian native showed resilience every step of the way en route to her first conference appearance with the Knights.

Track Events - Prelims

The premier event for UCF during the indoor championships, apart from its 4x400m title, came in the 60m hurdles. The two providers who tallied 10 points in Lubbock will once again be in position to rack in points on Saturday, as Nigerians Adaobi Tabugbo and Ese Awusa qualified in the first preliminary of the day. 

Tabugbo led the field with a 13.08 in the second heat, followed by Awusa, who placed third in the opening heat, but clocked the seventh fastest time of 13.46. The tandem will be joined by a Texas Tech trio, including Destiny Smith, who claimed the indoor crown.

In the 800m, Yvone Sandui crossed the line in 2:09.43, securing a 19th-place finish. While far off from her personal-best 2:04.94 earlier this month in Jacksonville, the Kenyan native is on the bubble to qualify for the NCAA East Prelims, currently ranking 46th in the region.

Kansas State transfer Twaneise Johnson opened her UCF career with a sixth-place finish in the 400m during the Big 12 Indoor Championships in Lubbock, setting up for an anticipated outdoor campaign. Competing in the first heat, Johnson punched her ticket into tomorrow's finals with a composed 53.57.

The nightcap saw a trio of Knights hit the starting blocks in the 100m prelims. Four-year sprinter I'Asia Wilson led by example, clocking the second fastest time overall of 11.54, securing an automatic qualification. Khristel Martindale (11.86) and Coco Branch (12.00) each placed among the top 20.

Saturday’s Schedule (All Times EST)