JACKSONVILLE, Florida - On the heels of the Knights' best performance at the Big 12 Championships, the UCF track and field team will offer eight athletes for the first and second rounds of the NCAA East Preliminary, hosted by North Florida on the Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.
For individual events, the first rounds will commence on Thursday, before the relay squads join those who qualified for the second round on Saturday. Each day will be streamed on ESPN+. Live Results can be found here.
The 2025 Regionals Squad ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/kxSFhlIEUD
— UCF Track & Field/XC (@UCF_Track) May 27, 2025
LAST TIME OUT
A ninth-place finish and a program-high 41 points highlighted UCF's second Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Lawrence, Kansas. After placing second in the 60m hurdles during the indoor campaign, Adaobi Tabugbo left no doubt with her title-winning 12.87 in the 100m hurdles. The performance secured the Knights their second consecutive win in the event after Rayniah Jones claimed the 2024 crown, while head coach Dana Boone tallied her fifth straight 100m hurdles title.
Already in a position to secure at least a top-10 overall finish, the weekend was capped with fireworks in the 4x400m relay. While the squad dominated the Big 12 Indoor Championships, a new-look group that added Y'Vette Harris and Janiah Pulliam entered the race outside of the top three in the conference. As Jazmen Newberry shifted into the final 200m, a kick was needed to surpass TCU and Arizona. On the final stretch, Newberry claimed the lead with just 10 meters to go, securing UCF its second title of the weekend.
Let’s hear it for all of our medalists 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ee7tTDQL23
— UCF Track & Field/XC (@UCF_Track) May 19, 2025
THE FIELD
With a 48-athlete starting list in each individual event, the top 24 will advance to the second round, before 12 will eventually punch their ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, next month. Here is a list of each Knight who will be competing this week:
- Ese Awusa: 100m Hurdles | R1 - Thursday at 2:30 p.m. | East Region Rank: 37 (13.34)
- Y'Vette Harris: 100m Hurdles | R1 - Thursday at 2:30 p.m. | East Region Rank: 36 (13.32)
- Twaneise Johnson: 400m | R1 - Thursday at 3:55 p.m. | East Region Rank: 21 (52.62)
- Jazmen Newberry: 200m | R1 - Thursday at 5:15 p.m. | East Region Rank: 33 (23.17)
- Janiah Pulliam: 200m | R1 - Thursday at 5:15 p.m. | East Region Rank: 16 (23.01)
- Yvone Sandui: 800m | R1 - Thursday at 4:20 p.m. | East Region Rank: 44 (2:04.94)
- Adaobi Tabugbo: 100m Hurdles | R1 - Thursday at 2:30 p.m. | East Region Rank: 4 (12.87)
- I'Asia Wilson: 100m | R1 - Thursday at 3:30 p.m. | East Region Rank: 13 (11.21)
UCF will also compete in each of the 4x100m and 4x400m relays, with 24 teams striving for 12 bids to nationals.
- Adaobi Tabugbo, Janiah Pulliam, I'Asia Wilson, Jazmen Newberry: 4x100m | Saturday at 5 p.m. | East Region Rank: 11 (43.74)
- Janiah Pulliam, Twaneise Johnson, Y'Vette Harris, Jazmen Newberry: 4x400m | Saturday at 8:45 p.m. | East Region Rank: 20 (3:33.62)