Track and Field Set to Begin Outdoor Campaign with Black and Gold InvitationalTrack and Field Set to Begin Outdoor Campaign with Black and Gold Invitational

Track and Field Set to Begin Outdoor Campaign with Black and Gold Invitational

by Aiden Kocol

ORLANDO – The UCF track and field team is set to kick off their outdoor season this weekend, taking the track in one of their two home meets this outdoor season, the Black and Gold Challenge. 

Beginning on Friday, March 20, the two day event will feature upwards of 40 programs including top programs such as Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Iowa and NC State. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Knights are coming off a strong indoor season marked by multiple top-10 all-time performances and significant growth from both the distance and jumps squads.

The distance group, led by Alexandra Raquet, made major strides. Raquet etched her name into the program record books three times during the indoor campaign, posting marks of 2:53.05 in the 1000m (No. 3 all-time), 4:52.74 in the mile (No. 6 all-time), and 9:25.33 in the 3000m (No. 2 all-time). The squad capped its season in impressive fashion, placing eighth in the distance medley relay to earn the program’s first-ever Big 12 medal in a distance event. Raquet teamed up with Genelle Stephens, Raquel Edwards, and Kendall Hughes to run 11:31.86, a mark good for No. 2 in program history.

Despite returning just one athlete, the jumps squad, led by coach Brody Honeycutt, laid a strong foundation throughout the indoor season. The group was highlighted by three athletes moving into the program’s top 10 in the triple jump: Angelina Horn (12.66m), Kaeli Powe (12.52m), and Jade Johnson (12.52m).

Meanwhile, the sprints and hurdles group continued the success that has defined head coach Dana Boone’s tenure. The 4x400m relay team of Janiah Pulliam, Genelle Stephens, Jazmen Newberry, and Twaneise Johnson set a new program record of 3:29.21 on Feb. 14 at the Tyson Invitational. That same quartet went on to make history at the NCAA Indoor Championships, becoming the first relay team in program history to earn a medal with an eighth-place finish in 3:30.99.

STARTING BLOCKS

  • Eva Bruce will make her Knights debut at the meet, competing in both the high jump and long jump. She owns a personal best long jump of 5.83 and a high jump of 1.64m. 
  • Emily Wheldon, a Georgia Southern transfer, will also make her debut in Black and Gold, joining the steeplechase team
  • Yvone Sandui will take the track in the 800m, after securing the second-best time in program history (2:04.94) she’ll look to slot into first.

EVENTS TO WATCH

Saturday events of Knights’ Black and Gold Challenge will be streamed live on ESPN+, any events running from 12:30 to 4:30 PM EST on Saturday, March 21, will be on the broadcast.