Track & Field's 4x400m Relay Team Shatters Outdoor Record at Tom Jones InvitationalTrack & Field's 4x400m Relay Team Shatters Outdoor Record at Tom Jones Invitational

Track & Field's 4x400m Relay Team Shatters Outdoor Record at Tom Jones Invitational

by Ainsley Keaveny
Day 1 Results Day 2 Results

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The UCF track and field team delivered a standout performance at the Tom Jones Memorial this weekend in Gainesville, highlighted by a record-breaking performance in the 4x400m.

"We had some really good things happen for the Multis this weekend, as well as the long sprints and relays. We saw some good improvement in the 800 as well. We have off next weekend, so we will take some much-needed rest and then get back to work."

Head Coach Dana Boone

MEET HIGHLIGHTS

  • The stellar weekend started with a strong showing in the heptathlon, where Paige Laffoon and Eva Bruce each posted personal-best totals of 5090 and 5366, respectively.  Both finished in the top-10 while continuing to climb in the UCF record book. 
  • Bruce turned in a standout day, recording a personal-best (10.87m) in the shot put before adding another PR in the long jump at 5.86m moving her to No. 2 all-time in program history for the heptathlon. 
  • Laffoon also made her mark, setting a personal best in the javelin at 34.68m before closing the competition with another PR in the 800m at 2:27.38. This performance moved her to seventh all-time in UCF records for the heptathlon.
  • Janiah Pulliam made strides in the sprints, breaking the 23-second barrier in the 200m with a personal-best (22.96), good for No.7 in program history.  
  • In the 1500m, Bailey McLain led the Knights with an eighth-place finish (4:32.50) while Ava Quattarocchi was right on her tail with a personal-best 4:35.80.
  • Saturday brought more fireworks as Raquel Edwards added to the Knights personal-best list, clocking 2:10.82 800m.
  • Jazmen Newberry added another historic mark in the 400m, running 51:52 to move into the program’s top three all-time rankings. 
  • The exclamation point came in the final event of the weekend. Newberry, Pulliam, Twaneise Johnson and Datavia Hunter teamed up in the 4x400m relay to shatter the school record, crossing the line at 3:30.33 to cap a thrilling meet for the Knights.

UP NEXT
The Knights will take the weekend off, then remain in the Sunshine State for the East Coast Relays on May 1-2 in Jacksonville at Jax Track at Hodges Stadium. This is the Black and Gold's final regular-season competition before championship season begins.