Ten Knights Set For NCAA East Preliminary in KentuckyTen Knights Set For NCAA East Preliminary in Kentucky

Ten Knights Set For NCAA East Preliminary in Kentucky

by Aiden Kocol
Championship Hub Live Results Watch on ESPN+

ORLANDO – Following multiple medal-winning performances at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, the UCF track and field team will send 10 qualifying athletes to compete in the NCAA East Preliminary rounds, hosted by the University of Kentucky at the UK Outdoor Track & Field Complex.

The women’s individual running events are scheduled to begin Thursday, May 28, while the women’s field events and relay competitions will start Saturday, May 30. All events will be broadcast live on ESPN+, and fans can also follow along via the live results link here.

LAST TIME OUT
The Knights turned in a strong showing at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships, highlighted by a historic performance from the 4x100 relay team. Aaliyah Gipson, Janiah Pulliam, Datavia Hunter and Jazmen Newberry captured UCF’s first Big 12-era gold medal in the event with a winning time of 43.57, marking the program’s first conference title in the 4x100 since 2023. Newberry also starred individually, earning silver in the 400m dash with a program-record and personal-best time of 51.17, while the 4x400 relay team of Johnson, Deja Shaw-Huckaby, Pulliam and Newberry claimed silver in a school-record 3:28.09, the 22nd-fastest time nationally this season.

UCF also continued its success in the hurdles and field events under head coach Dana Boone. Toni Galloway earned silver in the 100m hurdles with a personal-best 12.85, the third-fastest mark in program history, helping the Knights secure their sixth consecutive top-three finish in the event at the outdoor conference championships. Eva Bruce added a fifth-place finish in the heptathlon with a personal-best 5,616 points, the highest conference championship total by a Knight in program history, while Genelle Stephens became the first UCF athlete of the Big 12 era to reach the 400m hurdles final, placing seventh in 57.80. Angelina Horn also posted a personal-best 12.90m in the triple jump to move to fourth all-time in program history as the Knights finished 10th overall with 41 points.

THE QUALIFIERS
Each individual event will begin with a 48-athlete field, with the top 24 competitors advancing to the second round. From there, the top 12 athletes in each event will earn a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, next month. Below is the list of Knights set to compete this week: 

  • Toni Galloway: 100m Hurdles | First Round - Thursday, May 28, 6 PM | East Region Rank: 6 (12.85s)
  • Angelina Horn: Triple Jump | Semifinals - Saturday, May 30, 2 PM | East Region Rank: 33 (12.90m)
  • Twaniese Johnson: 400m | First Round - Thursday, May 28, 7:25 PM | East Region Rank: 34 (52.22s)
  • Jazmen Newberry: 400m | First Round - Thursday, May 28, 7:25 PM | East Region Rank: 11 (51.17s)
    • 200m | First Round - Thursday, May 28, 8:45 PM | East Region Rank: 23 (22.81s)
  • Janiah Pulliam: 200m | First Round - Thursday, May 28, 8:45 PM | East Region Rank: 32 (22.96s)
  • Brianna Rodriguez: 400m Hurdles | First Round - Thursday, May 28, 8:20 PM | East Region Rank: 50 (58.85s)
  • Genelle Stephens: 400m Hurdles | First Round - Thursday, May 28, 8:20 PM | East Region Rank: 19 (57.54s)

UCF will also compete in the 4x100m and 4x400m relay events, where 24 teams will vie for 12 qualifying spots at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.