ORLANDO – Following a dominating homestand to open the outdoor season, the UCF track and field team will hit the road for the first time in the latter half of 2024, embarking on the Florida Relays in Gainesville. One of the premier meets of the outdoor season, the Knights will look to continue their strong form in their first of two meets at Florida.
Saturday's action will be broadcast on SECN+ and live results will be available here.
UCF will compete alongside some of the top programs in the nation and will represent the Big 12 as the only team from the conference making the trip to the James G. Pressley Stadium. Other notable schools include Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Iowa, Miami, Nebraska, South Carolina and USC.
In 2023, the Knights ran the seventh fastest time in NCAA history in the shuttle hurdle relay (53.45) at the meet, along with Rayniah Jones’ dominating performance in the 100m hurdles to lead the field (12.75).
KNIGHTS IN THE POLLS
Following strong performances throughout two meets in Orlando, the Knights debuted in the USTFCCCA Rating Index at No. 10, marking the second consecutive season UCF has opened the campaign in the top 10. In 2023, the Black and Gold traveled to the Florida Relays following a program-high placement at third in the nation.
The Knights were second among seven Big 12 programs to appear in the top 25, trailing only TCU (third). Baylor sits one spot behind in 11th, while Texas Tech (16th), Kansas (18th), Oklahoma (19th) and BYU (22nd) round out the conference presence in the first ratings index of the season.
UCF also sits second in the south region between four SEC teams, including Georgia (fifth), Ole Miss (14th), Tennessee (20th) and Auburn (25th).
Rankings update‼️
— UCF Track & Field/XC (@UCF_Track) March 26, 2024
After a revision yesterday, we open the outdoor season 10th in the nation 🫡 pic.twitter.com/dplBCYjQ8O
KIAH GARNERS HISTORY
Claiming two event wins at the Knights Invite, senior Kiah Williams secured Big 12 Track and Field Athlete of the Week, the first athlete to do so in Black and Gold. After running the sixth fastest time in program history in the 200m (22.95), she followed it up with her first sub-52 seconds debut in the 400m (51.90) to win the event.
The senior leads the Big 12 in each event, while also ranking top-three in the NCAA in both. Williams is also among the world charts as she sits 28th in the 200m and 29th in the 400m.
A record-breaking weekend 👏
— UCF Track & Field/XC (@UCF_Track) March 27, 2024
Kiah (@itzkiahh) takes home our first Big 12 Athlete of the Week honor‼️ pic.twitter.com/Ab2VqrpLJa
LAST TIME OUT
UCF continued its tradition of kicking off the outdoor campaign on home soil, as the squad welcomes top programs across the nation for the Black and Gold Invitational and the Knights Invite. After Asherah Collins won her first event of the season in the long jump during the former, UCF claimed four wins last weekend.
Williams’ aforementioned triumph in the 200m on Friday was followed by three more to cap the homestand off. Head coach Dana Boone’s first 4x100m squad of the season took first in convincing fashion (44.36). Rayniah Jones, who ran the second leg, debuted in the 100m hurdles as an eight-time All-American, eventually taking the race with a strong 13.09 performance.
The fourth and final came from Williams’ second-best time in the 400m during her collegiate career, a fitting end to another successful stretch in front of the home faithful.