2008 Woodie Awards
Track and Field racks up records
Brian Murphy
Issue date: 5/12/08 Section: Sports
The UCF Track and Field team made its only true home event of the season - and the first for coach Caryl Smith Gilbert - a special meet as the Knights set five NCAA regional-qualifying marks or times, and broke two school records Saturday at the UCF Invitational.
The Knights have racked up 10 NCAA regional qualifying marks or times this season, which is the most in school history, eclipsing the record of eight in 2004 and 2005. The Knights' 4-by-100 meter woman's relay team came in second behind Kentucky, but set a school record with a regional qualifying time of 45.47 seconds. Lizzie Harris, who is part of that relay squad, finished second in the 400-meter hurdles and qualified for the NCAAs with a time of 59.8 seconds.
Dione Thomas in the triple jump and LaKendra Thames in the shot put also qualified for the NCAA regionals.
The UCF Invitational marked the final event for the Knights before they headed to El Paso, Texas, for the start of the Conference USA Championships on Thursday. The tournament is a three-day meet that is hosted by UTEP.
"This was a good way to go into the conference meet," Smith Gilbert said in a press release. "We leave Wednesday for El Paso and I thought this was a good tune-up for our team, breaking school records, qualifying for regionals and setting [personal records]."
WOMEN'S ROWING
The victories have also continued to pile up for the UCF Women's Rowing team, as its lightweight boat was victorious at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia on Saturday. The Knights beat a tough field of lightweight boats, including No. 9 Lehigh, No. 11 Virginia Tech, No. 12 Buffalo and No. 13 Duquesne.
The Knights beat the Bulls by 17 seconds in the first heat of the day. After a five-hour break, the Knights were then first to cross the finish line in the final heat, posting a time of 6:45.102. UCF defeated the second-place Hokies in the final heat by 11 seconds.
It was the rowing team's fifth win in its last three meets, and the lightweight team has earned the past two triumphs. Saturday's win also clinched a spot for the Knights into the IRA National Championship in June.
The Knights take to the water again May 17-18 at the South/Central Sprints in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
The Knights have racked up 10 NCAA regional qualifying marks or times this season, which is the most in school history, eclipsing the record of eight in 2004 and 2005. The Knights' 4-by-100 meter woman's relay team came in second behind Kentucky, but set a school record with a regional qualifying time of 45.47 seconds. Lizzie Harris, who is part of that relay squad, finished second in the 400-meter hurdles and qualified for the NCAAs with a time of 59.8 seconds.
Dione Thomas in the triple jump and LaKendra Thames in the shot put also qualified for the NCAA regionals.
The UCF Invitational marked the final event for the Knights before they headed to El Paso, Texas, for the start of the Conference USA Championships on Thursday. The tournament is a three-day meet that is hosted by UTEP.
"This was a good way to go into the conference meet," Smith Gilbert said in a press release. "We leave Wednesday for El Paso and I thought this was a good tune-up for our team, breaking school records, qualifying for regionals and setting [personal records]."
WOMEN'S ROWING
The victories have also continued to pile up for the UCF Women's Rowing team, as its lightweight boat was victorious at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia on Saturday. The Knights beat a tough field of lightweight boats, including No. 9 Lehigh, No. 11 Virginia Tech, No. 12 Buffalo and No. 13 Duquesne.
The Knights beat the Bulls by 17 seconds in the first heat of the day. After a five-hour break, the Knights were then first to cross the finish line in the final heat, posting a time of 6:45.102. UCF defeated the second-place Hokies in the final heat by 11 seconds.
It was the rowing team's fifth win in its last three meets, and the lightweight team has earned the past two triumphs. Saturday's win also clinched a spot for the Knights into the IRA National Championship in June.
The Knights take to the water again May 17-18 at the South/Central Sprints in Oak Ridge, Tenn.