UCF Knights track and field

Last updated
UCF Knights track and field
UCF Knights logo.svg
University University of Central Florida
Head coach Jeanette Bolden (8th season)
Conference Big 12
Location Orlando, FL
Outdoor track UCF Soccer and Track Stadium
Nickname UCF Knights
ColorsBlack and gold [1]
   
Conference Indoor Championships
2011, 2013, 2017, 2022, 2023
Conference Outdoor Championships
1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2023
UCF Soccer and Track Stadium UCF Soccer and Track Stadium.jpg
UCF Soccer and Track Stadium
UCF Soccer and Track Stadium UCFTrackandSoccerComplex.jpg
UCF Soccer and Track Stadium

The UCF Knights track and field program represents the University of Central Florida in the sport of women's track and field. The Knights compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Big 12 Conference. The program includes intercollegiate indoor and outdoor women's track and field teams. UCF is one of the few schools that has a women's track and field team but no men's team. The Knights host their home outdoor meets at UCF Soccer and Track Stadium, located on the university's main campus in Orlando, Florida. [2] Although they compete in indoor track and field they do not have an on campus indoor track facility. The Knights track team is currently led by head coach Olympic gold-medalist Jeanette Bolden. [3] [2]

Contents


History

The UCF Knights women's outdoor track and field team was organized in 1984; the indoor track and field team was formed in 2006. The University of Central Florida joined Conference USA in 2005, and the Knights track team began to compete in C-USA in 2006. [2] UCF joined the American Athletic Conference in 2013. [4]

Historically, the Knights have been a force in the C-USA and the Atlantic Sun Conference, which the Knights were members of between 1996 and 2005. The program has won a total of thirteen conference championships. The Knights have won twelve outdoor championships (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013), and one indoor championship (2011). [2]

In 2012, the Knights indoor team earned the highest national ranking in program history when they were ranked No. 5 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national poll. [5]

The team has an on-campus outdoor track (which is also the stadium for the men's and women's soccer teams) called the UCF Soccer and Track Stadium, where they have called home since 1991. They do not have an indoor track facility.

Coaching staff

The Knights' current head coach of the women's track and field teams is Jeanette Bolden. [3] Jeanette Bolden became UCF's head track and field/cross country coach in June 2013 after a magnificent career at UCLA. She was a three-time NCAA championship coach and former United States Olympic coach. After 20 years at UCLA, her alma mater, she joined the UCF coaching staff. Since coming to Orlando, Bolden has led UCF to three consecutive NCAA championship appearances. The program has made the trip to Eugene, Oregon, each of the last eight seasons (Eugene, Oregon is where the NCAA Championship is held). In 2014, 13 of Bolden's student-athletes earned all-conference honors, 11 qualified for the NCAA East Prelims and seven advanced to the NCAA Championships. The following season, in 2015, 11 Knights garnered all-conference honors, 12 qualified for the NCAA East Prelims, and four advanced to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. Bolden's accomplishments as a collegiate head coach, U.S. Olympic head coach and gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic athlete are unmatched in the world of track and field. As the Bruins' head coach from 1994 to 2013, she led UCLA to three NCAA team championships—the 2004 outdoor and the 2000 and 2001 indoor titles. They were the first national indoor track and field crowns - men's or women's - in school history. A specialist with sprinters and hurdlers, Bolden also mentored four Bruins to six NCAA outdoor individual championships: Nicole Leach (2007/2009, 400H), Monique Henderson (2005, 400M), Sheena Johnson (2003/2004, 400H) and Joanna Hayes (1999, 400H). Since 1994, Bolden has coached more than 50 UCLA All-Americans in the sprints, hurdles, and relays. [6]

Following Knights' 2011 indoor and outdoor track and field championships, Gilbert was named C-USA's outdoor and indoor Coach of the Year, and the South Region Coach of the Year. [2]

The assistant coaches are Jeff Chakouian and American 800 Record holder Johnny Gray. The coach for pole vault is Jim Metzger. Brandon Washington is also with the program as a volunteer coach. The team manager is Stevie Adams. [7]

NCAA individual event champions

UCF track and field athletes have won one NCAA individual event championship. (All championships are outdoor unless otherwise noted.)

Knights in the Olympics

In 2012, Afia Charles became the first UCF track and field Olympian when she represented Antigua and Barbuda at the 2012 Summer Olympics. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Gators</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Florida

The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Florida, located in Gainesville. The University of Florida, its athletic program, its alumni and its sports fans are often collectively referred to as the "Gator Nation." The Gators compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and are consistently ranked among the top college sports programs in the United States. The University of Florida currently fields teams in nine men's sports and twelve women's sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights football</span> Football team representing the University of Central Florida

The UCF Knights football team represents the University of Central Florida (UCF) in the sport of American football. The Knights compete in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are a member of the Big 12 Conference, making UCF the youngest school among the Power Five conferences. Their head coach is Gus Malzahn. The Knights play their home games at the 45,000-seat FBC Mortgage Stadium, which is located on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Gray</span> American middle-distance runner

John Lee Gray Jr. is a retired American world class 800 meter runner from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s and the holder of the 600m world best. A four-time-Olympian (1984-1996) in 1985 he set the US record of 1:42.60 at a meet in Koblenz. That time puts Gray as the nineteenth fastest performer of all time. He came seventh in the 1984 Summer Olympics, fifth in 1988, and won the bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympics of 1992. In 1993 Gray was one of the favourites to win a gold medal at the World Championships in Stuttgart as he had won the A-race at the prestigious meeting in Zurich. However, he failed to qualify for the final in Stuttgart. He also set the world 600 meter record in 1986 at 1:12.81. In 1992 and 1993 Gray came close to breaking the world indoor record over 800 m several times. He held the US indoor record at 1:45.00 till February 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeanette Bolden</span> American Olympic athlete

Jeanette Bolden is an American Olympic athlete who formerly competed in the 100 metres. She was the head coach of the track and field team at the University of Central Florida. She is the co-owner of the 27th Street Bakery in Los Angeles, which is best known for the sweet potato, pecan and sweet potato pecan pies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Florida Bulls</span> University of South Florida athletic team

The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams that represent the University of South Florida. USF competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the American Athletic Conference for all sports besides sailing, a non-NCAA sanctioned varsity sport which competes in the South Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association within the Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association. The current athletic director is Michael Kelly, who has held the job since 2018. The school colors are green and gold and the mascot is Rocky D. Bull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights</span> Athletic program of the University of Central Florida

The UCF Knights are the athletic teams that represent the University of Central Florida in unincorporated Orange County, Florida near Orlando. The Knights participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Since men's soccer is not sponsored by the Big 12, they play in the Sun Belt Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War on I-4</span> Rivalry between the South Florida Bulls and UCF Knights

The War on I-4 is a college rivalry between the University of Central Florida Knights and University of South Florida Bulls. The rivalry is best known for its college football matchup which originated in a series of football games played from 2005 to 2008 and now takes place on Thanksgiving weekend, the de facto "rivalry weekend" for FBS football. From 2013 to 2023, when both schools were part of the American Athletic Conference, the schools began competing annually in all sports both schools sponsored. In 2016, the schools officially adopted the "War on I-4" as an official competition series. Each year, the team with the most wins across all sports receives a gold trophy styled after an Interstate 4 (I-4) road sign with the logos of each school. The winner of the annual football game also receives a similar trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geena Gall</span> American middle-distance runner

Geena Gall, is an Olympic American mid-distance runner who ran for the University of Michigan. Gall's achievements include back to back NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 800m in 2008 and 2009, representing the USA at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and 2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany in the 800m. She also competed at the North American Central American Caribbean Championships in San Salvador, El Salvador in 2007 and Toluca, Mexico in 2008. Gall was a member of the "Fab Four" who set two collegiate records at the 2007 Penn Relays, a ten-time NCAA All-American, owning two Big Ten 800 meter records and two DMR records, 10 Big Ten championships, numerous U of M school records, and at Grand Blanc High School she was a three-time national champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights baseball</span>

The UCF Knights baseball team represents The University of Central Florida in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I. The Knights compete in the Big 12 Conference. The Knights play their home games on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida at John Euliano Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Gators track and field</span> Track and field program of the University of Florida

The Florida Gators track and field program represents the University of Florida in the sport of track and field. The program includes separate men's and women's teams, both of which compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Gators host their home indoor meets in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center and their home outdoor meets at Percy Beard Track, both located on the university's Gainesville, Florida campus. The Gators track teams are currently led by head coach Mike Holloway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Holloway</span> American college track and field coach (born 1959)

Michael Dwayne Holloway is an American college track and field coach. Holloway is the current head coach of the Florida Gators track and field and Gators cross country programs of the University of Florida. He is best known for leading the Florida Gators men's indoor track and field team to three consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I national championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, and 2019. Holloway's Gators won a fifth NCAA Division I indoor national championship in 2019. Additionally, the Florida Gators men's outdoor track and field teams won the NCAA Division I national championship in 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2017 under Holloway's leadership. In 2022, he led the women's indoor track and field team to its second national title and first in 30 years. In addition, Holloway led the Gators to a double NCAA title team slam, winning the 2022 men's outdoor track and field NCAA championship as well as the 2022 women's outdoor track and field NCAA championship, the first in program history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights women's basketball</span> College basketball team

The UCF Knights women's basketball team represents the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Big 12 Conference. The Knights play their home games at Addition Financial Arena located on the university's main campus. Sytia Messer was named head coach on April 3, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FIU Panthers</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Florida International University

The FIU Panthers are the athletic teams representing Florida International University, an American public university located in Miami, Florida. The Panthers currently compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletics as members of Conference USA. The men's soccer and swimming & diving teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Until 2011, they were known as the FIU Golden Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights men's soccer</span> American college soccer team

The UCF Knights men's soccer team represents the University of Central Florida in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I. As of the next NCAA men's soccer season in 2023, the Knights compete in the Sun Belt Conference (SBC). This coincides with UCF's July 2023 move from the American Athletic Conference, a league in which it had been a member since 2013, to the Big 12 Conference, which sponsors soccer only for women. They play their home games on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida at the UCF Soccer and Track Stadium. The Knights are currently led by head coach Scott Calabrese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights women's soccer</span> American college soccer team

The UCF Knights women's soccer program represents the University of Central Florida in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I. The Knights compete in the Big 12 Conference. UCF plays home games on its main campus in Orlando, Florida at the UCF Soccer and Track Stadium. The Knights are led by head coach and Olympic gold medalist Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Cromwell</span> American soccer player and coach

Amanda Caryl Cromwell is an American professional soccer coach who most recently managed the Orlando Pride in the National Women's Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights women's volleyball</span> American college volleyball team

The UCF Knights women's volleyball program represents the University of Central Florida in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I. The Knights compete in the Big 12 Conference and play their home games on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida at The Venue at UCF. The Knights are currently led by head coach Jenny Maurer.

Afia Neliah Charles is a sprinter from Antigua and Barbuda who specializes in the 400 metre dash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aline (footballer, born 1989)</span> Brazilian footballer

Aline Villares Reis, known as Aline, is a Brazilian professional footballer who most recently played as a goalkeeper for Spanish club UD Granadilla Tenerife in the 2022–23 Liga F season. Between 2016 and 2021 she made 15 appearances for the Brazil national team. She is also a former women's football coach who most recently served as the goalkeeping coach for Orlando Pride in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

The South Florida Bulls track and field program represents the University of South Florida in the sport of track and field. The program consists of separate men's and women's teams and competes in the American Athletic Conference within NCAA Division I. Both of the Bulls track and field teams are coached by Erik Jenkins, who also coaches the USF cross country teams. The teams practice and host outdoor meets at the USF Track and Field Stadium. While the university sponsors indoor teams as well, the university does not have an indoor track facility suitable to host meets. There is an indoor track in the Campus Recreation Center which the teams use for practice, but it has no space for indoor field events or spectators.

References

  1. "Colors | University of Central Florida Brand Guide" . Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "2012 UCF Track and Field Media Guide". University of Central Florida Athletic Association. December 2011. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  3. 1 2 "UCF hires Hall of Fame coach Jeanette Bolden to lead track team". Orlando Sentinel. 2013-06-26. Archived from the original on 2013-07-01. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  4. "It's Official! UCF Joins BIG EAST Conference". University of Central Florida. 2011-12-07. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  5. "UCF women's track earns highest national ranking in school history". Orlando Sentinel. 2011-12-07. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  6. "University of Central Florida athletics" . Retrieved March 23, 2021.
  7. "Official Women's Track Roster". University of Central Florida Athletic Association. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved 2013-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. "Scott Sprints to UCF's First NCAA Championship". University of Central Florida Athletic Association. 2013-03-09. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. "Afia Charles Profile". University of Central Florida Athletic Association. Archived from the original on March 7, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. "Afia Charles - Athletics - Olympic Athlete". London Olympic Committee. 2012. Archived from the original on 2013-06-01. Retrieved 2013-03-16.