Jan. 20, 2012

Read John Denton's Knights Insider |  Follow us on Twitter |  Get social with the Knights on Facebook

By Jenna Marina
UCFAthletics.com

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Four of the nation's top-25 teams will join the No. 6 UCF track and field team at the Auburn Invitational in Birmingham, Ala., at the Metro CrossPlex on Saturday.

UCF will measure up against Texas (No. 4), Clemson (No. 5) and Florida State (No. 9) in addition to six SEC programs, including Georgia (No. 14) and UCF head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert's alma mater, Tennessee.

Sophomore Aurieyall Scott is scheduled to defend her nation's top 200-meter time, and she will be accompanied in the race by senior Sheila Paul and freshman Octavious Freeman, who both boast times among the top 10 in the country.

The trio will also appear in the 60-Meter dash and the 4x400 Relay along with sophomore Erica Winston. Freeman, who was named the Conference USA Track Athlete of the Week, owns the fastest 60-Meter time in the nation and will look to clinch an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships after falling .04 shy in the event last weekend. Freshman Christal Peterson will also compete in the 60m, where she ranks among the top 15 in the nation, and the 200m races.

Senior Jackie Coward, who owns the fifth-fastest 60-Hurdles time in the country, will face a stacked field in the event as Clemson claims two runners who rank among the nation's top five.

Sophomore Afia Charles will compete in her first 400-Meter race of the year after setting the school and freshman record in the event during last year's outdoor season.

UCF's jumps crew looks for another successful outing after sophomore Jen Clayton and junior Sonnisha Williams emerged among the top 25 in the country in long jump and Jacquelyn Gilchrist emerged among the nation's top 15 in the triple jump in their performances at the Virginia Tech Invitational on Jan. 13. Tomika Story will join Gilchrist in the triple jump.

Precious Ogunleye, who broke two UCF freshman records last weekend, and Destinee Romain will represent the Knights in the shot put and weight throw.

In addition to the meet in Birmingham, nearly a dozen student-athletes will compete at the Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla., at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Sunday. A list of the events and UCF's scheduled participants can be found below. Be sure to visit UCFAthletics.com for results from the weekend.

Auburn Invitational Schedule
60 Meters
Freshman Octavious Freeman
Sophomore Jen Clayton
Senior Sheila Paul
Freshman Christal Peterson
Sophomore Aurieyall Scott
Senior Jackie Coward

200 Meters
Freshman Octavious Freeman
Freshman Christal Peterson
Sophomore Aurieyall Scott
Senior Sheila Paul

400 Meters
Sophomore Afia Charles

800 Meters
Sophomore Erica Winston
Sophomore Ne'Ausha Logan

60 Hurdles
Senior Jackie Coward

High Jump
Junior Sonnisha Williams

Pole Vault
Junior Erica Weiss

Long Jump
Sophomore Jen Clayton
Senior Jacquelyn Gilchrist
Junior Sonnisha Williams

Triple Jump
Senior Jacquelyn Gilchrist
Senior Tomika Story

Shot Put
Sophomore Destinee Romain
Freshman Precious Ogunleye

Weight Throw
Sophomore Destinee Romain
Freshman Precious Ogunleye

Florida Gator Invitational Schedule
55 Meters
Senior Ashley Bolling
Sophomore Tyler Smith
Junior Amanda Leland

200 Meters
Junior Eva Pierce
Sophomore Tyler Smith
Junior Amanda Leland

400 Meters
Junior Eva Pierce

800 Meters
Freshman Ali Brandehoff
Freshman Emmy Brandehoff
Freshman Cody Castillo
Freshman Amelia Williams

Mile Run
Sophomore Jessica Pachay
Freshman Teresa Huff
Freshman Cody Castillo

3000 Meters
Freshman Shelby Blaes
Freshman Teresa Huff
Sophomore Jessica Pachay

5000 Meters
Freshman Teresa Huff
Sophomore Jessica Pachay

55 Hurdles
Senior Ashley Bolling