Four members of the UCF track & field team will compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials, which start Friday in Eugene, Ore. Senior Jackie Coward, junior Sonnisha Williams, sophomore Aurieyall Scott and freshman Octavious Freeman are all looking to earn spots on the U.S. team which will travel to the Olympics in London in July.
Coward will be in action in the 100-meter hurdles, which open Friday. Freeman and Scott will participate in the 100m (Friday) and 200m (June 28). Williams will compete in the long jump, which starts June 29.
All four Knights earned All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships earlier this month. Coward concluded her collegiate career by taking All-America First Team accolades by advancing to the finals and finishing fourth in the 100 hurdles. Freeman placed fourth in the 100m and fifth in the 200m to receive All-America First Team recognition in both events.
Scott also earned All-America First Team status by placing eighth in the 100m. She also received All-America Second Team distinction in the 200m. In the long jump, Williams garnered All-America Third Team honors. The group helped head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert’s Knights record an impressive 19th-place team finish at the championships.
The Olympic Trials will be held at historic Hayward Field. The facility has hosted the 1972, 1976, 1980 and 2008 Olympic Trials. The largest national championship meet in the world, the Olympic Trials will include more than 1,000 athletes competing for the right to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games.
NBC and NBC Sports Network will provide television coverage of the Olympic Trials.
UCF Athletes U.S. Olympic Trials Schedule
Jackie Coward
Friday, June 22 – 100m Hurdles First Round – 8:40 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 23 – 100m Hurdles Semifinals – 6:15 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 23 – 100m Hurdles Finals – 8:45 p.m. ET (NBC)
Octavious Freeman/Aurieyall Scott
Friday, June 22 – 100m First Round – 9 p.m. ET (NBC Sports Network)
Saturday, June 23 – 100m Semifinals – 6:40 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 23 – 100m Finals – 8:52 p.m. ET (NBC)
Thursday, June 28 – 200m Qualifying – 8:45 p.m. ET
Friday, June 29 – 200m Semifinals – 6 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 30 – 200m Finals – 9:50 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sonnisha Williams
Friday, June 29 – Long Jump Qualifying – 6:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, July 1 – Long Jump Finals – 6 p.m. ET