UCF Track and Field Announces Ambitious 2026 Schedule, Eyes Big 12 Dominance
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The University of Central Florida (UCF) track and field team has unveiled its competitive schedule for 2026, marking its third year as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The Knights are poised to build upon last season’s successes, aiming for continued excellence at the conference championships and beyond.
The team, led by head coach Dana Boone, is coming off a year highlighted by a remarkable indoor-outdoor sweep in the 4x400m relay. This momentum will be crucial as they navigate a challenging schedule designed to prepare them for peak performance at the Big 12 Championships.
Knights to Host Back-to-Back Home Meets
UCF will kick off its outdoor campaign with a pair of home meets, offering fans the opportunity to witness the team’s talent firsthand. The Black and Gold Invitational will take place from March 20-21, immediately followed by the Knights Invite from March 27-28. These events represent the fifth and sixth iterations of the paired invitationals, excluding the canceled 2020 season.
Indoor Season Set to Begin in January
The indoor season will commence on January 9-10 at the Rod McCravy Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky. Shortly after, the distance squad will return to Florida to compete in the Jimmy Carnes Invitational on January 16, marking their fourth consecutive appearance at the event.
The following week presents a split schedule, with the sprints and jumps squad traveling to the Red Raider Invite in the Lone Star State on January 23, while the distance team heads to Clemson for the Orange and Purple Invitational.
Key Regular Season Competition in February
February will see the Knights return to the Charlie Thomas Invitational in College Station, Texas, from February 7-8 – a meet where, in 2022, the UCF sprint squad achieved significant success, including a first-place finish in the 60m by former Knight Rayniah Jones.
The regular season will culminate with a trip to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the Tyson Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center. This venue will also host the NCAA Indoor Championships later in the postseason.
Championship Season Looms
Postseason action begins on February 28 with the Big 12 Championships in Lubbock, Texas. This will be the Knights’ third consecutive appearance at the championship, where they aim to maintain their competitive edge. Last year’s Big 12 Indoor Championship saw a standout performance from then-Knight Natalia Madison in the heptathlon, securing a program-best fourth-place finish. The team also achieved a historic milestone, winning the program’s first-ever Big 12 gold medal in the 4x400m relay.
The Knights will return to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 13-14, where Coach Boone and her staff hope to extend their legacy of producing All-Americans and continue UCF’s streak of qualifying at least one athlete for the national championship for the fourth year running.
