Bears Compete At UCF Black & Gold Invitational

Friday, March 20

Orlando, Fla.

All Day

Mercer University

(1) Black and Gold Invitational

Bears Compete At UCF Black & Gold Invitational

3/21/2026 9:13:00 PM | Track & Field

Results

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

ORLANDO, Fla. – Sophomore Naomi Pierce logged a mark of 5.54 meters in the Long Jump to finish in 18^th place, while redshirt sophomore Lauryn McDougald tallied a 22^nd-place finish in the Triple Jump, to highlight the weekend for the Mercer track & field team at the UCF Black & Gold Invitational in central Florida.

Sophomore Akira Brown and junior Melissa Ubani both established new personal bests in the 200m Dash for the Bears at the UCF Soccer and Track Complex as well.

Mercer will be back in action next weekend when they split their squad again and head to Atlanta (distance) for the Emory Thrills In The Hills and Starkville, Miss. (sprinters, jumpers, hurdlers) for the Mississippi State-hosted Alumni Bulldog Relays.

UCF BLACK & GOLD INVITATIONAL (MARCH 20-21)
Long Jump
18	Naomi Pierce	^ 5.54m
n/a	Jayla Simmons	Foul

200m Dash
81	Jayla Simmons	25.65
82	Shanise Newton	25.77
85	Akira Brown	! 25.95
86	Carmen Pollard	25.99
88	Melissa Ubani	! 26.58

Triple Jump
22	Lauryn McDougald	10.69m
n/a	Pria Pullin	Foul
n/a	Kamryn Copeland	Foul

400m Dash
34	Charity Obazughanmwen	56.90
45	Kendyl Maddox	1:00.47
46	Carmen Pollard	1:00.48
48	Shanise Newton	1:02.35

100m Dash
41	TaLaya Broaders	12.36
49	Akira Brown	12.78
54	Naomi Pierce	12.88

^ - Wind-Aided Time/Mark ! - Personal Best Time/Mark