Firebirds Indoor Track Presented Well at Two Recent Meets
The University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Indoor Track & Field Team performed well in their last two meets of the season. Senior Dicoda Waugh (Business-Kingston, Jamaica) provided the best finish for the Team at the Princeton University Invitational in Princeton, New Jersey on February 19. Waugh finished second in her event with a mark of 10.56; narrowly missed the victory, with the winner jumping 10.61m.
Two-time All-American senior Erica Nixon (Health Education-Bronx, NY) continued her consistent run in the 60m dash, placing 4th in the final running 8.00s. She narrowly missed the finals of the 60m hurdles (10th fastest time in prelims… from a field of 29 hurdlers) running 9.36s in her first hurdle race of the season.
Freshman Areial Clark (Business Management-Kennesaw, GA) continued to show improvement in the Women's Shot Put throwing 12.49m for 5th place overall (field of 18 throwers); bettering her mark of 11.90m thrown at the UMES Invitational on February 12, 2011.
The Team ended their indoor season on a high note with competitive finishes in several events at the Armory Collegiate Challenge at the New York Armory Friday, February 25. Two-time All-American Kaneesha Hollis (Criminal Justice- Centreville, MD) ran a respectable 59.0s coming from way off the pace to finish 4th in her heat of the Women's 400m dash. That time was good for 13th overall from a large field of 31 runners. All-American Latoya Allen (Social Work- Washington, DC) won her heat easily in 60.48s for 20th overall.
Three- Time All-American Saleena Green (Marketing- Kingston, Jamaica) also won her heat in the 200m comfortably in 26.14s. That was good for 18th overall from a field of 32 sprinters. Sophomore Callister Jones (Marketing- Ft. Washington, MD) also won her heat in the 500m run convincingly, placing 15th overall from a field of 29 runners.
Erica Nixon continued her consistent run in the 60m dash placing second in her heat with a time of 7.96s (equaling her season's best); a solid performance that had her making the finals of every 60M dash she's entered this season. Unfortunately, due to injury, she wasn't able to compete in the finals of this meet. Freshman Aerial Clarke (Business Management-Kennesaw, GA) was 5th overall in the women's shot put with a throw of 12.03m.
As the indoor season concluded, the athletic community was able to recognize the senior members of the Women's Track & Field Team at halftime of a recent basketball game. Four members of the Team will be concluding their track & field careers at the University this year and they were honored on February 26.
Demia Franklin (Health Education-Baltimore, MD), Saleena Green (Marketing-Kingston, Jamaica), Erica Nixon (Health Education-Bronx, NY) and Dicoda Waugh (Business- Kingston, Jamaica) were honored during the ceremonies.
Franklin, a co-captain of the team is a 400M Hurdler and a very active community participant. She is president of the Beta Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority here at UDC. She is a Health Education major with a concentration in Public Health.
Green is a Three-time All-American sprinter who's been a consistent contributor to the Firebirds Track Program. She's also been an academic standout who is on the Dean's List. She is Marketing major.
Nixon is a Two-time All-American and team captain. Erica is a hurdler and sprinter who's been a major contributor to the Firebirds program throughout her career. A Health Education major, she's previously been named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division 2 All-Academic Track & Field Team.
Waugh is jumper extraordinaire. Dicoda is an all-round jumper (High Jump, Long & Triple Jump). She is a Business Management major and academic standout has also been named to the Dean's List.