Firebirds Climbing East Regional Standings Thanks to Highly Ranked Performers
NEW ORLEANS – As the Indoor Track and Field season reaches its climax, the Firebirds boast seven regionally ranked times and performances. The team is in 8th place in the NCAA Division II East Region according to the latest USTFCCA poll. Consistent improvement has helped the Firebirds crack the top-10, even though the team does not compete in a handful of events.
Five student-athletes have earned national recognition and are currently ranked in the top 30 for individual performances in Division II. Senior Kaydian Jones (Journalism--Kingston, Jamaica/St. Andrew HS) is leading the way with three individual recognitions nationally. Jones is ranked T-17 for the 60M, with a time of 7.72 seconds. She is currently in the 9th spot for the 200M thanks to her time of 25.18 seconds at the Tiger Open. On the field Jones has temporarily secured the 19th best long jump distance of 5.61M. In these events, her East Regional rankings are 4th, 3rd, and 2nd respectively.
The 400M is the longest distance in which the Firebirds compete individually. Sophomore Jerily Benjamin (Health Education--Queens, NY/Phillip Randolph HS) has run her way to a 30th place national ranking in this event. She ran a time of 58.24 seconds at the Patriot Games to mark her season's best. Her current rank in the East Region is 6th. Both Benjamin and Jones teamed up with Charmaine Sweeney (Computer Science--Landover, MD/Largo HS) and Marlena Wright (Journalism–Bronx, NY/Dewitt Clinton HS) in the 4x400M relay. These four athletes have a season's best time of 3:56.57, which is good for a national ranking of 12th, and second in the East Region.
Shauna-Kay Creary (Accounting--Kingston, Jamaica/St. Andrew HS) and Simone Grant (Health Education--Bronx, NY/Pelham Prep Academy) are not quite ranked in the national standings. However, their stellar performances have given the Firebirds depth in the East Regional competition. Creary is ranked 3rd regionally in the High Jump with a height of 1.61M, while Grant is ranked 5th in the Long Jump with a distance of 5.39M.
The Firebirds have one more invitational in Manhattan, NY before closing the season with the ECC Championships, and potentially the NCAA Championships.