Firebirds Earn NCAA Qualifying Time in 4x400M Relay at Coppin State Invitational
BALTIMORE, MD - With post-season opportunities to compete all left to strive for in the 2015 Outdoor Season, the Firebirds 4x400M quartet of Jerily Benjamin, Marlena Wright, Kimoy Mais and Simone Grant headed to the Coppin State Invitational on Friday, May 8th, aiming to hit an NCAA qualifying time.
Competing in just the 4x400M Relay, they would be up against formidable competition against Delaware State University, Lincoln University and Wesley University. The Firebirds got off to a great start from lead- off leg runner Jerily Benjamin and took an early lead. They remained in contention on the 2nd leg with Marlena Wright. They lost some ground on the 3rd leg with senior Kimoy Mais, but she was able to keep it close and give anchor leg runner Simone Grant a chance to go for the win. Grant ran another tremendous anchor leg but came up just short of the win. The team's time of 3:47.95 was a season-best and an NCAA Provisional qualifying time.
Head coach Alton McKenzie said he was very proud of these student-athletes for stepping up to the challenge and running the fastest they have run all season – nearly two seconds faster than last week's previous season-best.
"Although it will likely come up short of getting us into the NCAA Field, I remain proud of the effort they displayed competing as a group," McKenzie said. "We're fortunate that we were still competing and had a chance to vie for a spot in the NCAA Championships. I'm pleased that we competed hard today and left it all on the track...that's all I can ever ask for from them as student-athletes. They've not just competed hard all year but have done so with class and dignity representing the University of the District of Columbia."
