Firebirds Impress at Ursinus College Invitational

COLLEGEVILLE, PA – The University of the District of Columbia women's outdoor track and field team produced an excellent showing at the Ursinus College Invitational on Saturday, March 31st.

Sophomore Shannell Hibbert was in tremendous form at the meet where she placed 2nd in the 100m with a time of 12.51. Finishing behind her teammate, Shaneika Bowra  sprinted  an outstanding time of 12.47 with Cierra Roberts taking 3rd place with a time of 13.01. A fantastic effort goes to Desiree Gaeckler who is a member of the women's basketball team and in her first meet in three years placed 8th in 13.56. 

The 200m proved to be another fine showing as Hibbert took 1st place with a time of 26.38 (SB), she was followed by Temera Duncan in 3rd place in a time of 26.99 (SB) and her teammates Bowra and Roberts fresh off their superb efforts in the 100m finished in 4th and 5th respectively. 

Much of the same success carried on in the 400m with Niasia Harding taking a commanding 1st place in a season's best 59.55, sophomore Temera Duncan took another 3rd place finish in a time of 1:01.26, and freshman Dajour Jones grabbed 7th in 1:02.98. Hibbert continued her impressive form in the 100m hurdles where she took 1st place in another season's best 15.27.

Sophomore Niasia Harding saw her 400m performance continue in the 400m hurdles where she took 1st place in 1:07.27, following in 4th place was senior Shayna Hodge in a time of 1:12.05.

In the 4x100m relay expectations were high for the quartet of Stacy-Ann Rowe, Hibbert, Roberts, and Bowra as they undoubtedly took 1st place in 49.60. Next, the 4x400m team of Temera Duncan, Roberts, Jones, and Harding had the same expectations and did not disappoint as they took 1st place in 4:09.67. The strength in this Firebird team showed as  Dozier, Kenlyn Duncan, Hodge, and Bowra raced to finish 3rd in a time of 4:18.88.

The field events proved just as tough in the long jump as Roberts took 3rd place with a jump of 5.42m, and Shakeithia Nicholson had a personal/season's best leap of 4.90m to finish 7th.

The final event of the day was the triple jump and Nicholson impressed once again as she took 5th place for a season's best 10.50m.

Head Coach Joel Phillip had this to say, "I am pleased with the team's performances and effort at the meet. Even the ladies who did not make the finals or the top 8 in their event had a season's best time or a better executed race and that shows progress and that we are heading in the right direction. Majority of the returners are ahead of where they were at this time last year and it's a testament to their focus and hard work they have been putting in."

The Firebirds next meet is at the Mary Washington Battleground Relays, Friday, April 6th.