Firebirds Improve at LIU Post Invitational on ECC Championship Course

BROOKVILLE, NY - Led by a strong performance by freshman Kay-Tiarra Johnson, the University of the District of Columbia Women's Cross Country Team had improved performances across the board at the LIU Post Invitational held at the site of this year's ECC Championships course.

With a large field of 145 competitors, including many Division 1 programs, Johnson (Psychology – Hempstead, NY/Hempstead HS) ran a huge personal best of 21:26 to finish 68th overall (48th among DII, DIII & JUCO). This time was over a minute faster than her 5K run last week, which was previous personal best.

"It was great to see Kay-Tiarra compete aggressively, and she will be even more aware of what to expect when she sees this course for the second time at the ECC Championships," head coach Alton McKenzie said.

Sophomore Simone Grant (Health Education – Bronx, NY/Pelham Prep Academy) was the next best finisher for the Firebirds, running 22:37 for 91st overall (61st Non-Division I) and also improving from her time a week ago.

Senior Rochelle Nelson (Mass Media – Kingston, Jamaica/Holmwood Tech HS) finished with a time of 23:17 - not far off from her personal best of 23:05 - to finish 3rd best for UDC and 104th overall (74th Non- Division I). Junior Jerily Benjamin (Health Education – Queens, NY/Phillip Randolph HS) ran a new personal best of 23:25 to finish 106th as the 4th best for the Firebirds.

Rounding out the top 5 for UDC was sophomore Christina Baker (Forensic Psychology – Kingston, Jamaica/Collegiate Institute for Math and Science) who ran 23:51 for 114th. Another personal best was achieved by freshman Charmaine Sweeney who ran 24:35 for 122nd overall to be the 6th finisher for UDC.

The Firebirds finished 10th among 13 Non-Division I teams that participated in the LIU Post Invitational.

"Overall it was a great performance by the team with us having everyone improve from our first meet, even with being on a tougher course," McKenzie said. "It was a great introduction to the course which we will be racing on for the ECC Championships, and everyone came away with confidence having now raced on the course this season and running well. We're looking for continued improvement each week and we definitely achieved that goal with the performances by the team this weekend."

The Firebirds return to action at the Towson Invitational Saturday, September 21st, 2013.