The start of the UMES Lid Lifter Invitational has Kay-Tiarra Johnson out in front of the UDC pack.

Posted: Sep 05, 2015

Women’s Cross Country Kicks Off 2015 Season at UMES Lid Lifter Invitational

PRINCESS ANNE, MD – The University of the District of Columbia women's cross country team opened its 2015 season at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Lid Lifter Invitational on Saturday, September 5^th.

Junior Kay-Tiarra Johnson (Psychology – Hempstead, NY/Hempstead HS) paced the Firebirds with a team-best finish time of 23:06.33 – good for 19^th place overall in a field of 48. Johnson's time was 1:38 faster than her previous finish on the UMES course at last year's Cappy Anderson Invitational on September 20^th, 2014. Senior Simone Grant (Health Education – Bronx, NY/Pelham Prep Academy) was in next for District of Columbia at a time of 23:46.90 to place 24^th.

Graduate student Jerily Benjamin (Health Education – Queens, NY/Phillip Randolph HS) was 3^rd for the Firebirds, placing 34^th overall in a time of 25:17.27. A pack of three UDC finishers followed, as senior Marlena Wright, freshman Rachel German and sophomore Shayna Hodge crossed the finish line in succession.

Also finishing for UDC were sophomore Geordinell Thurston and newcomer Saida Burnsmoore.

"We've kicked off another season with a good effort as a team in our first outing of the cross country season," head coach Alton McKenzie said. "Our goal is to work to continue improving every week, and I'm looking forward to us embracing that concept as the season progresses."