Firebirds Close Out Cross Country Season with Several Season-Bests at 2015 ECC Championships
BROOKVILLE, NY - Greeted by perfect fall weather, the University of the District of Columbia women's cross country team turned in several individual season-best and a few personal-best times at the East Coast Conference Championships held at LIU Post University.
In one of the most competitive ECC Championship 5K race held in history (with the top three teams within three points of each other), the Firebirds had a number of season-best performances to close out the season on a high note and place 9th of 10 teams. They were led yet again by junior KayTiarra Johnson who ran her best race of the season with a time of 21:55 to finish 50th overall among 77 competitors. Senior Simone Grant ended her cross country career with a season-best time of 22:11 for 53rd of the 77 competitors. Another senior closing out her cross country career was Jerily Benjamin, who ran a personal best of 23:24 for 61st overall. Freshman Rachel German was the 4th scorer for the Firebirds, running a personal best of 24:07. The 5th place scorer for the Firebirds was Shayna Hodge who also ran a personal best of 24:55.
Head Coach Alton McKenzie said he was very pleased with his team's performance in the last cross country meet of the season.
"I couldn't ask for a better way to close out the season than with personal and season-bests," McKenzie said. "Overall, it's easily the best we ran as a group all cross country season, so that bodes well as we look to utilize the strength gained from this season as we transition to Indoor [Track & Field]. I look forward to us building on the momentum gained from our wonderful performances at this meet as we prepare for the Indoor Season."
