District of Columbia Men's Cross Country Closes Out Season on High Note at NCAA East Regional Championships
NASHUA, NH - Led by senior Hillary Mugun, the University of the District of Columbia's men's cross country team ended its 2012 season with tremendous efforts across the board, including impressive personal bests as three Firebird student-athletes competed on Sunday at the NCAA East Regional Championships.
For his effort, Mugun (Accounting - Nandi Hills, Kenya/Meteitei) received All-East Region recognition for finishing 23rd among 188 competitors. Mugun's time of 31:18 on the 10K Course was not only his personal best this season by eight seconds but his fastest time in his prolific four-year collegiate career.
Mugun's effort was duplicated by his teammates as fellow senior, Zephaniah Koech (Accounting - Nandi Hills, Kenya/Terige HS) also ran a personal best with a time of 33:10 for 80th overall. His time was a personal best by over a minute. Freshman Baldin Needham (Sociology - Browns Town, Jamaica/St. Jago HS) followed suit, also finishing with a 10K personal best at a time of 34:22, shattering his previous personal best by two minutes.
"I couldn't ask for more in one day," McKenzie said. "These men went out there and competed to the best of their ability, and that's all I can ask for as a coach. The course was very fast, and our guys were flying today! Hillary and Zephaniah ended their cross country seasons and careers with excellent efforts, and Baldin completed his first cross country season with a 10K personal best. What a way to end the year. I couldn't feel more proud of them and what they've accomplished this season."