
BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS: UDC Women’s Track & Field Claims Second Straight ECC Title
Rochester, N.Y.- The University of the District of Columbia Women's Track & Field team made history once again, dominating the competition at the 2025 East Coast Conference (ECC) Outdoor Championships and clinching their second consecutive title. The Firebirds soared past the field with a commanding performance that included ten event champions, totaling 194 points, showcasing the depth and dominance of the program.
The Firebirds kicked off the meet with strong performances setting the standard of what was to come. The team of Mariela Hernandez, Kayleigh Shelton, Kyndra Hines, and Janel Baxter had a come-from-behind victory combining for a time of 48.89 seconds to win the 4x100m relay in thrilling fashion.
Kayla Cooper captured gold in every event she competed in, combining for 40 points. She clocked 12.18 seconds in the 100m and followed up with a commanding 25.53s in the 200m, leading a 1-2-3 sweep for UDC in the latter. She also won the Long Jump with a leap of 5.53m and led the 4x400m relay that topped the ECC and closed out the meet.
Iyanna Jackson and Baxter, captured third and fourth place in the 100m, clocking in at season best times of 12.34 seconds and 12.48s. Their efforts along with Cooper earned 20 points for UDC in the event.
Emmanuela Katou Kouami defended her ECC hammer throw crown with a mark of 51.29m, setting a new meet record and solidifying her reputation as one of the top throwers in the East Region. She also placed second in the discus, contributing significant points to the team total.
Zoe Shaw soared to two titles, starting with the high jump, clearing a season-best and East-Region best mark of 1.65m and following up with the triple jump where she led the field with a 11.13m mark. She also placed third in the Long Jump.
Samantha Morrison delivered a gutsy all-around performance, scoring major points in three demanding events that proved critical to UDC's team title. She claimed silver in both the 400m hurdles (1:06.68) and 800m (2:17.87). Morrison then returned to the track to run the 4x800m relay, helping the Firebirds clinch third place and essential points.
Hines and Shelton delivered a commanding performance in the 100m hurdles, finishing first and second respectively to secure a pivotal 18 points for the Firebirds. Hines clocked a personal best of 14.54 seconds to capture the title, while Shelton was close behind at 14.91 seconds.
The Firebirds dominated the 400-meter dash sweeping the podium. Senior Ayesha Jarrett led the charge with a gold-medal performance, crossing the line in 59.09 seconds to earn 10 crucial points for the team. Close behind was Tukey Francis, who took silver in 59.61 seconds. Freshman Yalix Lina rounded out the sweep with a third-place finish in 1:01.62, earning bronze.
Ryana Goldson stepped up in the javelin and Discus, unleashing season-best throws of 30.20m (3rd) and 27.99m (5th).
With a commanding and collective team effort, the Firebirds not only defended their title but cemented their legacy, capturing their third East Coast Conference Championship in program history. From sprints to throws and relays, each performance contributed to a championship run fueled by depth, determination, and undeniable Firebird pride.
Women's Team Results
1. District of Columbia - 194
2. Roberts Wesleyan - 175
3. Molloy - 69
4. Daemen - 63
5. Staten Island - 51
6. D'Youville - 43
7. St. Thomas Aquinas - 40
8. Queens - 16
Event Winners
100m dash: Kayla Cooper, District of Columbia – 12.18
200m dash: Kayla Cooper, District of Columbia – 25.53
400m dash: Ayesha Jarrett, District of Columbia – 59.09
800m run: Carly Koprowski, Queens – 2:14.49 (MEET RECORD)
1500m run: Kylee Odell, Roberts Wesleyan – 4:39.20
5000m run: Rachel Horner-Richardson, Roberts Wesleyan – 18:19.49
10,000m run: Rachel Horner-Richardson, Roberts Wesleyan – 39:26.48
100m hurdles: Kyndra Hines, District of Columbia – 14.54
400m hurdles: Jadyn Mullen, Roberts Wesleyan – 1:03.80
3000m steeplechase: Lydia Smith, D'Youville – 11:37.32
4x100m relay: District of Columbia (Mariela Hernandez, Kayleigh Shelton, Kyndra Hines, Janel Baxter) – 48.89
4x400m Relay: District of Columbia (Kayla Cooper, Iyanna Jackson, Kayleigh Shelton, Kyndra Hines) – 4:08.83
4x800m Relay: Roberts Wesleyan (Mia Lucyshyn, Paige Reeser, Acacia Barber, Kylee Odell) – 9:33.99
High Jump: Zoe Shaw, District of Columbia – 1.65m (5' 5")
Pole Vault: Sarah Ferguson, Roberts Wesleyan – 4.06m (13' 3 3/4")
Long Jump: Kayla Cooper, District of Columbia – 5.53m (18' 1 3/4")
Triple Jump: Zoe Shaw, District of Columbia – 11.13m (36' 6 1/4")
Shot Put: Moriah Mills, Roberts Wesleyan – 11.63m (38' 2")
Discus: Moriah Mills, Roberts Wesleyan – 37.49m
Hammer: Emmanuela Kouami-Katou, District of Columbia – 51.29m (168' 3") (MEET RECORD)
Javelin: Angelina Guerriero, Staten Island – 33.34 (109' 4")
All-Conference Honorees
First Team
100m dash: Kayla Cooper, District of Columbia & Sophia Hines, Molloy
200m dash: Kayla Cooper, District of Columbia & Tukey Francis, District of Columbia
400m dash: Ayesha Jarrett, District of Columbia and Tukey Francis, District of Columbia
800m run: Carly Koprowski, Queens & Samantha Morrison, District of Columbia
1500m run: Kylee Odell, Roberts Wesleyan & Sabrina Spezia, Molloy
5000m run: Rachel Horner-Richardson, Roberts Wesleyan & Sabrina Spezia, Molloy
10,000m run: Rachel Horner-Richardson, Roberts Wesleyan & Kathleen Healy, Molloy
100m hurdles: Kyndra Hines, District of Columbia & Kayleigh Shelton, District of Columbia
400m hurdles: Jadyn Mullen, Roberts Wesleyan & Samantha Morrison, District of Columbia
3000m steeplechase: Lydia Smith, D'Youville & Carli Sheiffele, Molloy
4x100m relay: District of Columbia (Mariela Hernandez, Kayleigh Shelton, Kyndra Hines, Janel Baxter)
4x400m Relay: District of Columbia (Kayla Cooper, Iyanna Jackson, Kayleigh Shelton, Kyndra Hines)
4x800m Relay: Roberts Wesleyan (Mia Lucyshyn, Paige Reeser, Acacia Barber, Kylee Odell)
High Jump: Zoe Shaw, District of Columbia & Jadyn Mullen, Roberts Wesleyan
Pole Vault: Sarah Ferguson, Roberts Wesleyan & Karis Kraf, Roberts Wesleyan
Long Jump: Kayla Cooper, District of Columbia & Jadyn Mullen, Roberts Wesleyan
Triple Jump: Zoe Shaw, District of Columbia & Madelyn Rutledge, Roberts Wesleyan
Shot Put: Moriah Mills, Roberts Wesleyan & Jadyn Mullen, Roberts Wesleyan
Discus: Moriah Mills, Roberts Wesleyan & Emmanuela Katou-Kouami, District of Columbia
Hammer: Emmanuela Katou-Kouami, District of Columbia & Kristen Oliver, Daemen
Javelin: Angelina Guerriero, Staten Island & Isabella Farino-Esposito, St. Thomas Aquinas
Second Team
100m dash: Iyanna Jackson, District of Columbia & Janel Baxter, District of Columbia
200m dash: Kyndra Hines, District of Columbia & Yulessa Johnson, St. Thomas Aquinas
400m dash: Yalix Lina, District of Columbia & Lia Brasacchio, Mercy
800m run: Kylee Odell, Roberts Wesleyan & Acacia Barber, Roberts Wesleyan
1500m run: Zoe Merryman, St. Thomas Aquinas & Paige Reeser, Roberts Wesleyan
5000m run: Camryn Bailey, Daemen & Lainie Smith, D'Youville
10,000m run: Patsy Oberholzer, Daemen & Ciara Durcan, St. Thomas Aquinas
100m hurdles: Jadyn Mullen, Roberts Wesleyan & Adonijah Washington, Staten Island
400m hurdles: Adonijah Washington, Staten Island & Lia Brasacchio, Daemen
3000m steeplechase: Emma Grzebinski, Daemen & Gianna Tribotte, Roberts Wesleyan
4x100m relay: Molloy (Julianna Roan, Sophia Hines, Kameryn Drakes, MaryGrace Coll)
4x400m Relay: D'Youville (Sevilla Groebe, Lydia Smith, Tayden Persons, Madison MacNeill)
4x800m Relay: Molloy (Megan Sohl, Kathleen Healy, Carli Sheiffele, Sabrina Spezia)
High Jump: Madison MacNeill, D'Youville & Lydia Smith, D'Youville
Pole Vault: Alexandrea Robertson, Roberts Wesleyan & Sarah Ouellette, Roberts Wesleyan
Long Jump: Zoe Shaw, District of Columbia & Adonijah Washington, Staten Island
Triple Jump: MaryGrace Coll, Molloy & Adonijah Washington, Staten Island
Shot Put: Kaylea Wagner, Roberts Wesleyan and Kristen Oliver, Daemen
Discus: Ava Thompson, Staten Island & Samantha Kabel, Daemen
Hammer: Ava Thompson, Staten Island & Samantha Kabel, Daemen
Javelin: Ryana Goldson, District of Columbia & Barbara Kunz, D'Youville