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Freshman SImone Grant Leads Firebirds at DSU Hornet Invitational
Posted: Oct 06, 2012

Freshman SImone Grant Leads Firebirds at DSU Hornet Invitational

Results

SMYRNA, DE - With a new season's best 5K finish of 22:00, freshman Simone Grant led the University of the District of Columbia women's cross country team with a 13th place finish among 54 competitors at the Division I-dominated DSU Hornet Invitational.

Grant (Health Education - Bronx, NY/Pelham Prep Academy) was one minute faster than her previous best in her final tune-up race before the ECC Championships.

Another personal best was achieved by the next finisher for the Firebirds - sophomore Kimoy Mais (St. Andrew, Jamaica/St. Andrew HS), who was 19th in a time of 23:01. Mais was followed closely by freshman Christina Baker (Forensic Psychology - Kingston, Jamaica/Collegiate Institute for Math & Science) with yet another personal best of 23:30 for 21st overall.

Freshman Marlena Wright (Journalism - Bronx, NY/Dewitt Clinton HS) was the 4th finisher for the Firebirds in her collegiate debut with a time of 23:45, which placed her 23rd overall. Freshman Jerily Benjamin (Undeclared - Queens, NY/Phillip Randolph HS) was 28th overall with a time of 25:23 as District of Columbia's fifth runner, and freshman Jeania Bagley (Journalism - Forestville, MD/Friendly HS) finished sixth for the Firebirds with a time of 25:44 for 30th overall - also a personal best.

The trend continued with the 7th Firebirds runner in, as junior Kaydian Jones (Journalism - Kingston, Jamaica/St. Andrew HS) was 32nd overall running a personal best time of 25:51.

As the only Division II team competing, District of Columbia finished 4th of four teams. Nonetheless, head coach Alton McKenzie was very pleased with how the team competed in its final tune-up before the ECC Championship on Oct. 21.

"I'm extremely happy with how the ladies have progressed this season and the personal best achieved by almost everyone on the team in this meet speaks for itself," McKenzie said. "Though we're made up of primarily sprinters and jumpers, that hasn't affected our ability to compete and put our best foot forward. We've also learned to run well as a group, evidenced by the close finish between all our runners. Our competitive spirit will serve us well in the ECC Championships."