Track & Field Team Has High Expectations for NCAA Outdoor Championships

2009 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Results

As the University of the District of Columbia Women’s Track & Field Team prepares to depart for the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in San Angelo, Texas, May 21-23, there is an air of high expectation, excitement and anxiousness among the runners.  The staff has done a good job of preparing them for the competition and they are ready to take on their competitors.

This will be the largest, ever, contingent of track & field athletes sent to the Championships by the University. Seven athletes and three coaches will travel to Texas for the Championships.

Junior runner Stellah Sang (Kapsabet, Kenya) will lead the group as the highest seed in any of the events. Sang is seeded third in the 800 meter run and is expected to challenge for the win. She attained All-America status in the 800 meter run at the 2009 Indoor Track & Field Championships this past March, in Houston. 

Senior sprinter Maurisa Williams (Sicklerville, NJ) will represent the University in the 400 meter dash. Williams is the 4th seed in the event and expected to furiously compete for the win. She will also run on the 4x100 meter relay and 4x400 meter relay teams at the Championships.

Cottrell Martin, a junior sprinter from Freeport, Bahamas will compete in the 100 meter dash. The 17th seed, she will have her work cut out for her, but if anybody can win it, she is fully capable. Martin will also run the first leg for the 4x400 meter relay team and the second leg for the 4x100 meter relay team.

In addition to Martin, who will run the 2nd leg, also running on the 4x100 meter team are All-American sophomore sprinter Erica Nixon (Bronx, NY), who will run the first leg, All-American sophomore sprinter Saleena Green (St. Catherine, Jamaica) 3rd leg, Williams 4th leg and anchoring will be freshman sprinter Jasmine Rich (Willingboro, MD). The 4x100 team is seeded 10th.

Joining Martin  and Williams on the 6th seeded 4x400 team are All-American freshman sprinter Kanessha Hollis (Greensboro, MD), who will run the 2nd leg, Saleena Green on the 3rd leg, Maurisa Williams, 4th leg and anchoring will be All-American freshman sprinter Latoya Allen (Washington, DC).

UDC Head Track & Field Coach Marc J. Harrison is optimistic about his team’s chances at the Championships, but has some concern about recruiting for the future. “The challenge is to maintain recruiting momentum while at the Championships, since we will miss all of the state high school championships that will also be conducted the same weekend we will be away. Never-the-less, our program has great character and we expect to do well in both.”...said Harrison.

Keep up with UDC's progress in the NCAA Championships results by clicking on the following link:http://www.angelosports.com/d2track