Kayla Cooper Repeats as ECC Preseason Athlete of the Year; UDC Slated to Finish Second

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The East Coast Conference announced its 2024-25 Women's Indoor Track & Field Preseason Awards and Poll on Tuesday, with the University of the District of Columbia's Kayla Cooper earning ECC Preseason Athlete of the Year honors for the second consecutive season.

Cooper enters the indoor campaign as one of the conference's most dominant multi-event athletes. Last winter, she delivered a remarkable performance that helped fuel UDC's third place finish. She swept the 60m, 200m, and long jump while also contributing to the Firebirds' third-place 4x400m relay — accounting for 36 total points and five of the team's 10 medal finishes.

In the preseason poll, the Firebirds were projected second with 97 points and three first-place votes following their strong showing at last year's conference championship, where they captured a meet-high five gold medals and earned third overall. Zoe Shaw won the triple jump and placed second in the high jump while Emmanuela Katou Kouami continued her dominant season in the weight throw, tossing for an event-winning 17.24m.

The Firebirds will open the season on Saturday, at the TCNJ Indoor Opener.

2025-26 ECC Women's Indoor Track and Field Preseason Poll
1. Roberts Wesleyan (102 points, 4 first-place votes)

2. District of Columbia (97 points, 3 first-place votes)

3. Felician (85 points, 2 first-place votes)

4. Holy Family (83 points, 2 first-place votes)

5. Molloy (69 points)

6. D'Youville (68 points)

7. Georgian Court (53 points)

8. Staten Island (49 points)

9. St. Thomas Aquinas (46 points)

10. Daemen (45 points)

11. Queens (29 points)