Firebirds 4x400M Relay Team Registers Season Breakthrough at Morgan State Legacy Meet

Baltimore, MD- April 25, 2011--The University of the District  of Columbia Firebirds  Women's Track Team registered a major breakthrough during last weekend's Morgan State Legacy Meet when its women's 4x400m relay team ran 3:51.70 to win their heat, convincingly, in Baltimore, Maryland. 

The team of sophomore Callister Jones (Marketing-Ft. Washington, MD), Two-time All-American junior Kaneesha Hollis (Criminal Justice-Centreville, MD), All-American junior Latoya Allen (Social Work-Washington, DC) and Three-time All-American senior Saleena Green (Marketing-Kingston, Jamaica) ended up 5th overall in a field of 18 teams (highest finisher among DII schools). The Team held its own among the Meets participants, the majority of whom came from NCAA Division I schools.

With a blistering 3rd leg from Latoya Allen, the Firebirds went from 4th to 2nd, and then had a dominating anchor leg from Saleena Green to win their heat by over 1 second. This time of 1:51.70 is not too far off the NCAA Division 2 provisional qualifying time of 3:50.0.

Head Track Coach Alton McKenzie was pleased with his team's performance stating, "We finally got decent weather and a chance to run fast and the 4x400M team took full advantage of the opportunity. Not only did we run 10 seconds faster than we'd run this season, we competed very hard in doing so (thereby winning our heat with strong legs from all four young ladies). We still have room for improvement so I believe they have a chance to put it all together and run faster during this season." 

Freshman Areial Clark continued to excel in the Women's Shot Put, finishing 9th (12.10M) in a field of 26 throwers. 

The Firebirds will head to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 28, to participate in the venerable Penn Relays.