UDC Women's 4x400M Team Runs NCAA Provisional Qualifying Time at Penn Relays
Philadelphia, PA: In a thrilling battle for victory in Heat 7 of Thursday's Penn Relay's 4x400M Relay, the University of the District of Columbia's Firebirds Women's 4x400 Meter Relay Team of sophomore Callister Jones (Marketing- Fort Washington, MD), junior two-time All- American Kaneesha Hollis (Criminal Justice- Centreville, MD), junior All-American Latoya Allen (Social Work-Washington, DC) and senior three-time All- American Saleena Green (Marketing- Kingston, Jamaica) ran a NCAA Championship provisional qualifying time of 3:49.74, finishing in 2nd place.
In a neck and neck battle with Monmouth University on every leg, the Firebirds turned heat 7 into a two team race with the event not being decided until the last 50m. With their 2nd place finish, the women's 4x400m relay squad was an impressive 37th overall with 104 University teams competing in the event.
With marquee programs from across the country included (Both Division I and II), UDC produced one of the best finishes for a Division II program, with their time being 2nd only to St. Augustine's College. The squad ran the 24th fastest time by any Division II program this season, as of this Meet. The Firebirds are currently 16th on the NCAA ranking list in the 4x400m relay.
Head Track & Field Coach Alton McKenzie, who was elated over his team's performance, said, ""We ran close to 2 seconds faster than we did last week at the Morgan State Legacy (3:51.70 to 3:49.74). We're getting closer to where we should be, but by no means are we satisfied. The young ladies have competed hard all year and the hard work is beginning to bear fruit with the continuous improved times reflecting just that. We look forward to competing and improving even further in the weeks to come."
The Firebirds return to the oval on Thursday, May 5 when they compete at the University of Maryland's Kehoe Twilight Meet.