Firebirds 4x400m Relay Team Qualifies for Finals at Penn Relays with Season-Best Time

Philadelphia, PA – The University of the District of Columbia women's track and field team made an impressive showing at the world-renowned Penn Relays, highlighted by a standout 4x400m relay performance and a top mark in the triple jump.

The Firebirds' 4x400m relay team, featuring Tukey Francis, Yalix Lina, Kayla Cooper, and Samantha Morrison, clocked an outstanding time of 3:53.44 to place fourth in their heat and qualify for the finals. UDC opened with Cooper leading off and keeping the team in strong contention. Morrison and Lina followed with steady splits of 57.02 and  58.92 respectively, setting up Francis to close with a strong anchor leg of 57.51. This time marks the fastest time ran by a Firebird relay team since 2016.

In the field events, Zoe Shaw added to the Firebirds' success by finishing 13th in the triple jump. Shaw recorded a season best mark of 11.66 meters (38-3 ¼), placing 13th out of a field of 29.

The Firebirds will head to Rochester, N.Y, on Thursday May 1st to defend their title in the ECC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.