Cooper Breaks School Record, Hits National Mark as Firebirds Shine at Norfolk State Invitational

NORFOLK, VA. – The University of the District of Columbia women's track & field team delivered an impressive all-around performance at the Norfolk State Invitational, highlighted by record-breaking efforts from Kayla Cooper and Kyndra Hines.

Cooper headlined the meet with a standout performance in the long jump, posting a national provisional qualifying mark of 5.99m (19-08.00). The mark not only shattered the UDC school record previously held by Kaydian Jones (2014), but also ranks No. 9 nationally. Cooper also contributed on the track, finishing ninth in the 100m with an ECC leading time of 12.10s.

Hines continued her dominant season, setting a new UDC school record in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.25s.

UDC saw multiple top performances across sprint and middle-distance events. In the 100m, Janel Baxter recorded a personal-best mark of 12.40s. In the 200m, Tukey Francis led the way with a time of 25.44s, which currently stands as an ECC-leading mark, while Baxter added a season-best 26.18s.

Samantha Morrison led the Firebirds in the 800m with a personal-best and ECC leading mark of  2:13.30, continuing her strong season in the middle-distance events. In the 400m hurdles, Yalix Lina posted a time of 1:10.68.

Freshman Aksa Jepkogei turned in a solid effort in the 1500m, placing fifth with a time of 5:50.72.

In the field events, Emmanuela Katou Kouami claimed first place in the hammer throw with a season best mark of 50.57m (165-11), continuing her dominance in the event. Ryana Goldson recorded a personal-best 30.48m (100-00) in the discus and added a first-place finish in the javelin with a throw of 31.66m (103-10).

In the jumps, Zoe Shaw led the way with a second-place finish in the high jump (1.55m) and a third-place finish in the triple jump (11.49m). 

On the track, the Firebirds closed out the meet with a strong showing in the 4x400m relay, as the quartet of Cooper, Morrison, Lina, and Francis placed first with a time of 3:56.25, ranking among the top times in the region.

The Firebirds will be off next week before returning to action on April 18th at the Morgan State Legacy meet.