Women's Indoor Track Preview

The UDC Lady Firebird Indoor Track and Field Team will kickoff their winter 2007-08 season on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at the Liberty University Kickoff Meet in Lynchburg, Virginia. UDC’s top runner Maurisa Williams is expected to lead the Lady Firebirds again this season and help improve upon last year’s record.

Joining the team this year are new comers Erica Nixon, Demia Franklin and Taryn Johnson. These young ladies will be tremendous assets to our young and dynamic team of runners. UDC Head Women’s Track Coach Marc J. Harrison said, "I am thrilled to have these great athletes join us as we continue to develop our women’s track program. Erica Nixon, a 2006 CHSAA 200m champion, who was ranked 5th in New York City in the 55 high hurdles, and named to the All-State 55 high hurdles team her sophomore, junior and senior year, will be a major addition to our program. Demia Franklin, the anchor of the 2007 Maryland 1A State 4x8 and 4x4 Championship Track Team brings exceptional track skills to the University’s program. Taryn Johnson was a member of the Maryland State 1A/2A indoor and 1A outdoor championship team, who came in 2nd in the Baltimore City Championship high jump, and the City Champion in the 4x2m relay."

Nixon was a star track athlete at Cardinal Spellman High School in Bronx, New York, where she anchored the 4x400m relay team. Cardinal Spellman won the city 4x200m relay championship the past two years, and were the 4x100m city champions this past season.

She plans to pursue a major in biology at UDC, and then attend medical school where her specialty will be pediatrics. Nixon is the daughter of Eric and Effie Nixon of Bronx, New York.

Franklin, a star indoor and outdoor track athlete at Digital Harbor High School in Baltimore, Maryland, anchored their state 2007 championship 4x4 indoor and outdoor teams, and the 2006- 4x8 and 4x4 state championship teams. She is undecided about a major, but hopes to pursue a career as personal trainer. She is the daughter of Demetrius Franklin.

Johnson also starred at Baltimore’s Digital Harbor High School, where she received All State honors in the high jump (4th), long jump (2nd) and triple jump (3rd) this past season. She is a multi-talented athlete who will focus on the jumps here at UDC.