UDC Men’s Cross Country Team Wins VSU Country Series #1

Petersburg, VA: September 9, 2006— University of the District of Columbia, cross-country runner, Wilfred Chamellan (Sophomore-Nandi Hills, Kenya) won the Virginia State University Country Series #1, 8k Run today in Petersburg, Virginia. Chamellan finished the course in 28:10.00 minutes, earning first place in the event. It was the first event for the Firebirds in the 2006 season. New Head Cross-Country and Track & Field Coach Marc J. Harrison said, “ This was an excellent event that signaled UDC’s return to running competition with rivals VSU, Bowie State and Virginia Union”.

UDC’s Joseph Birech ( Junior-Kapsabet,Kenya) finished the event in 4th place, and Ewonou Azia Konou (Sophomore-Lome, Togo) finished in 6th place. Other UDC finishers included Julius Oben (Sophomore-Washington, DC) 10th place, and Jeffrey Zulu (Freshman-Silver Spring, MD) 13th.

The UDC Women’s Cross-Country Team also represented themselves well in the 5K Cross-Country Run at Virginia State the same day. Maurisa Williams ( Junior- Sicklerville, NJ) was the highest place finisher for the Lady Firebirds when she came in fourth place, completing the run in 23:36 minutes.  Shakira Watford(Freshman-Willingboro, NJ) finished in 6th place. Other Lady Firebirds finishing the run were Narissa Eve (Freshman-Nassau, Bahamas), 8th place, Shelmith Kariuki (Freshman-Njoro, Kenya), 13th place, Anne Wynn(Junior- Durham, NC), 18th place, Danielle Cook (Sophomore-Willingboro, NJ), 20th place, and Ericka Cook (Freshman- Willingboro, NJ), 22nd place.

The next competition for the Cross-country teams will be Thursday, September 14, in the Virginia State University Classic, Petersburg, Virginia.