Firebirds Turn Out Two Quality Performances Over Final Weekend; Await Potential NCAA Championships Bid

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA / LAKEWOOD,  NJ - Select members of the University of the District of Columbia women's outdoor track and field squad competed in the Virginia Challenge on Saturday, May 12th and the Georgian Court Last Chance Meet on Sunday, May 13th in an effort to boost their NCAA Championships resume.

Senior Kaneesha Hollis (Centreville, MD - North Caroline Senior HS) and junior Callister Jones (Fort Washington, MD - Oxon Hill HS), who are ranked No. 1 and 2 among the East Region in the 400M, respectively, both turned out solid performances on both days. Hollis, who is also ranked 31st in the country, ran a 56.59 on Saturday and then a 56.21 on Sunday. Her best time of the season is a 55.74, which she ran at the Johnson C. Smith Invitational on April 13th. Jones, meanwhile, ran a 57.13 on Saturday and a 58.13 on Sunday. Her best time was also at Johnson C. Smith, where she ran a 56.14.

"What a season these two ladies have had," head coach Alton McKenzie said. "Kaneesha will be sorely missed and very hard to replace. I appreciate the effort she gave me all year (since August during cross country). To end the season still fighting for a spot in the NCAA Championships speaks to her competitive spirit all season. I look forward to helping Callister realize even more success next season after an outstanding junior year."

The Firebirds' 4x400M relay team also ran for the final time on Saturday. The team of Kaydian Jones, Callister Jones, Hollis and Kimoy Mais ran a time of 3:52.72 and took 4th place in its heat.

District of Columbia's Kaydian Jones also competed both days in the long jump event. Saturday at UVA, she set a new personal best for the second straight week with a leap of 5.50M. She followed that performance up with a leap of 5.34M the next day at Georgian Court.

"Back to back days with six jumps took a toll on Kaydian - not to mention, she also ran the 4x400M on Saturday," McKenzie said. "But I couldn't be more proud of her accomplishments this season. She's just begun to scratch the surface in the Long Jump. I look forward to her being a force next year in the Long Jump and Sprints."

McKenzie and the Firebirds will now await word to see if any individual performers qualify for the NCAA Championships. The field will be announced on May 15th.

"This weekend we gave ourselves a chance to qualify, and for that I can't complain," McKenzie said. "Though we might just fall short of the NCAA Championships, I'm happy with the overall success we had this outdoor season and the effort from the team. To have the two best 400M runners [Hollis and Callister Jones] in the East Region along with one of the top Long Jumpers [Kaydian Jones] bodes well for the future."