UDC Women’s Track & Field Secures First-Ever Three-Peat at ECC Outdoor Championships
ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The University of the District of Columbia women's track & field team made history, capturing its third consecutive East Coast Conference Outdoor Championship at Roberts Wesleyan University. The Firebirds totaled 165 points to secure the title and complete the program's first-ever three-peat.
The Firebirds totaled four gold medals on the weekend, highlighted by a historic showing from Kyndra Hines, who accounted for three individual titles.
Hines captured gold in the 100-meter dash, posting a personal-best time of 12.09, narrowly missing the meet record of 12.03. She added titles in the 200-meter dash (25.30) and delivered a historic performance in the 100-meter hurdles, setting a new ECC Championship record with a time of 14.08. The mark also met the NCAA Division II provisional qualifying standard and broke her own UDC school record set earlier this season.
Across the meet, Hines totaled 30 individual points and contributed an additional eight relay points, playing a pivotal role in the Firebirds' championship effort.
In the field events, Zoe Shaw continued her dominance, capturing the high jump title for the fourth consecutive year, further cementing her legacy as one of the conference's premier field athletes. She placed second in the long jump with a personal best mark of 5.64m and second in the triple jump with a season-best mark of 11.69m.
Ryana Goldson delivered a record-breaking performance in the javelin, setting a new UDC school record with a throw of 33.81 meters to earn a second-place finish.
The Firebirds continued to build momentum across the meet with strong performances on the track. Kayleigh Shelton earned a silver medal in the 100-meter hurdles with a personal best (14.40) and added points in the 400-meter hurdles with another personal best mark, while Samantha Morrison contributed a podium finish in both the 400m hurdles (PR 1:05.92) and the 800 meters, placing third in both.
UDC showcased its depth in the sprints with a dominant 1-4 sweep in the 200-meter dash. Hines led the way with the gold medal, followed by Tukey Francis (2nd), Kayla Cooper (3rd), and Janel Baxter (4th), with Baxter recording a personal-best performance.
In the 100-meter dash, the Firebirds continued to dominate the podium with Kayla Cooper placing second and Janel Baxter finishing fourth, adding valuable points to the team total.
Additional strong performances came from across the roster, including Francis, who placed second in the 400 meters, and Emmanuela Katou Kouami, who earned a runner-up finish in the hammer throw, contributing key points in the field events.
UDC's success extended beyond individual titles, as the program placed 12 student-athletes on the All-ECC First Team, recognizing event champions and top finishers. Additionally, seven individuals and one relay team earned All-ECC Second Team honors, further highlighting the team's depth and dominance across events.
Event Winners
100m dash: Kyndra Hines, District of Columbia – 12.09
200m dash: Kyndra Hines, District of Columbia – 25.30
400m dash: Mia Wright, Daemen – 58.64
800m run: Carly Koprowski, Queens – 2:15.77
1500m run: Marie Naudus, Molloy – 4:41.24
5000m run: Katheen Healy, Molloy – 18:15.28
10,000m run: Katheen Healy, Molloy – 38:12.21 (MEET RECORD)
100m hurdles: Kyndra Hines, District of Columbia – 14.08 (MEET RECORD)
400m hurdles: Sylar Savage, Daemen – 1:05.47
3000m steeplechase: Carli Sheiffele, Molloy – 11:40.63
4x100m relay: Molloy (Tricia Danso, Sophia Hines, Kimberly Gonzales, Leanne Richardson) – 48.17
4x400m Relay: Roberts Wesleyan (Abigail Bowen, Emma Lupa, Solki Martin-Lacayo, Michaela Goettel) – 4:05.70
4x800m Relay: Roberts Wesleyan (Mia Lucyshyn, Rose Wilson, Lydia Demarest, Paige Reeser) – 10:00.35
High Jump: Zoe Shaw, District of Columbia – 1.60m (5' 3")
Pole Vault: Kennedy Benjamins, Roberts Wesleyan – 4.11m (13' 5.75")
Long Jump: Jenna Capolupo, D'Youville – 5.68m (18' 7.75")
Triple Jump: Adonijah Washington, Staten Island – 11.74m (38' 6.25")
Shot Put: Ava Wierda, Roberts Wesleyan – 10.85m (35' 7.25")
Discus: Victoria Maher, St. Thomas Aquinas – 42.59m (139' 8") (MEET RECORD)
Hammer: Victoria Maher, St. Thomas Aquinas – 51.26m (168' 2")
Javelin: Angelina Guerriero, Staten Island – 34.34 (112' 8")
All-Conference Honorees
First Team
100m dash: Kyndra Hynes, District of Columbia & Kayla Cooper, District of Columbia
200m dash: Kyndra Hynes, District of Columbia & Tukey Francis, District of Columbia
400m dash: Mia Wright, Daemen & Turkey Francis, District of Columbia
800m run: Carly Koprowski, Queens & Jordyn Cruz, Queens
1500m run: Marie Naudus, Molloy & Paige Reeser, Roberts Wesleyan
5000m run: Katheen Healy, Molloy & Evelyn Schmit, Roberts Wesleyan
10,000m run: Katheen Healy, Molloy & Rachel Horner-Richardson, Roberts Wesleyan
100m hurdles: Kyndra Hines, District of Columbia & Kayleigh Shelton, District of Columbia
400m hurdles: Sylar Savage, Daemen & Brooke Hyland, Molloy
3000m steeplechase: Carli Sheiffele, Molloy & Lilianna Peters, D'Youville
4x100m relay: Molloy (Tricia Danso, Sophia Hines, Kimberly Gonzales, Leanne Richardson)
4x400m Relay: Roberts Wesleyan (Abigail Bowen, Emma Lupa, Solki Martin-Lacayo, Michaela Goettel)
4x800m Relay: Roberts Wesleyan (Mia Lucyshyn, Rose Wilson, Lydia Demarest, Paige Reeser)
High Jump: Zoe Shaw, District of Columbia & Mazzy Cirinelli, Staten Island
Pole Vault: Kennedy Benjamins, Roberts Wesleyan & Karis Kraf, Roberts Wesleyan
Long Jump: Jenna Capolupo, D'Youville & Zoe Shaw, District of Columbia
Triple Jump: Zoe Shaw, District of Columbia & Madelyn Rutledge, Roberts Wesleyan
Shot Put: Ava Wierda, Roberts Wesleyan & Alana Cawthon, Daemen
Discus: Victoria Maher, St. Thomas Aquinas & Ava Wierda, Roberts Wesleyan
Hammer: Victoria Maher, St. Thomas Aquinas & Emanuel Katou Kouami, District of Columbia
Javelin: Angelina Guerriero, Staten Island & Ryana Goldson, District of Columbia
Second Team
100m dash: Kendall Parker, D'Youville & Janel Baxter, District of Columbia
200m dash: Kayla Cooper, District of Columbia & Janel Baxter, District of Columbia
400m dash: Cameron Campo, Molloy & Jenna Capolupo, D'Youville
800m run: Samantha Morrison, District of Columbia & Michaela Goettel, Roberts Wesleyan
1500m run: Lydia Demarest, Roberts Wesleyan & Mia Lucyshyn, Roberts Wesleyan
5000m run: Patsy Oberholzer, Daemen & Lydia Roselund, Roberts Wesleyan
10,000m run: Patsy Oberholzer, Daemen & Rachel Mow, Queens
100m hurdles: Rebecca Schultz, Daemen & Skylar Savage, Daemen
400m hurdles: Samantha Morrison, District of Columbia & Lia Brasacchio, Daemenx
3000m steeplechase: Gianna Tribotte, Roberts Wesleyan & Elianna Williams, D'Youville
4x100m relay: District of Columbia (Kyndra Hines, Mariela Hernandez, Janel Baxter, Dayna Thompson)
4x400m Relay: District of Columbia (Janel Baxter, Samantha Morrison, Dayna Thompson, Kayleigh Shelton)
4x800m Relay: Molloy (Alaysia Cobb-Rountree, Marie Naudus, Martina Mileti, Carli Sheiffele)
High Jump: Natalie Murray, Roberts Wesleyan & Tayden Persons, D'Youville
Pole Vault: Melia Couchman, Roberts Wesleyan & Natalie Murray, Roberts Wesleyan
Long Jump: Kayla Cooper, District of Columbia & Madelyn Rutledge, Roberts Wesleyan
Triple Jump: Madelyn Rutledge, Roberts Wesleyan & Sophia Hines, Molloy
Shot Put: Julia Petry, Daemen & D'Naesha Quicksey, Daemen
Discus: D'Naesha Quicksey, Daemen & Carli Quinlan, Daemen
Hammer: Kristen Oliver, Daemen & Ava Wierda, Roberts Wesleyan
Javelin: Barbara Kunz, D'Youville & Kristen Kennedy, St. Thomas Aquinas