Howard's Men's and Women's Track Teams Shine In Season Openers Presented on US Sports Net By Just My Size

 Howard Men’s Track & Field Puts On Strong Performance In Season Opener

10 first-place finishes; one new school record holder

(Photo Credit – Howard Athletics Media Relations)

 

WASHINGTON (March 13, 2021) – Howard University men’s track & field team put on a strong performance in their season opening events at the Wendy’s Navy Seahawk Invitational (March 12) and the Wendy’s Teal Seahawk Invitational (March 13). Both meets were held at UNC Wilmington.

 

Over the weekend, HU won 10 events while setting new personal bests along with way.

 

“I went into the competition with very realistic expectations for the program,” said Howard Director of Track & Field David Oliver. “Given the circumstances, the squad succeeded what I expected. It's been nearly two years since our student-athletes have competed outdoors, but we refuse to make excuses. We produced plenty of strong results over the course of two days and the results speak for themselves.”

 

Sophomore Ezra Montiero (New Port, R.I.) highlighted the weekend, winning the hammer throw with a new school record (49.83m; 163.5 feet). All three of his attempts shattered the previous mark held by his throwing coach Danny Stokes.

 

“As usual, Coach Stokes is doing an amazing job with the development of our throwers,” Oliver expressed. “Given their practice limitations facility wise, the group never makes excuses and continues to perform at a high level. It starts at the top with his direction.”

 

Other notable field student-athlete included newcomer Zachary Hawkins (Loganville, Ga.) winning the triple jump, leaping nearly 45 feet (13.56m).

 

Sophomore Richard Ninamou (Louisville) blew away the field in his first collegiate outdoor competition on the track, winning the 100-meter (10.66) and 200-meter (21.59) dashes. His performance in the 100-meter was the fastest by any HU runner since 1990.

 

Graduate Casimir Tawiah (Lexington Park, Md.) won a pair of events in the 110-meter hurdles. Friday, he set a new personal best (14.12) and followed up with another solid outing Saturday (14.41).

 

Sophomore Cameron Kee (Lawnside, N.J.) and junior Corinthians Payne (Apopka, Fla.) took first (54.27) and second (54.32), respectively, in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, each producing new personal bests.

 

“It was impressive to watch,” Oliver stated. “I was moderately pleased with our men's 110-meter hurdlers. We've got a lot to clean up in that area and I have large expectations for that group. A trip to the NCAAs is the only acceptable result for that group by season’s end."

 

Other noteworthy performances on the track included graduate Qaseem Wajd (Atlanta) winning the 800-meter run (1:58.28) and third-year distance runner Gavin Williams (Dover, Del.) taking first in the 1500-meter run, clocking in at 4:07.44.

 

On March 25-27, the Bison travel to Raleigh, N.C. for the Raleigh Relays. (Continued below.....)

 

Stanford, Howard Women’s Track & Field Shine In Season Opener
Destiny Stanford sets a pair of new school records

 

(Photo Credit – Christopher Campbell)

 

WILMINGTON, N.C. (March 13, 2021) – Howard University women’s track & field team shined in their season opening meets in North Carolina. Friday (March 12), HU took part in the Wendy’s Navy Seahawk Invitational and Saturday (March 13) competed in the Wendy’s Teal Seahawk Invitational. Both events were held by UNC Wilmington.

 

In the two days, HU won 14 events while setting new school marks.

 

“From the first event Friday to the curtain dropped on Saturday, our women showed out,” said Howard Director of Track & Field David Oliver. “We won eight events Friday and another six on Saturday. I couldn't ask for a better start to the season.”

 

Senior Destiny Stanford (Woolwich Township, N.J.) headlined the weekend, setting two school records in her victories: 1500-meter run (4:35.14) and 5000-meter run (17:18.54).

 

“Destiny Stanford was surely a showstopper,” Oliver stated. “She blitzed two school records in her wins this weekend. It's great to see her back running better than ever, she's going to have an outstanding 2021 campaign.”

 

Her training partner Melanie White (Orlando, Fla.) also scored two monster personal bests that saw her crack the top five all-time performance list.

 

White and sophomore Dasia Wilson (Philadelphia) each won the 800-meter event. Wilson won Friday with a 2:23.35 mark and the Florida native earned a victory Saturday, clocking in at 2:11.94.

 

In the hurdles, Kaya-Rae Dunbar (Burtonsville, Md.) started her collegiate career with back-to-back wins in the 100-meter hurdles, recording 14.03 and 14.16, respectively, while junior Jessica Wright (Durham, N.C.) returned to the track after 23 months away with a huge personal best in the 400-meter hurdles (1:01.46).

 

“I have extremely high expectations for Kaya during her time at Howard,” Oliver expressed. “Also, Jessica Wright will be vying for a spot at the NCAA First Round by the end of the season. We are still down several important members of our squad, so I look forward to adding them back into the mix going forward.”

 

Other noteworthy performances on the track included wins in the 4x100 relay and 4x400 relay and senior Ozioma Scott (Georgetown, Guyana) taking first in the 400-meter dash (55.72).

 

In field competition, junior Diana Effiom (Dallas) ended her weekend owning three of the top five hammer throw distances in school history while collecting a win.

 

Other notable performances in the field included junior Ja’Tae Joyner (Bowie, Md.) winning the long jump (5.74m; 18.8 feet) and sophomore Symone Marsh (Hillsborough, N.J.) claiming first in the shot put (11.40m; 37.4 feet).

 

On March 25-27, the Bison travel to Raleigh, N.C. for the Raleigh Relays.