WILMINGTON, N.C. (March 9, 2019) – Howard University women's track & field continued its dominance at the Wendy's Seahawk Invitational where they had 10 first-place finishes Saturday.
 
"We had a great opening weekend," said Howard Director of Track & Field David Oliver. "I'm very happy with the direction things are going with our young group."
 
Individually, four more Bison qualified for the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Championships in Greensboro, N.C.
 
In the 400-meter dash, junior Oluchi Ike (Upper Marlboro, Md.; 55.79) and sophomore Ozioma Scott (Georgetown, Guyana; 56.94) finished first and second, respectively, and reached the championship season. Third-year runner Sydney Benson (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) fell just short, but came in third overall.
 
Sophomore Destiny Stanford (Woolwhich Township, N.J.) and freshman Melanie White (Orlando, Fla.) also punched their tickets in the women's 1500-meter run. Stanford won the event with a 4:44.46 mark, followed by White (4:48.00). They also went first and second in the 800-meter where White claimed the top spot (2:16.63) and Stanford finished runner-up (2:18.00).
 
Standouts junior Uchechi Onuoha (Yardly, Pa.) and sophomore Jessika Gbai (Philadelphia) each won their respective events. Onuoha earned first in the women's 100-meter hurdles (14.17) and Gbai (12.00), freshman Kennedy Lewis (Atlanta; 12.12) and sophomore Ameenah Saalih (Willingboro, N.J.; 12.17) took first, second and third overall in the 100-meter dash.
 
"We got what we were looking for out of our top runners [Destiny Stanford, Uchechi Onuoha and Jessika Gbai]," Oliver stated. "[Also], getting our top 400-meter runner [Ozioma Scott] back after being out injured the last two months is key as well."
 
Other noteworthy performances include Lewis winning the 200-meter dash (25.04) and fellow classmate Jessica Wright (Durham, N.C.) took the top spot in the 400-meter hurdles (1:04.69).
 
Howard also placed first and second in the women's 4x100 and 4x400 relays.
 
In the field, second-year thrower Kaylah Clark (Miami) qualified for the MEAC Outdoor Championships in the discus throw (39.19m) after punching her ticket yesterday in the hammer throw.
 
Freshman Nia Guine-Herndon (Jacksonville, Fla.) had the best score in the women's triple jump (11.32m).
 
To view all results from the 2019 Wendy's Seahawk Invitational, please click here.
 
Over the weekend, Director Oliver and his staff saw 10 Bison qualify for the conference championships.
 
"In addition to winning quite a few events," Oliver added. "We were able to achieve 10 individual qualifying marks for the MEAC outdoor championships as well."
 
On March 14-16, Howard remains in the Tar Heel state when they travel to Charlotte for the 49er Classic.
 
"It was not the ideal conditions for a track meet weather wise [this weekend]," Oliver concluded. "[But we're] definitely looking forward to next weekend in Charlotte."
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.