JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 25, 2019) – Howard University track & field wrapped up its 2019 outdoor season on Day Three of the NCAA East Prelims with the women's 4x400 relay.
 
"We're a bit disappointed that we were unable to progress to the semifinal round for a second year in a row," said Howard Director of Track & Field David Oliver. "It's been nearly a decade since Howard has had someone make it to that point. We will come back strong in the fall with preparations to get beyond this round in 2020."
 
In the nightcap, juniors Sydney Benson (Gross Pointe Woods, Mich.) and Oluchi Ike (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and sophomores Jessika Gbai (Philadelphia) and Ozioma Scott (Georgetown, Guyana) recorded their third-best finish on the year (3:38.95) but fell short of reaching Austin.
 
"Ozi [Ozioma Scott] ran a great first leg and had us in a great position," Director Oliver stated. "We had a botched handoff and things fell apart afterward, [but] they did a great job getting to this point."
 
Despite the results, the four Bison ended the 2019 outdoor campaign with two first-place finishes while earning All-MEAC honors at the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships.
 
"This is the first time Howard has had a 4x400 [relay team] make it to this point," Director Oliver continued. "All the ladies that comprised this group will return next season. This was a great learning experience at the least."

In his second season at the helm, Director Oliver has guided six Bison to the NCAA East Preliminary Round, including four this year, which doubled last year's qualifiers.
 
"Our women saw a 22-point increase over last year as well as increased our participation at the National Championships from two events to four," Director Oliver commented. "I'm excited for the future and I feel like we are definitely a program on the rise. Our student-athletes represent Howard University extremely well on and off the track."
 
On the men's side, Howard witnessed several young Bison emerge throughout the year, including rising sophomores Jermaine Byrd (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Aariq Nixon (Baltimore) and reigning MEAC javelin champion Mekhi Abbott (Monroe, N.J.).
 
"I would call our second season as a staff a success," Director Oliver expressed. "[The] men improved from one-point and a dead last finish at the conference [outdoor] meet a year ago to 32 points and finishing 7^th [out] of 12. We've got a young squad returning [with] no seniors on the roster, so the future is bright."
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.