GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 3, 2019) – Four Howard University women's runners qualified for Saturday's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
Junior hurdler Uchechi Onuoha (Yardly, Pa.) advanced to Championship Saturday after running a personal best in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking in at 13.69.
 
"All of our projected finalists made it back," said Howard Director of Track & Field David Oliver. "Uche [Uchechi Onuoha] ran a lifetime best in the [100-meter] hurdles, while [Sydney] Benson and [Melanie] White either nearly equaled or broke their lifetime bests."
 
Junior Sydney Benson (Grosse Point Woods, Mich.) and newcomer Melanie White (Orlando, Fla.) ran the same 800-meter heat where both Bison recorded a qualifying time. Benson posted a 2:10.79 mark while White established a personal best (2:13.27).
 
Third-year sprinter Ozioma Scott (Georgetown, Guyana) also moved on to Saturday in the 400-meter dash, running a 55.34 time.
 
Although she did not qualify, sophomore Ameenah Saalih (Willingboro, N.J.) ran a season-best in the 100-meter dash (12.00).
 
In the field, senior Mi-ah Watkins (Bronx, N.Y.) and Kaylah Clark (Miami) scored points for HU.
 
"The throwers really carried us on their shoulders today," said Director Oliver. "They came up really big."
 
Watkins placed fifth overall in the hammer throw where she threw a season-best over 152 feet (46.49m) and tallied four points.
 
"[Mi-ah] Watkins wrapped up her career throwing a lifetime best," Director Oliver stated. "We really can't ask for more."
 
Clark busy weekend continued with a seventh-place finish in the shot put (12.57m; 41'), registering two points.
 
"[Kaylah] Clark outperformed her projected finish," Director Oliver continued. [She's] on her way to garnering another all-conference recognition."
 
With eight events scored, Howard women remain sixth in the standings going into Saturday.
 
To view results from Day Two of the 2019 MEAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, please click here.
 
To view Saturday's heat sheets, please click here.
 
"Showing up when it matters most is an important trait in this sport," Director Oliver concluded. "We have quite a number of big meet performers [and I] can't wait to see what tomorrow brings."
 
The MEAC Championships continue Saturday, beginning 10 a.m. with the men's triple jump and women's javelin. The action takes place at the Irwin Belk Track, hosted by North Carolina A&T State.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.