BLACKSBURG, Va. & LANDOVER, Md. (January 18, 2020) – Howard University men's track & field team competed in a pair of meets at the Virginia Tech Invitational (Jan. 17-18), hosted by the Hokies, and the Terrapin Invitational (Jan. 18), hosted by Maryland.
 
Freshman thrower Nnamdi Olebara (Bowie, Md.) led the way by winning the 2020 Terrapin Invitational men's shot put, tossing nearly 50 feet (15.10 meters).
 
"Nnamdi [Olebara] found himself over 15 meters again in the shot put while taking home the overall win," said Howard Director of Track and Field David Oliver. "Coach Danny Stokes took his squad to Maryland and got some really quality work done. We banked several personal best marks and had very successful throws [in Landover]."
 
In Blacksburg, HU provided bright spots on the track.
 
"We had a lot of bright spots this weekend [in Blacksburg]," Director Oliver continued. "Making the finals in the sprint events were huge accomplishments. Goba [Dan-Princewill] showed a lot of resolve by competing well and making it back."
 
After reaching the men's 60-meter dash final, newcomer Goba Dan-Princewill ran a 6.97 time, which placed him sixth overall.
 
In the hurdles, second-year hurdler Jermanie Byrd (Miami) advanced to the finals where he finished fifth, producing an 8.10 mark.
 
"[Jermanie] Byrd ran a massive personal best in the hurdle final," Director Oliver expressed. "As a guy who has had experience on the national level, he always shows up when it matters most."
 
In that same event, rising star Darian Clyburn (Louisville) suffered a fall in the preliminary round where he was unable to finish.
 
"Unfortunately, it wasn't all good news for us as it appears, we have lost our top hurdler Darian Clyburn for the foreseeable future due to [a] fall in the prelims," Director Oliver stated on his star hurdler. "But he's resilient and will bounce back."
 
Sophomore runner Gavin Williams (Dover, Del.) represented HU in multiple distance events, including the 800-meter run (1:57.20) and mile run (4:24.30).
 
"Gavin [Williams] did what he usually does," Director Oliver commented. "He dropped down in events this week and ran two personal bests. He has placed himself in a great position to potentially score at the [MEAC] indoor conference [championships] in three individual events."
 
Fellow classmate Aariq Nixon (Baltimore) also competed in the 800-meter run where he finished runner-up in the event, recording a 1:56.95 mark.

"I feel it is very important to put us in pressure filled situations and that is exactly what the meet at Virginia Tech did for us," Director Oliver concluded. "Experience is the best educator, [and] we have several student-athletes that are at the NCAA Preliminary Round level and beyond. We shouldn't be waiting until the postseason to gain this type of pressure packed experience."
 
To view results from the Virginia Tech Invitational, please click here. To view results from the Terrapin Invitational, please click here.
 
After a weekend away from competition, HU returns to action for the Navy Invitational II, hosted by the Midshipmen.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.