FAIRFAX, Va. (January 4, 2020) – Howard University men's track and field resumed its indoor season at the Father Diamond Invitational, hosted by George Mason, where several Bison shined.
"We had an exceptional day across a myriad of events at [George] Mason," said Howard Director of Track & Field
David Oliver. "It showed that our group took the winter break work serious and continued to put in the work [during that time]."
On the track, four Bison qualified for the 2020 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Championships in Landover, Md.
In the men's 60-meter dash, newcomers
Richard Ninamou (Louisville, Ky.),
Goba Dan-Princewill and
Ja'Leak Perry (Atlanta) each made Landover in the preliminary round. Ninamou and Dan-Princewill clocked in at 6.94 apiece while Perry recorded a 7.00 mark.
"Our freshmen trio in the men's 60 dash all stepped up, performed and qualified for [the] MEAC [Indoor] Championships," Director Oliver continued. "They are all pretty new to the sport, so it will take some time for them to catch on, but their college careers are off to a great start."
After reaching the finals, Ninamou won with a 6.93 time while Perry took fifth overall, producing a 7.04 mark.
Before the break, second-year hurdlers
KiShaun Carter (Brick, N.J.),
Darian Clyburn (Louisville, Ky.) and
Kameron Davis (Miami) qualified for Landover in the men's 60-meter hurdles at the Eastern Shore Cappy Anderson Invitational (Dec. 7). Saturday (Jan.4), fellow classmate
Jermanie Byrd (Miami) joined the party with an 8.23 time in the prelims.
In Saturday's finals, Clyburn won gold, recording an 8.03 mark, while Davis, Byrd and Carter finished third, fifth and seventh, respectively.
"Howard hasn't been known as a short sprints program, but I've set out to change that perception," Director Oliver explained. "We've qualified 12 student-athletes in the short sprints and hurdles outright thru two meets."
Other notable track performances included sophomore
Aariq Nixon (Baltimore) claiming the top spot in the men's 1000-meter run with a 2:36.54 time.
In the field, third-year jumper
Nathaniel Are (Chicago) leaped over 45 feet (13.72 meters) in the men's triple jump where he placed first overall.
"Being able to pick up nine new [Mid-Eastern Athletic] conference championship qualifiers, including seven we picked up at the first [indoor] meet, is fairly impressive at this stage of the season," Director Oliver concluded. "We haven't opened with our student-athletes who ran at the NCAA's last season in their respective indoor disciplines, so we'll be adding more to that list over the course of the next couple weeks.
Friday (Jan. 10), Howard travels to the Big Apple, New York City, for the HBCU Battle at the Track.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at
www.HUBison.com.
