FAIRFAX, Va. (January 4, 2020) – Howard University junior sprinter Ameenah Saalih (Willingboro, N.J.) and sophomore thrower Diana Effiom (Dallas) headlined the Father Diamond Invitational, hosted by George Mason, with record-setting performances.
 
On the track, Saalih won the women's 60-meter dash with a new school mark (7.54), breaking a tie of the previous record held by Phakiso Collins '03 and LaClaire Carter '06 at 7.61.
 
"Ameenah [Saalih] has really committed herself this season and the results are starting to show," said Howard Director of Track & Field David Oliver. "She has only been in the sport for two full years and to see her go out and shatter the school record, held previously by my former teammates [Phakiso Collins and LaClaire Carter] is just a testament to her dedication."
 
In the field, Effiom continues her strong sophomore campaign with another record-setting effort, shattering her own mark set a month ago.
 
"Diana Effiom went out and improved on her school record [in the] weight throw that she set a month ago," Director Oliver stated. "She [has] worked hard in her second year and it is going to be exciting to see how her career continues to blossom."
 
The Dallas native threw over 50 feet (15.38 meters) while placing fourth overall.
 
Other noteworthy individual performances include senior hurdler Uchechi Onuoha (Yardley, Pa.) winning the women's 60-meter hurdles with a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Championship qualifying time of 8.77.
 
Freshmen De'ja Dade (Dallas) and Symone Marsh (Hillsborough, N.J.) also qualified for Landover in their respective events. Dade leaped over five feet (1.60 meters) in the women's high jump while the New Jersey product tossed nearly 48 feet (14.55 meters) in the weight throw.
 
"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 of weeks."
 
In the relays, senior Sydney Benson (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.), sophomore Melanie White (Orlando, Fla.) and newcomers Breanna McDonald (Bethesda, Md.) and Dasia Wilson (Philadelphia) claimed victory in the women's 4x800 relay, clocking in at 9:32.93.
 
"We had an exceptional day across a myriad of events at [George] Mason," Director Oliver commented. "It showed that our group took the winter break work serious and continued to put in the work [during that time]."
 
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.