WASHINGTON (March 31, 2020) – Howard University sophomore advertising major Kennedy Lewis had a chance to catch up to her track teammate Uchechi Onuoha (Yardley, Pa.) and asked 10 questions for the 2019-20 Senior Profile series.
 
Q: What's your favorite part of track?
A: I would say my favorite part about track is the fact that it's mainly a self-reliant sport. I really enjoy the fact that what I put in is what I get out of it, whether I win or lose, it's on me. Your OWN talent can take you as far as you want to go and that's not the case for a lot of sports.
 
Q: How did you get started in track?
A: In seventh grade, my best friend convinced me to try out for the track team with her as a fun after-school activity. Haha, never did I think track would become such a huge part of my life. I was fast and it became fun for me. I fell in love with the sport and eight years later, I still love it just the same.
 
Q: What kept you motivated?
A: My teammates and coaches are a huge part of what kept me motivated. When in doubt, I would always tell myself to push through because I knew how much respect my teammates and coaches had for me and I never wanted to let anyone down.
 
Q: If you weren't competing in track, what other sport would you do?
A: I would 100% play soccer because a lot of people don't know this, but I grew up playing soccer. That's what we did in my household and I played for 13 years before I gave it up for track. I still miss the sport every day and I would've loved to play if given the chance.
 
Q: Who is my favorite athlete and why?
A: My favorite athlete is Lebron James because he has been dominant for so long. He's a class act and continues to prove that even with age, you can still improve. He's an absolute monster.
 
Q: What's my favorite memory at Howard?
A: My favorite memory at Howard was making the [NCAA East] Regionals my junior year. The experience was unforgettable.
 
Q: Plans after graduation?
A: I plan to keep on running and training because you never know what the future holds. But aside from that, I will be moving back to the DMV area and working full time.
 
Q: What or who will you miss at Howard?
A: I will miss my teammates and my coaches because I was lucky enough to form such a close knit bond with my team and coaching staff and departing from them will be tough for me.
 
Q: What advice would I give future Bison?
A: The advice I would give future Bison is to take advantage of every opportunity Howard has to offer, regardless of your inexperience. Howard showers us with countless opportunities day in and day out and I would recommend putting your foot in the door to as many companies as often as you can. It can be tough at times, but it's worth it. Push through the trying times because the end result will be greater.
 
Q: Who would I like to thank?
A: There's a lot of people that I would love to thank, so many people have contributed to my success on and off the track. My high school coach was a huge part of the reason I even came to Howard. He was a huge impact in my life, and I thank him so much for that.
 
My parents because they're my biggest support system, of course.
 
Coach David Oliver (Howard Director of Track & Field) has been the best coach I could ever ask for and I thank him for always believing in me.
 
And lastly, Mr. Paul Bowden (Howard Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support Services) because he's been my saving grace and I couldn't have gotten through without him. I'm so thankful for everyone.
 
About Onuoha
 
Before coming to The Mecca, Onuoha had a choice to either follow in her parent's footsteps and attend a large university or chose Howard and reach her goals while making a lifetime of friends and memories. She chose HU because it was a perfect fit with a home-like atmosphere.
 
In 2017, she won the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) 400-meter hurdles title while becoming the first Howard female student-athlete to reach the NCAA preliminary round since 2013.
 
The following year (Spring 2018), Onuoha returned to the NCAA prelims in Tampa where she fell just short of reaching the NCAA Nationals.
 
A year ago (Spring 2019), she made the NCAA Regionals for a third time as an alternate for the 4x400 relay squad.
 
Onuoha graduates in the spring after majoring in Sports Management.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.