BALTIMORE (December 3, 2022) - The men of Howard University swim and dive closed out the 2022 year, placing second at Loyola's Hounds Invitational Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bison put on a show, registering 15 top conference performances during the meet.
 
On day one, senior Miles Simon (Atlanta) earned a top individual finish in the 50 Free (19.92) before earning a NIC A-Cut with his leadoff time of 19.85 in the 400 Medley relay. Fellow classmate Mark-Anthony Beckles (Chaguanas, Trinidad & Tobago) earned a NIC B-Cut with his third-place finish in the 50 Free with a time of 20.52. Arion Solomon's (Fairburn, Ga.) leadoff swim of 21 seconds in the 50 Free also earned him a B-cut invite. The three Bison rounded out the top three performances in the NEC.
 
Simon added to the record books, notching school marks in the 100 Free, 100 Backstroke and 100 Butterfly while also being named male Swimmer of the Meet.
 
His B-Cut 44.19 swim in the 100 Free stands as a new Loyola pool record, breaking Rider University's Drew Modrov 13-year record. Beckles was a few strokes behind in the event, earning a CSCAA invite with his season best time of 44.87.
 
Senior Mark-Anthony Thompson (Nassau, Bahamas) earned an A-cut in the 50 Breast with his extracted time of 26.25.
 
Missing first by .15 seconds, senior Luke Kennedy Thompson's (Nassau, Bahamas) second-place performance in the 100 Breast earned him a championship invite with his qualifying time of 56.26. Younger brother Mark-Anthony Thompson was on his heels, tying for third with a time of 56.58.
 
In the best showings this season, the Bison swam the 400 Free relay in 3:04.46, followed by the 800 Free relay in 6:50.16. The second place and third place finishes are conference bests, respectively.
 
The Bison went on to set a school record in the 400 Medley relay, consisting of Simon, Beckles, Darin Johnson (Atascocita, Texas), Taj Benton (Baltimore). The third-place finish also leads the conference.
 
Other conference leading performances included Beckles in the 200 Free (1:41.74), L. Thompson in the 500 Free (4:37.27; B-Cut), Ty Triche (Humble, Texas) in the 1650 Free (16:40.84; B-Cut), Simon in the 100 Back (48.53; B- Cut), 50 Fly (22.86; NICB) and 100 Fly (48.58; B-Cut) Johnson in the 200-Breaststroke (2:07.02) and Taj Benton in the 200 Fly (1:54.76).
 
The Bison are back in action January 14 at 1 p.m. as they host UMBC at The Burr.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.