ANNAPOLIS, Md. & CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (December 3, 2022) – Howard University senior Ja'Tae Joyner (Bowie, Md.) and graduate student Mikayla Rogers (South Huntington, N.Y.) opened their campaign with a bang by setting new school records in the triple jump and weight throw, respectively.
 
Rogers was the shining star for the Bison at the Navy Invitational while Joyner was one of several tremendous performances at Harvard for the HBCU & Ivy Challenge.
 
"I'm very happy with what we saw from our women's team this weekend," said Howard Director of Track & Field David Oliver after today's meets. "This was a great start to our title defense campaign. We lost a lot of great athletes from last year, but it looks like we have individuals that are looking to step up and make their mark."
 
Joyner leaped 12.58 meters (41'3") at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge to enter her name in the record books while Rogers shattered the previous school record with a toss of 18.47 meters (60'6") in Annapolis at the Navy Invitational.
 
Freshman Jazmyn Wajd finished second behind Joyner in the women's triple jump in 11.70m.
 
Newcomer Ija Mumford made a splash in her debut by winning the long jump with a mark of 5.70 meters (18'7").
 
On the track, reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) 60-meter Hurdles Champion Kaya Rae-Dunbar (Burtonsville, Md.) won the hurdles in 8.42 seconds, followed closely by junior Darci Khan (8.45 seconds).
 
Sophomore Lamaria Washington (Miami) led a clean sweep of the 60-meter dash, winning in 7.49 seconds. Fellow classmate Tiffani Pittman (Bowie, Md.) claimed second (7.50) and senior Deja Dade (DeSoto, Texas) rounded out the trio, finishing third in 7.52 seconds. All three performances placed them in the Top 6 all-time in school history.
 
Three-Time All-American Jessica Wright (Durham, N.C.) stormed the track in the 300-meter dash, winning in a time of 38.06.
 
Friday (Dec. 9), the Bison travel to Staten Island, N.Y., for the Seahawk Shootout at Ocean Breeze Sports Complex, hosted by Wagner College.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.