NORFOLK, Va. (May 13, 2022) – Howard University women's track & field team moved up one slot after day two of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Championships.
 
After seven events, HU sits in third place with 43 points.
 
Third-year Bison Minyarn Smalls set the tone, winning the heptathlon with 4539 points. Rookie Jasmyn Hunter (Flossmoor, Ill.) finished fourth overall after tallying 3974 points. Collectively, the Bison duo accounted for 15 points.
 
Smalls also competed in the shot put where she placed in fourth, tossing 12.49 meters while earning five points.
 
In the long jump, freshman Nikayla Fitzgerald (Kyle, Texas) won bronze after leaping 5.84 meters. Senior Ja'Tae Joyner (Bowie, Md.) came in sixth after launching 5.66 meters. Together, they produced nine points.
 
Four Bison advanced to Championship Saturday in the 100-meter dash, highlighted by senior Jessika Gbai (Philadelphia) and freshmen Sherri-Anne Norton (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and Tiffani-Rae Pittman (Bowie, Md.) clocking in at AQ times of 11.41, 11.50 and 11.77, respectively. Newcomer Lamaria Washington (Miami) rounded out the Bison, recording a nonautomatic qualifying mark of 11.94.
 
Saturday's (May 14) final is set for 2:15 p.m.
 
In the 100-meter hurdles, sophomore Kaya-Rae Dunbar (Burtonsville, Md.) and senior Jessica Wright (Durham, N.C.) advanced to the final round after running AQ times of 13.86 and 14.18, respectively, while senior Amaya Thomas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) made the cut with a non AQ mark (15.13).
 
Saturday's event is scheduled for 1:40 p.m.
 
Junior Dasia Wilson (Philadelphia) moved on to Saturday's 800-meter run after earning an automatic qualifying time of 2:12.65. Senior Melanie White (Orlando, Fla.) and rookie Camille Egbula (Simpsonville, S.C.) joined the Philly native with non AQ marks of 2:13.89 and 2:14.91, respectively.
 
The 800-meter run final is slated for 2:30 p.m.
 
Seniors Ozioma Scott (Georgetown, Guyana) and Ameenah Saalih (Willingboro, N.J.) reached the 400-meter dash final after registering non automatic qualifying times of 53.88 and 54.19, respectively.
 
Saturday's final round starts at 2 p.m.

Morgan State sits atop the leaderboard with 70 points, followed by Norfolk State (56 points).
 
Championship Saturday will begin at 10 a.m., with the women's pole vault, men's triple jump and women's javelin throw. Running events commence at 1 p.m. with the women's 4x100-meter relay. The 4x400-meter relays will wrap up proceedings, with the women going at 4:35 and the men at 4:55 p.m.
 
Saturday's track action will be streamed live on the MEAC Digital Network via YouTube at 1 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.