WASHINGTON (February 2, 2023) - Howard University men's and women's track & field program returns to action this weekend (Feb 3- 4) after a week off. HU travels to Blacksburg, Va., for the Doc Hale VT Meet, hosted by Virginia Tech.
 
Friday begins at 5 p.m., followed by a 11 a.m. start time Saturday morning.
 
NOTABLE AWARDS
 
All-American senior Jessica Wright (Durham, N.C.) received Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Women's Track Athlete of the Week (Jan. 25).
 
Also, fellow classmate hurdler Jermanie Byrd (Miami) received honorable mention after taking fifth overall in the men's 60-meter hurdles, running a 7.96 in the final round, which ranked second-fastest in the league.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Two weeks ago, HU competed in Carolina Challenge, hosted by the University of South Carolina, where the sprinters and hurdlers dominated day one and relay squads highlighted day two.
 
MEN
 
Byrd and junior Zachary Hawkins (Loganville, Ga.) made the 60-meter hurdles final, producing times of 7.96 (5^th) and 7.99 (7^th), respectively.
 
In the 60-meter dash, senior Ja'Leak Perry (Atlanta) reached the final round after running a non AQ of 6.93. In the final, he took third overall with a 6.86 time.
 
Second-year Bison Kaleb Berry (Duncanville, Texas) claimed second in the 800-meter run (1:54.84) while fellow teammate Julian Lawson (Sewell, N.J.) earned bronze in the mile run (4:31. 73).
 
In the field, senior thrower Ezra Monteiro (New Port, R.I.) finished third overall after tossing nearly 51 feet (15.48 meters).
 
WOMEN
 
Senior De'ja Dade (DeSoto, Texas) and newcomers Kiya Lawson, Aniya Woodruff and Zoe Turner placed second (24.44), third (24.71), fourth (24.73) and fifth (24.94), in the 200-meter dash, respectively.
 
Lawson, Turner and Woodruff also competed in the 400-meter dash, earning second (56.85), third (56.85) and fifth (57.39), respectively.
 
Juniors Darci Khan and Kaya-Rae Dunbar (Burtonsville, Md.) made the 60-meter hurdles with automatic qualifying times of 8.47 and 8.51, respectively. In the final round, Khan and Dunbar placed fifth (8.35) and eighth (8.64), respectively.
 
Second-year Bison Lamaria Washington (Miami) reached the 60-meter dash final, taking fifth overall (7.54).
 
The distance medley relay (DMR) squad, consisting of seniors Breanna McDonald (Bethesda, Md.) and Melanie White (Orlando, Fla.), sophomore Camille Egbula (Simpsonville, S.C.) and newcomer Jordyn Miller (Mundelein, Ill.), came away successful on the final day at the Carolina Challenge. The four Bison produced a 12:13.01 time, more than 12 seconds faster than the Gamecocks' A-Team.
 
Wright, Lawson, Turner and Woodruff represented HU in the women's 4x400 relay, earning silver with a time of 3:35.67 (school record).
 
Wright also competed in the 400-meter dash, finishing second overall (54.01).
 
In the field, graduate thrower Mikyla Rodgers (South Huntington, N.Y.) capped off the weekend with a second-place finish in the weight throw (18.35 meters; 60'3").
 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
 
On Feb 10-11, HU road trip continues with a pair of meets in Norfolk, Va. (Kenneth Giles Invitational) and Chicago (Windy City Invitational).
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.