WASHINGTON (January 20, 2024) - The women of Howard University swimming and diving capped the last dual meet of the 2023-24 season with a win, defeating the Catholic Cardinals, 181-56.
 
The Bison dominated the Cardinals, winning every event with both senior Michaela Spears (Chicago) and junior Jordynn Connell (Flower Mound, Texas) leading the way, scoring two gold finishes apiece.
 
The Bison kicked off the meet with a bang, cruising to a first-place finish in the 400-Medley Relay. The Bison dominated the Cardinals with HU's A relay team coming in nearly a full six seconds ahead of their runner-up teammates on Howard B relay team.
 
Sophomore Skylar Debnam (Chandler, Ariz.) earned the first individual gold for the women with her time of 10:56.25 in the 1000-Free.
 
Rookie Tiara Jackson (Los Angeles) swam to a first-place finish and her best time in the 200-Free this season with an exciting 2:02.12 - a finger ahead of the runner-up Cardinal in lane two.
 
Junior Kelsey Roberson (West Orange, N.J.) earned her gold in the 50-Free with her swim of 24.86. Fellow classmate Myeisha Sharrieff (Bermuda) was right on her heels, coming in with a time of 25.40.
 
Swimming a time of 2:13.84, Spears claimed her first gold on the afternoon in the 200-IM with enough time to relax at the end of the pool while the competition battled it out in the rankings.
 
Connell flew to new heights, winning the 1M dive with a score of 215.65. The junior went on to secure the 3M with her score of 220.80.
 
Senior Alana Josey (York, Pa.) followed up with her success in the 200-Fly, swimming the event in 2:12.73.
 
The Bison gave yet another exciting race in the 100-Free when three Bison stayed within a hand of each other throughout the event. Swimming a season best of 54.67, senior Isabella Fountain (White Plains, N.Y.) took home the gold with fellow standout junior Zaylie-Elizabeth Thompson (Nassau, Bahamas) claiming runner-up, just 0.41 seconds behind her. Roberson rounded out the top three with her time of 56.54.
 
Newcomer Summer McKoy (Pikesville, Md.) beat her competition by nearly a full second in the 200-Back.
 
The Bison cruised by the Cardinals in the 500-Free with sophomore Kali Garcia (Altamonte, Fla.) leading the way, swimming the event in 4:53.39.
 
Spears earned the final first-place finish in the 200-Breaststroke with her swim of 2:29.96, mere tenths of a second ahead of Thompson. Josey rounded out the top three to extend HU's lead.
 
In a fan favorite, the Bison bested the competition in the 400-Free Relay with a time of 3:40.02.
 
On Feb. 20-24, the Bison are back in action when they kick off the Northeast Conference Championships in Geneva, Ohio.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.