NORFOLK, Va. (May 7, 2024) – Howard University women's track & field leaped into second place after Day Two of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Championships, held on the campus of Norfolk State University (NSU) in Norfolk, Va.
 
Collectively, HU produced 72 points thru eight scored events while jumping from fourth to second place.
 
Fifth-year Bison Erin Hatcher (Sliver Spring, Md.) highlighted the afternoon, winning the hammer with a new conference record of 58.16 meters. The DMV native shattered her previous mark set a year ago (55.64 meters).
 
Sophomore Temi Banwo (Allen, Texas) and graduate Zaria Opara (Carnation, Wash.) also competed in the event, placing fifth (47.68 meters) and eighth (43.38 meters), respectively.
 
Graduate Minyarn Smalls (Cary, N.C.) and junior Jasmyn Hunter (Flossmoor, Ill.) represented Bison Nation in the heptathlon, finishing first (4475) and second (4427), respectively.
 
Smalls, Banwo and Opara combined for 11 points in the shot put, claiming third (12.95 meters), fourth (12.20 meters) and seventh (11.21 meters), respectively, in the event.
 
Sophomores Ija Mumford (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and Kelis Armstrong (Plano, Texas) took part in the long jump, placing third (6.10 meters) and sixth (5.84 meters), respectively.
 
On the track, rookie Sarah Seam (Gaithersburg, Md.) scored three points for HU in the 3K steeplechase while earning sixth place (13:14.88).
 
Four Bison made the 100-meter hurdles final: Hunter; graduate Cathrina Morris (Auburndale, Fla.) and sophomores Lauren Thompson (Frisco Texas) and Jazmyn Wajd (Tampa, Fla.).
 
Graduate Kailei Collins (Houston), juniors Sherri-Anne Norton (Plantation, Fla.) and Tiffani-Rae Pittman (Bowie, Md.) and newcomer Aiyana Gray-Williams (Winston-Salem, N.C.) advanced to the 100-meter dash final.
 
Other notable Bison reaching Championship Wednesday included sophomore Zoe Turner (Mableton, Ga.) in the 400-meter dash (AQ) and junior Camille Egbula (Simpsonville, S.C.) in the 800-meter run (AQ).
 
Norfolk State sits atop the leaderboard after Day Two with 81 points thru eight scoring events.
 
HU looks to make another charge on Day Three of the MEAC Outdoor Championships Wednesday (May 8). The action starts 8 a.m., with the men's and women's 5K races.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.