GENEVA, Ohio (February 18, 2026) — Howard University men's swimming & diving continued its strong showing at the 2026 NEC Championships Wednesday at the SPIRE Institute, highlighted by a relay podium finish and an individual gold medal performance.
 
The Bison opened the evening with a second-place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay. The quartet of seniors Ty Triche (Humble, Texas) and Darien Williams (Philadelphia) and sophomores Ibrahima Diouf (Arlington, Va.) and Jalen Stewart (New Castle, Del.) touched the wall in 6:43.58 to earn 34 team points and kept Howard firmly in the championship hunt.
 
Howard's divers added valuable points in the 1-meter event. DMV native freshman Kai Lawson (Bethesda, Md.) led the way with a fourth-place finish (251.60), while fellow classmate Trevor Sewell (fifth, 235.95) and sophomores Zion Wilson (sixth, 234.25) and Bamidele Aina (eighth, 196.80) all reached the championship final to strengthen the Bison's team total.
 
In individual swimming events, Howard delivered another standout performance in the 200-yard individual medley. Newcomer Kaleb James (Durham, N.C.) captured gold with a winning time of 1:48.75, scoring 20 points for the Bison.
 
Howard also saw multiple scorers in the 500-yard freestyle. Williams posted a 10th-place finish (4:42.27) in the consolation final while Triche added points with a 12th-place showing (4:46.88).
 
The Bison return to action Thursday (Feb. 19) as the NEC Championships continue through Feb. 20.
 
For more information, visit the official Howard Athletics website at www.hubison.com.