VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (February 22, 2026) – Howard University women's track & field squad leads after Day One at the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Indoor Championships, held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Va.
 
HU racked up 57 points, followed by Norfolk State (42 points) and Morgan State (30 points).
 
In the field, senior Temi Banwo (Allen, Texas) led the way with a victory in the weight throw (18.49 meters). Second-year Bison Kinnidi Hampton (Rowlette, Texas) also competed in the event, earning bronze (15.31 meters).
 
Other noteworthy performance in the field included senior Ija Mumford (Winston-Salem, N.C.) taking sixth overall in the long jump (5.56 meters).
 
On the track, rookie Alexis Jones (New Windsor, N.Y.) claimed gold in the 3K run with a 10:07.34 mark. sophomores Ester Kirk (Morristown, N.J.) and Chloe Poindexter (State College, Pa.) also took part, finishing sixth (10:45.41) and seventh (10:46.54), respectively.
 
Five Bison moved on to Monday's 60-meter hurdles final: senior Lauren Thompson (Frisco, Texas); sophomore Lindsay Johnson (Detroit) and freshmen Mmekom Inyang (Richmond Hill, Ga.), Carrie Vannoy (Oak Park, Mich.) and Gabby White (Silver Spring, Md.). The Georgia native also leads pentathlon with 3,658 points.
 
White and juniors Aiyana Gray-Williams (Winston-Salem, N.C.); Yahnari Lyons (Hampton, Ga.) and Mackenzie Robinson (Ypsilanti, Mich.) punched their tickets to Monday's 200-meter dash final.
 
Lyons, Gray-Williams and freshman Nilijah Darden (Greensboro, N.C.) each ran AQ times in the 60-meter dash, clocking in at 7.44, 7.47 and 7.47, respectively.
 
Johnson, Vannoy and senior Zoe Turner (Mableton, Ga.) rounded out the Bison, each advancing to the 400-meter dash final.
 
The MEAC Championships wrap up Monday (Feb. 23), starting at 10:30 a.m. Bison Nation can watch the conclusion on ESPN+ at 1:55 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.