NORFOLK, Va. (May 14, 2026) – Howard University women's track & field team saw eight Bison advance after Day One of the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Outdoor Championships in Norfolk, Va.
 
Senior Aniya Woodruff (Harrisburg, N.C.) and sophomores Cenaiya Billups (Denver) and Lindsay Johnson (Detroit) reached Saturday's 400-meter hurdles final, posting automatic qualifying (AQ) times of 58.45, 57.90 and 58.58, respectively. Freshman Carrie Vannoy (Oak Park, Mich.) also ran the race and secured a spot with a non AQ mark of 59.72.
 
Saturday's (May 16) is scheduled for 2:50 p.m.
 
Juniors Yahnari Lyons (Hampton, Ga.) and Mackenzie Robinson (Ypsilanti, Mich.) and rookie Nilijah Darden (Greensboro, N.C.) dominated the 200-meter dash prelims, each recording AQ times of 23.51, 24.09 and 23.74, respectively. Freshman Gabby White (Silver Spring, Md.) also punched her ticket to Championship Saturday with a non AQ mark of 24.53.
 
Saturday's 200-meter dash is slated for 3:10 p.m.
 
In the field, senior Temi Banwo (Allen, Texas) scored HU's lone points on the day after taking silver in the discus (44.18 meters).
 
Other noteworthy performance included sophomore Jasmen Walker (Flossmoor, Ill.) holding a slim lead in the heptathlon (2,905) with three events remaining.
 
HU sits in fourth place with eight points. North Carolina Centrals holds the top spot with 23 points, followed by Morgan State (20 points) and Delaware State (12 points).  
 
The MEAC Outdoor Championships continue Friday (May 15) with the men's & women's decathlon, beginning at 9 a.m. Field events begin at 11:30 a.m., and running events to start at 2:50 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.