NORFOLK, Va. - May 8, 2024 - For the third consecutive season the Bison of Howard University were crowned the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Women's Outdoor Track & Field Champions. The team totaled 231 points, 32 points more than the runners-up in Norfolk State University. The Hornets of Delaware State rounded out the top three with 94.5 team points.
Head Coach David Oliver was named the Outstanding Coach of the Meet, while Norfolk State's Mercyline Kimaiyo and Leslie Young garnered the Outstanding Runner and Field Athlete of the Meet accolades respectively.
In the women’s 5,000 Mercyline Kimaiyo won first place in 17:39.55 finishing just under nine seconds ahead of teammate Yvone Sandui (17:48.38). Howard’s Joslyn Crosbey took third with a time of 18:23.34.
Howard won the women’s 4x100m relay finishing in 44.30 with Coppin State taking second in 45.12, and Norfolk State securing third clocking a time of 45.97.
NSU finished 1-2-3-4 in the women's 1500 as Sandui edged out Kimaiyo for first with a time of 4:39.99. Kimaiyo finished in 4:40.69 while Jahmai Wyatt joined her teammates on the podium with less than 1.5 seconds (4:41.36) separating the trio.
Howard’s Katherina Morris took first in the women’s 100m hurdle, photo-finish with Norfolk State’s Brooklyn Robinson in 13.12. Delaware State’s Kathryn Glynn placed third in 13.31.
In the women’s 400, Zoe Turner (Howard) won the gold finishing in 53.36, ranking her 38th in the east coast region. South Carolina State’s Angelica Frederick won silver with a 54.08 time while Maryland Eastern Shore’s Chloe Lucas took third with a time of 54.15.
A pair of Bison, Kailei Collins and Tiffani Rae Pittman, placed first and second in the 100m and 200m dash races. Collins finished in 11.12 in the 100m and 22.73 in the 200m, moving her into the top ten in the east region for both events, while Pittman clocked an 11.29 (18th) and 23.08 (27th) amongst the region's best times.
Halue Hor of Coppin State took third in the 100m with a time of 11.34 while her teammate Nackera Allen took third in the 200m clocking a 23.32 time. Hor and Allen’s times also puts them in preliminary contention for the east regional.
Norfolk State’s Sandui won the women’ s 800m run registering a PR and season best 2:07.92, while Spartan teammate Wyatt crossed the line less than a second behind with a personal best 2:08.88. Laila Jackson took third in a time of 2:09.01.
In the women’s 400m hurdles, Howard took first and third place with Simone Wakins earning gold in a time of 57.76 which ranks in the top 20 nationally. Bison Teammate Aniya Woodruff finished third in 58.75 while Delaware State’s Mirium Okwudibony won silver in a time of 58.4, for 25th in the region.
To wrap up the day, Howard’s 4x400m relay won a highly contested race finishing first in 3:40.90, only a half second ahead of South Carolina State. Norfolk State took third in 3:43.63.
In the field events, Morgan State’s Ishana Asinor won gold in the women’s the pole vault clearing a height of 11’11.5”, with Delaware State’s Annalyse Bond claiming second place with a 10’9.5” mark. Norfolk State’s D’Nysha Brightful placed third, reaching a height of 10' 5½".
In the women’s javelin throw, South Carolina State’s Arieynna Scott was crowned the champion with a season best 139' 5" (42.50m).
The final women’s field event featured the women’s triple jump which saw North Carolina Central’s Joidon Boddie claim a first-place finish with a leap of 12.99m (42’7.7”) ranking her 15th in the east region.
All-Tournament Awards
Outstanding Coach of the Meet: David Oliver, Howard
Outstanding Runner Athlete of the Meet: Mercyline Kimaiyo, NSU
Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet: Leslie Young, NSU
MEAC All-Conference Teams
Women’s First Team
Kailei Collins (HOW, 100m dash, 200m dash), Zoe Turner (HOW, 400m dash), Yvone Sandui (NSU, 800m run, 1500m run), Mercyline Kimaiyo (NSU, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m race, 10000m race), Cathrina Morris (HOW, 100mH), Simone Watkins (HOW, 400mH), Kennedy Spears (SCSU, HJ), Ishana Asinor (MSU, PV), Nyla Ward (NSU, LJ), Joiudon Boddie (NCCU, TJ), Leslie Young (NSU, SP), Johnelle Johnson (MSU, Discus), Erin Hatcher (HOW, Hammer), Areyanna Scott (SCSU, Javelin), Minyarn Smalls (HOW, Heptathlon), Howard (4x100, 4x400)
Women's Second Team
Tiffani Rae Pittman (HOW, 100m dash, 200m dash), Angelica Frederick (SCSU, 400m dash), Jahmei Wyatt (NSU, 800m run), Mercyline Kimaiyo (NSU, 1500m run), Yvone Sandui (NSU, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m race), Joslyn Crosby (HOW, 10000m race), Brooklyn Robinson (NSU, 100mH), Chidubem Okwudibonye (DSU, 400mH), Aniah Kennerson (NSU, HJ), Annalise Bond (DSU, PV), Cameran Gist (SCSU, PV, LJ), Faithlyn Irving (UMES, TJ), Johnelle Johnson (MSU, SP, Hammer), Leslie Young (NSU, Discus, Javelin), Jasmyn Hunter (HOW, Heptathlon), Coppin State (4x100), South Carolina State (4x400)
Women's Third Team
Halutie Hor (CSU, 100m dash), Nackera Allen (CSU, 200m dash), Chloe Lucas (UMES, 400m dash), Laila Jackson (NCCU, 800m run), Jahmei Wyatt (NSU, 1500m run), Joslyn Crosby (HOW, 5000m race), Abigael Chebet (NSU, 10000m race), Catherine Glenn (DSU, 100mH, Tied-HJ), Aniya Woodruff (HOW, 400mH), Ashley Lagat (NSU, 3000m steeplechase), Tia Lucas (NCCU, Tied-HJ), Alejandra Urraca (NCCU, Tied-HJ), Lyee Simms (UMES, Tied-HJ), D’Nysha Brightful (NSU, PV), Ija Mumford (HOW, LJ), Cameran Gist (SCSU, TJ), Minyarn Smalls (HOW, SP, Javelin), Amber Pelle (DSU, Discus, Hammer), Jourdon Hunter (SCSU, Heptathlon), Norfolk State (4x100, 4x400)