HBCU Showcase Provides Top Times, Marks At The Armory

By Oliver Hinson of DyeStat

John Nepolitan PHOTOS

VIDEOS/RESULTS

Five athletes set HBCU-leading marks on Saturday at the HBCU Showcase Presented by Nike Running at the Armory.

On the track, Howard teammates Yahnari Lyons and Tiffany Mugubi set HBCU No. 1 marks in the women’s 200 meters and 800 meters, respectively. Lyons ran 23.68 in the 200, a personal best, while Mugubi ran 2:10.89. Lyons also won the 60 meters with a time of 7.44 seconds.

The Howard women had an especially good day on the track, which helped them earn the team victory with 176 points. Alexis Jones won both the mile and 3,000 meters, running 5:01.77 in the mile and 10:39.75 in the 3,000, while another Bison duo, Zoe Turner and Cenaiya Billups, went 1-2 in the 400 meters. 

Temi Banwo added ten more points for Howard in the weight throw, cruising to a victory with a throw of 17.82 meters (58-5.75). She threw over 17 meters on three of her attempts, a feat none of her competitors could even do once. Runner-up Damali Williams from Hampton finished almost three feet behind with a toss of 16.92 meters (55-6.25).

Meanwhile, two other women recorded HBCU-leading performances on Saturday. Hampton’s Rochele Solmon threw 15.05 meters (49-4.50) in the shot put, while UMES’s Faithlyn Irving jumped 12.59 meters (41-3.75) in the triple jump.

On the men’s side, Norfolk State came out victorious with 119.5 points thanks to a strong showing in the field events. Jaymes Saunders jumped 7.52 meters (24-8.25), a new HBCU No. 2 mark, in the long jump, while Kristopher Stephens jumped 15.12 meters (49-7.25), an HBCU No. 8 mark, in the triple jump. Atrell Williams added a win in the shot put with a 16.14-meter (52-11.50) throw in the shot put.

Other notable performances on the men’s side included Howard’s William Shepherd running 4:14.26 in the mile — fourth on the HBCU leaderboard — and his teammate Drew Dillard running 7.87 in the 60 meter hurdles, another HBCU No. 4 mark.