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Howard Women and Men Prepare For MEAC Championship
The Howard University women and men's track and field teams will participate in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field championships, May 3-5 at Hughes Stadium on the campus of Morgan State University.
Competiton gets underway on Thursday at 10 am with the men's decathalon and women's heptathlon events. The official opening ceremonies will take place at 1 pm on Friday and will be followed by the long jump and shot put trials and finals, the women's pole vault, men's discus, men's high jump, women's javelin and the 5,000 meter run.
On Saturday, the finals get underway at 10 am featuring the high jump, the hurdles, all the sprints and will conclude with the 4X400-meter relays for men and women.
The Howard women will feature Lauren McNary, Landria Buckley and Jessica Neal. McNary, an NCAA participant in 2006, has begun to come on strong of late and has qualified for the NCAA Regionals.
"Lauren will have her hands full at the MEACs," predicted Howard Coach Michael Merritt. "There is some outstanding talent in the 400, but if she stays focused, I expect her to do well and earn a trip to Sacramento (CA) in June." That is where the NCAA Outdoor championships will be held.
Buckely, a freshman hurdler, has also qualified for the Regionals and the USA Junior Nationals.
"For Buckley, the biggest thing for her is staying focused," said Merritt of his prize recruit. "At times this season, she has been brilliant and at other times....But she is a freshman and it is going to happen."
One of the top middle distance runners in the MEAC, Neal has yet to qualify for the NCAAs. But Merritt says he expects her to do well in the MEACs.
"Jessica has just had some bad breaks this season," said Merritt. "She has got stuck in some lousy heats and that has been a factor. But there is a strong field in this event, especially the group from Hampton and that should bode well for her because she will have people to push her."
On the men's side, Daniel Kinney continues to perform with a high level of consistency. He has been equally good in the 110 and the 400 hurdles.
"Daniel is running very well right now," says Merritt. "He should be up for the challenge of the MEACs and later down the road for the NCAAs."
Other performers to look for are Thurman Sanders in the 1500 and Matthew Cody in the 800.
There are no contests upcoming.
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