Howard University Leads HBCU Charge at Texas Relays, Bison Women's 4x100m Team Advances to Finals

HBCU track and field athletes made their mark on day three of the 2026 Texas Relays, with several standout performances earning spots in Saturday's finals. Howard University emerged as the powerhouse among HBCU competitors, excelling across multiple events.

Women's 4x100m Relay: Bison Advance

The relay events proved to be a major highlight as three HBCU teams competed for the coveted top nine qualifying spots. The Howard Bison women's relay squad delivered an exceptional performance, clocking 44.40 to finish 5th overall in the prelims. Their impressive time placed them ahead of Baylor (45.50), demonstrating the Bison's elite-level speed and coordination.

Hampton University's Lady Pirates also posted a strong showing, finishing 11th with a time of 45.49. While they narrowly missed the qualifying cut-off for Saturday's finals, they notably finished ahead of Houston (45.78).

Howard Dominates 100m Hurdles

The Bison continued their stellar day in the women's 100m hurdles, where Howard athletes claimed the top three HBCU finishes. Marcia Sey led the charge with an outstanding second-place finish in her heat, recording a time of 13.16 (3.4m/s). Her performance not only advanced her to the next round but also placed her in the top seven of NCAA rankings this season.

Howard's depth in the event was evident as Lauren Thompson finished 12th overall with a solid 13.42, while Gabby White clocked 13.72 to finish 20th.

Field Events

In the women's shot put, two HBCU athletes represented their schools well:

• Temi Banwo (Howard): Finished 9th with a mark of 13.92m
• Michaela Booker (Prairie View A&M): Finished 13th with a mark of 13.21m

With Saturday's finals on the horizon, all eyes will be on the Howard Bison women's 4x100m relay team and Marcia Sey as they look to bring home championship hardware for HBCU track and field.

Originally reported by HBCU Gameday.