During the annual HBCU & Ivy League Challenge hosted by Harvard University, the Bison opened the 2024-2025 track and field season with several record-setting performances.
The women’s team nearly battled to a draw, taking a close second (116-117) to Harvard, while the men dominated with 126 points, convincingly ahead of the Crimson’s total of 84. The meet saw record-breaking performances and promising Bison debuts that set the tone for the remainder of the indoor season.
In a triumphant return, junior Dylan Gaines made his comeback to competition after missing the previous season due to injury. Gaines shattered two meet records, including a 33.73-second clocking in the 300 meters and a win on the 4×400-meter relay team that posted a time of 3:13.77.
Reflecting on his 300-meter performance, Gaines said, “I was focused on the race module. I actually cramped as I left the blocks in my calf, so I was shocked to run that time. It shows my faith in God.”
On the women’s side, Kelis Armstrong continued to establish herself as one of the most versatile athletes the Bison have. Armstrong, a triple jump champion from last year’s meet, took the long jump title this year with a 5.64-meter leap.
“I feel excited,” Armstrong said. “It builds more confidence when I know I can execute at both events.”
She credited her success to Jump Coach Franklin Rivers.
Fifth-year senior Zachary Hawkins took the 60-meter hurdles title in his last appearance at this meet, making it down the track in 7.95 seconds and setting a new meet record. He credited his clean finish to fixing his form in the middle of the race.
“The first hurdle wasn’t great, but after the third, I really started to snap down better, bring the trail leg over quicker to execute the win,” he said.
Hawkins praised Head Coach David Oliver, a former world champion and Olympic medalist, for the team’s elevated training regimen.
“D.O. has been more technical and hands-on with the hurdling training this year,” he said.
Marcia Sey, a transfer athlete from Ohio State University, made an immediate impact on the women’s team, as she won the 60-meter hurdles while setting two meet records: an 8.36 in the preliminaries and 8.21 in the final.
“I’m happy. I expected it,” she said.
Similar to Hawkins, Sey credited Oliver’s focused training methods for improvements across the hurdle squad.
“D.O.’s training is working out, and I’m excited to see how the season moves forward. The biggest difference between programs is how repetitive D.O. is. Since we only hurdle twice a week, he makes sure we get in a lot of reps of whatever we’re working on that day,” she said.
The Bison travel to Staten Island next week to take part in the Seahawk Shootout on Dec. 13. The women’s team is eyeing their fourth straight conference indoor title while the men aim to capture their first in program history.
Copy edited by Jalyn Lovelady
