The Howard University women’s cross country team brought home the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship title after finishing as runner-up in back-to-back seasons since 2022.
In the Nov. 1 meet at WakeMed Park, Norfolk State University (NSU) placed second and North Carolina Central University claimed third overall.
Freshman Alexis Jones led the pack, winning the event with a time of 17:49.10 and earning overall MEAC Outstanding Performer honors.
“I’m really proud of our team because cross country hasn’t won a championship since 2022, and they’ve been working hard to get it,” said Jones, a pre-med biology major. “So to be a part of the team that gets it this year is amazing.”
The MEAC Championship serves as the conference’s annual meet, primarily hosting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that compete for the league title. The winners earn an automatic bid to the NCAA postseason tournament.
Finishing closely behind Jones as runner-up was sophomore Mira Martin, clocking in at 18:18.70.
Sophomores Tiffany Mugubi and Ester Kirk placed eighth with a time of 18:58.90 and ninth with 19:00.00, respectively, while junior Sarah Seam finished 14th. Sophomore Kendall Robinson just missed making the All-MEAC Team, placing 19th in 19:34.80.
In total, five Bison finished in the top 15, earning All-MEAC team honors.
Last season, Howard’s women’s team finished second behind NSU during the MEAC Championships. Alumna Joslyn Crosby won the MEAC Cross Country Individual title with a time of 17:15.10, while Martin placed fourth in her rookie season with an 18:12.20 finish. Both athletes, along with teammates Camille Egbula and Chloe Poindexter, were named to the All-MEAC Team after placing in the top 15.
Now, as team captain, Martin reflects on what made this season different and how the team was able to reach another title.
“One difference would be the team’s motivation and focus — it started early. Our group chat name was ‘Project Crosscountry Champs,’ and once we won, we changed it to ‘Cross-Country Champs,’” said Martin, an international business major.
For Head Coach Dameon Morgan, who took over the women’s cross country program in spring 2022, this year’s championship felt especially rewarding, with several seasons of hard work finally bearing fruit.
“This season, we have a young team filled with freshmen and returning sophomore leaders, so the returners had that salty taste in their mouth from last year, and they were just hungry to get that win,” said Morgan. “I think that leadership is what really helped them finally get over the hump.”
Before joining Howard, Morgan was a distance runner at the University of Mississippi, where he earned All-SEC recognition and qualified for the NCAA Championships three times. His success has now carried over to coaching, earning him his first MEAC Outstanding Coach of the Year award.
Although celebratory spirits are high after the Bison claimed their accolades and first title in two years, the team faced challenges along the way, particularly with maintaining its overall health.
“Last year during the race, a teammate had a hamstring injury, so being healthy throughout the entire year has just been super important going into this win,” said Martin. “That means we’ve been able to keep growing and attack each practice with the intentionality it needs instead of fear due to pain.”
The MEAC title marks a step forward for the young team, which has turned past setbacks into motivation. Now, their sights are set on carrying that momentum into the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals on Nov. 14 and beyond. For Jones, the MEAC championship is just the beginning.
“I’m grateful for my coach for believing in me and for always pushing me at practice with the best workouts,” Jones said. “I’m just hungry for more.”
The team’s main focus moving forward remains on discipline and consistency to continue improving times and scoring higher within the region, according to Morgan.
“I’ve been doing my research, and this top five that finished first at the conference meet is the best team put together in Howard history,” Morgan said. “It speaks volumes about how far this program has come. I’m excited to keep coaching these young ladies and continue to pour out more talent when we’re talking about Howard Bison.”
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
