WASHINGTON – Gallaudet University and Howard University hosted the annual Bison Classic here Saturday at the Thomas O. Berg Track as the Gallaudet men's track and field team placed fifth out of 11 teams.
This year's Bison Classic was the largest in the history of the event as 11 colleges participated. In addition to Gallaudet and Howard the other participating teams included; American University, Bowie State University, The Catholic University of America, Coppin State University, George Washington University, Goucher College, Johns Hopkins University, Medgar Evers College, and St. Mary's College of Maryland along with unattached athletes.
Howard University, who was celebrating Senior Day at the Bison Classic, won the meet with 130 team points. George Washington (85 points) took second, Catholic finished third (81) followed by Bowie State (63) in fourth and Gallaudet in fifth (32).
First year
Sevan Ikeda (Fremont, Calif.) competed in the 5,000 meters run and won the event with a career-best time of 15 minutes and 16.59 seconds. Ikeda was just 1.28 seconds shy of the school record of 15:15.31 set by
Otto Kingstedt in 2016.
Senior
Andrae' Green (Washington, D.C.) recorded a personal-best jump of 13.92 meters to take third place in the triple jump. He also contributed in both relay events, as the Bison finished fourth in the 4x400 meter relay (3:56.81) and fifth in the 4x100 (45.79).
Junior thrower
Andrew Suarez (Fairview, Texas) participated in three throwing events. Suarez placed fourth in the hammer throw with a personal-best toss of 41.29 meters. He also recorded a personal best 12.08 meters in the shot put to finish ninth. Suarez rounded out his day with a ninth-place finish in the discus (34.38 meters).
First-year thrower
Akia Sloan (Washington, D.C.) opened his collegiate outdoor season with a fourth-place finish in the javelin (38.21 meters) and finished 14th in the shot put (10.58 meters).
Junior
Navar Harris (Charleston, W.Va.) placed fifth overall in the shot put with a top toss of 13.08 meters and finished 18th in the discus with a career-best toss of 29.09 meters.
First year
Brandon Washington (Citronelle, Ala.) made his collegiate track debut and placed 10th in the long jump with a top leap of 6.00 meters and he was also part of the 4x100.
SENIOR DAY
Before the start of the running events, Gallaudet recognized its men's and women's seniors, who are slated to graduate this May. The seniors who were recognized include;
Walter Douglas (Sanford, Fla.),
Mohamed Elsheikh (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) and Green.
BISON TRACKS
- First year Kendarrius Watkins (Fort Worth, Texas) set two personal records in the discus and shot put where he placed 11th (32.46 meters) and 12th (11.19), respectively.
- Sophomore Joe Bryan (Liberty, Mo.) was 18th in the 800-meter run (2:25.63) and was part of the 4x400
- First year Jason Alford (Dayton, Ohio) set a personal record in the 200-meter dash (23.49 seconds) to place 18th, he was also a member of the 4x100 team
- Elsheikh competed in two events, the 1,500 meters and 800 meters, placed 20th (6:16.32) and 21st (3:01.83), respectively
- First year Luka Cunha (Riverside, Calif.) set personal records in the 100- and 200-meter dash with times of 12.51 and 25.68, respectively, to finish 31st in both events
- Sophomore Kila Silva-Ewan (Cheverly, Md.) competed in three throwing events and placed 12th in the hammer (23.54 meters), 16th in the shot put (9.93 meters) and 25th in the discus (20.06 meters)
UP NEXT
GU will head across the Bay Bridge next Saturday, April 18, at 11 a.m., to participate in the Eastern Shore Challenge hosted by Salisbury University.
