Ladies’s Swimming & Diving Stays in First After Day Three

GENEVA, Ohio (February 19, 2026) — Howard University ladies’s swimming & diving continues to regulate the 2026 NEC Championships on the SPIRE Institute, main the sphere with 613 factors by way of three days of competitors.
 
Runner-up and reigning champions Central Connecticut State trails with 572 factors and Wagner College rounds out the highest three with 286 factors because the Bison place themselves for what could be this system’s first NEC title.
 
Howard opened Thursday night time’s finals with a press release.
 
Alyssa Napier (Bowie, Md.) captured gold within the 100-yard butterfly, touching in 54.54 to safe 20 factors. Teammate Samyra Benoit (Santa Clarita, Calif.) adopted intently behind, incomes silver in 55.20, giving the Bison a 37-point swing within the occasion.
 
In the 400-yard IM, Faith McCallister (Abingdon, Md.) received the comfort last with a powerful 4:34.00, pushing the Bison forward with 9 extra factors.
 
The 200-yard freestyle proved to be one of many tightest races of the night time. Zuilda Nwaeze (Columbia, Md.) completed runner-up in 1:49.90, narrowly lacking gold in a dramatic last 25 yards. Zenya Posada (Norwalk, Conn.) additionally scored within the championship last, serving to Howard separate from the sphere. In the comfort last, Iala Cropper (Rochester, N.Y.) positioned third, including key depth factors.
 
Howard dominated the 100-yard breaststroke as Rhanishka Gibbs (Nassau, Bahamas) surged to gold in 1:02.89, profitable decisively and delivering one other 20-point efficiency.
 
The Bison adopted with one other title within the 100-yard backstroke the place Chanice Posada (Houston) powered to victory in 54.51, edging the sphere in a championship-caliber end. In the comfort last, Gabrielle Vickles (El Dorado, Trinidad & Tobago) positioned third to proceed the scoring momentum.
 
Howard closed the night in electrical style within the 400-yard medley relay. The quartet of C. Posada, Gibbs, Napier and Nwaeze mixed for a profitable time of three:42.03, securing 40 factors and sending the Howard part of SPIRE right into a roar because the Bison prolonged their staff lead heading into the ultimate day.
 
With one session remaining, Howard stands inside attain of historical past.
 
Day Four motion will be streamed reside on NEC Front Row Friday (Feb. 20).
 
For extra data, go to the official Howard Athletics web site at www.hubison.com.