Dillard, Fisk, Stillman, Wiley garner Week 5 HBCUAC Women's Track & Field Awards

NEW ORLEANS - Dillard University sprinter Tori Burton wins Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Women's Track and Field Track Athlete of the Week. Fisk University thrower Jackie Bownes claims Field Athlete of the Week. Stillman College thrower Sendia Cobite takes Freshman of the Week. Wiley University sprinter Kelechi Dike earns Newcomer of the Week. The athletes were recognized for their performance between April 6-12, the conference announced on Tuesday.

Burton ran the top 100-meter dash time in the conference at 12.19 during the Pelican Relays. She finished runner-up in a 25-athlete field. Additionally, Burton had a podium finish in the 200-meter dash and ran a leg on the 4 x 100-meter relay team, which won with a time of 46.33, surpassing the 'A' qualifying standard.

Bownes broke the school record in the hammer throw with a distance of 38.11 meters, which was the top distance at the Rhodes 7-Way Meet. She also won the shot put with a distance of 12.66 meters. Bownes finished runner-up in the discus with a distance of 33.96 meters.

Cobite set personal bests in the discus, shot put and hammer throws. She was the top NAIA finisher in all three events at the University of West Alabama Invitational.

In her second meet, Kelechi Dike set a personal best of 58.36 in the 400-meter dash. She was the second-fastest non-NCAA finisher. She also ran a leg on the 4 x 400-meter relay team. 

Additional women's track and field weekly nominees: Ari Branch (Fisk), Julixa Cintron (Philander Smith), Tatiana Clay (Dillard), Lamoy Duffus (Talladega), Taylor Hopgood (Stillman), Trinity Marshall (Dillard), Tikeria Miller (Wiley), Meeyesha Tutt-Moutouo (Wiley), Essence Wren (Philander Smith)

2026 HBCUAC Women's Track & Field Athletes of the Week

About the HBCU Athletic Conference
The HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) is the only HBCU conference in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The HBCUAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Huston-Tillotson University (TX), Oakwood University (AL), Paul Quinn College (TX), Philander Smith University (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Stillman College (AL), Talladega College (AL), Tougaloo College (MS), University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas), Voorhees University (SC), Wilberforce University (OH), and Wiley University (TX). HBCUAC sponsors championships in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's track and field, women's volleyball, softball, and baseball. In 2022, the HBCUAC secured the largest media rights deal in conference and NAIA history, signing a multimillion-dollar deal with Urban Edge Network. On July 1, 2024, the conference rebranded from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to the HBCU Athletic Conference, marking a new era for the conference that embodies the makeup of its membership. For more information, visit hbcuac.org.