In her first year at Howard University, junior Darci Khan put in an outstanding performance at the NCAA East Regional to earn her first trip to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships taking place now on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. The art major has made her mark as a hurdler and sprinter and said the welcoming environment of the HBCU institution has pushed her to elevate her performances.
“I think my teammates and coaches have impacted me a lot because I hang out with my teammates almost every day,” said Khan. “They showed me around Howard. They showed me the ropes. They showed me what the social life is like here. I’ve been having a blast and I love every minute of it.”
She said her athletic skills have improved tremendously. She’s been more consistent, and her results are evidence of that. The environment has even made training and competing more fun and she feels much less stressed.
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“I’m out here representing my team and my school and just enjoying the process,” Khan said. “This is my first time ever making it to nationals, and it feels even better to be wearing Howard on my chest and representing for Howard and other HBCUs. It means so much more than just the trip. My goal is to make it on the podium, represent my team and have fun while doing it.”
Khan said she loves the art department at Howard and it is fueling her creative spirit. She’s a painting major with a minor in art history, and she hopes her future includes creating works of art from the heart and uplifting others with her work. Right now, she’s focused on making paintings of her family members.
Discovering the hurdles cemented Khan’s love of track. Her most notable races are 60-meter hurdles for indoors and 100-meter hurdles for outdoors. She is also the first leg on Howard’s 4×100 relay and occasionally competed in the 100 meters. Khan loves the different experiences that the hurdles present. “I never get bored,” she said.
She and her fellow NCAA-bound Bison, All-American senior Jessica Wright and the 4×400 relay team, plan to bring their best to NCAA Championships. “We’re looking forward to representing Howard on the national stage, cheering each other on and enjoying the whole process,” said Khan.
