For freshman Neysia Howard, the Willie Williams Classic isn't as much of an outdoor debut as much as it is a homecoming of sorts.


 
"I'll be wearing a different uniform, having a different team, different coaches and I'll be running faster," said Howard.
 
A Tucson High Magnet School product, Howard has competed in the last four Willie Williams Classic representing her alma mater. In the 2019 edition, she will wear the block A for the first time in Tucson.


 
"It means a lot for me," Howard said. "I grew up here and I've been wanting to go here since I was little. This meet and this day, I have been waiting for such a long time; to be able to run for the U of A at Drachmann in my favorite invitational. Just being able to run here is something I never thought would happen, and it's happening."
 
Howard is not the first in her family to don the block A under Fred Harvey. Her father, Tambotka Howard competed in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and 4x400-meter relay for the Cats from 1993-1995. He has given his given his daughter something to remind her of what the A means to so many.
 
"I remember the day he gave me his old jersey," Howard said. "I have his old jersey in my room and I look at it every day. My dad was here, other people have come here before me and I have to represent them in a good light."
 
Howard is coming off of a successful indoor campaign, capped by a nine-point performance at the MPSF Championships.
 
"It makes me feel better," said Howard. "I wasn't sure I would do as well as I thought I would do. Long jumping, I was really nervous to do."


 
Howard took third in the MPSF 200-meter dash in 24.22 and sixth in the long jump with a lifetime-best mark of 5.90m (19-4.25).
 
"I think I run my best when I don't think," said Howard. "At times I'll have to put my sprint spikes at the end of the runway, take my jump, get my spikes, and run to the starting line. It is a lot and I don't have time to think, my body just does what it does."
 
At the Texas Tech Classic, Howard did exactly that. Following her jump, she made it to the starting line of the 200-meter dash and ran a then PR time of 24.16 and leaped 5.84m (19-2) to set a PR up to that point.
 
"Just that back and forth," said Howard, "it is a lot, but when you don't think about it you just do it. Your body knows what to do."


 
On May 11th & 12th, Howard and the Cats will host the Pac-12 Championships at Roy P. Drachman Stadium. It won't be her first track and field championships in Tucson, but it will be the first she competes in.
 
"I remember coming here when it was the Pac-10 Championships," Howard said. "I was a little basket girl, I waited at the end of the finish line for the athletes to put their stuff in. I remember thinking, 'these are like the biggest girls I've ever seen, I hope I get to race against them.' Drachman is just so beautiful and a great track to run on, it feels like home."