Amira Washington, a standout sprinter from New Jersey, has dedicated to becoming a member of the Howard College Bison swimming program for the 2026–27 season. Her resolution strengthens the one HBCU with a Division I swim group and provides to this system’s rising nationwide profile.
Washington is presently a senior at Pink Financial institution Regional Excessive Faculty. She additionally trains with the YMCA of Higher Monmouth County. Her main occasions embody the 50 and 100 freestyle, butterfly, and backstroke. These are key dash disciplines that align properly with Howard’s aggressive strengths.
On the 2025 YMCA Brief Course Nationals, she set a private finest within the 100-yard freestyle. In 2024, she competed on the YMCA Lengthy Course Nationals, recording occasions of 28.20 within the 50-meter free, 1:01.41 within the 100 free, and 28.77 within the 50 fly. She reached the A-finals in each the 50 fly and 50 again.
Her highschool performances have additionally stood out. In January 2025, she received the 100 again and positioned second within the 100 fly on the Shore Convention Match. Each races shattered her personal private finest and reset college information that already had her identify on them. This consistency throughout high-level meets makes her one of many high HBCU swim commits in her class.
Amira Washington on her dedication to Howard
“I’m past blessed to announce my verbal dedication to proceed my tutorial and athletic profession at Howard College! I want to thank God together with all my household, mates, and coaches for supporting me by way of this journey and making my dream a actuality. I’d additionally wish to thank Coach Nic for giving me this unimaginable alternative. GO BISON!!!”
Washington joins a Howard program that’s experiencing upward traits. On the 2025 Northeast Convention (NEC) Championships, the Bison ladies completed simply 43 factors behind the champions. With Washington’s finest short-course occasions—26.51 within the 50 fly, 56.59 within the 100 fly, 24.19 within the 50 free, and 53.00 within the 100 free—she may have certified for a number of A- and B-finals.
This dedication displays a broader pattern in collegiate athletics. Extra elite Black athletes of all sports activities are selecting HBCUs as areas the place they’ll thrive each athletically and culturally, experiencing the distinctive campus tradition that these establishments supply. Coach Nic Askew continues to construct a robust recruiting pipeline at Howard, and Washington’s addition is one other step in that path.
Her presence is not going to solely improve the visibility of HBCU swimming within the pool but in addition improve its visibility nationwide. As Howard goals for a convention title, Washington seems to be able to make waves and characterize with objective.
