Huston-Tillotson Sends Three to NAIA Indoor Track Championships

Two women and one man from the university will compete at the national event in Florida.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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Three student-athletes from Huston-Tillotson University will represent the school at the 2026 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Gainesville, Florida. Two women, Ayanna Johnson and Chaleica Booker, qualified in the 200-meter dash, with Booker also competing in the 400-meter dash. On the men's side, Emmanuel Idris qualified for the 60-meter dash.

Why it matters

Huston-Tillotson, a historically Black university in Austin, Texas, is sending a strong contingent to the prestigious NAIA indoor track and field championships, showcasing the talent and competitiveness of its athletics program on the national stage.

The details

Johnson and Booker both qualified for the 200-meter dash with times of 24.99 and 24.59 seconds, respectively, at the Howie Ryan Invitational at the University of Houston. Booker also qualified for the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.91 seconds. On the men's side, Idris qualified for the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.80 seconds, finishing sixth in a field of over 60 competitors, the majority of whom were from NCAA Division I programs.

  • The NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships will take place from Thursday, March 5 to Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Gainesville, Florida.
  • The qualifying times for the three Huston-Tillotson athletes were recorded at the Howie Ryan Invitational at the University of Houston last week.

The players

Ayanna Johnson

A junior at Huston-Tillotson University from Houston, Texas, who qualified for the 200-meter dash.

Chaleica Booker

A junior at Huston-Tillotson University from Chicago, Illinois, who qualified for the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash.

Emmanuel Idris

A junior at Huston-Tillotson University from Lokoja, Nigeria, who qualified for the 60-meter dash.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Huston-Tillotson's strong representation at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships highlights the university's commitment to developing competitive student-athletes and showcasing the talent of its athletics program on the national stage.