Versatile Howard powers Taconic
Taconic Hills track and field standout Neil Howard is one of the most versatile and prolific performers in the state. Last week at the Section II Group 3 championships held at his school, Howard provided another example of just how talented and diverse he can be.
Howard captured four events, nearly accounting for half of the Titans’ team points May 25, as he prevailed in the 110 meter hurdles (14.83 seconds), 400 (48.89), the long jump (22 feet, 1 inches) and the pole vault (15-0).
For his efforts, Howard has been selected as the Times Union’s Boys’ Athlete of the Week for the period May 22-28. It is the second time the junior garnered the award during the spring as he previously was named for his exploits April 24-30 when he excelled by winning the pentathlon at the
Luciano Memorial Invitational at Hudson Falls and for taking part in the Penn Relays in the pole vault.
Last spring, Howard
won a pair of Division II outdoor state titles in the 400 hurdles and the long jump. During the winter, Howard was named the Times Union’s Boys’ Indoor
Track and Field Athlete of the Year on the strength on winning a state championship in the pole vault.
Following his successes at Penn Relays and the Luciano Memorial Invitational in April, Howard said, “I am training and slowly getting to the times and distances I want to get at. Everything is starting to shape up the way I want it to.”
Howard will take part in the state qualifiers Thursday and Friday at Shenendehowa. The state championships are being held June 9-10 at Middletown High School. Last month, Howard said he had not decided whether to compete in the pentathlon or focus on individual events. Either way, the junior is a serious threat to capture state titles again.