JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 24, 2019) – Howard University junior Oluchi Ike (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and sophomore Jessika Gbai (Philadelphia) came up short on Day Two of the NCAA East Prelims, falling just shy of reaching the championship round in Austin, Texas.
 
"Today was a rough one for the group," said Howard Director of Track & Field David Oliver. "[It was] a real emotional roller coaster."
 
After advancing to Friday's 400-meter hurdles quarterfinals, Ike finished 15^th overall, despite setting a new personal best with a 58.14 mark.
 
"Oluchi [Ike] ran a heck of a 400 hurdle race," Director Oliver stated. "She set a new personal best, but sometimes your best just isn't enough. On this level, where you're competing with the best in the nation, you're punished for every small mistake and it was just a marginal error that cost her at the end."
 
Although today did not go in favor of Ike, the Maryland native had a solid outdoor season. Individually, she won five events in the 400 hurdles, including the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) title.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of her," Director Oliver expressed. "Especially, coming from where she was at this point last year to where she is right now. She has grown mentally and physically."
 
In her NCAA debut, Gbai ran the 200-meter dash where she clocked in at 23.87. Even though she recorded her third-fastest time of the season, the Philadelphia product did not qualify for the quarterfinals.
 
"This was Jessika's [Gbai] first time on the national stage," said Director Oliver. "Sometimes, nerves get the best of us. When you're standing on that starting line alone, [and] looking around at some of the best athletes from the biggest programs, it's tough."
 
In her second year as a Bison, Gbai won six races in the 200-meter during the indoor and outdoor seasons combined while setting new school records.
 
"She had a great sophomore campaign," Director Oliver commented. "[She] broke the [200-meter] indoor and outdoor school records. She'll be back better next year [and] this was a great experience for her."
 
Both Bison's seasons are not over as they will represent HU in Saturday night's 4x400 relay. Gbai, Ike, junior Sydney Benson (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) and sophomore Ozioma Scott (Georgetown, Guyana) race at 9:25 p.m. inside Hodges Stadium on the campus of North Florida.
 
"We have to shake off the disappointment of today and refocus for tomorrow," Director Oliver concluded. "The 4x400 relay [team] has a chance to go out there and really surprise some people."
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.