LANDOVER, Md. (February 27, 2020) – Junior sprinter Jessika Gbai (Philadelphia) highlighted Day One for Howard University men's and women's track & field by advancing to Championship Saturday at the 2020 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Championships, held inside the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex in Landover, Md.
 
Gbai reached the 200-meter dash finals for the second consecutive year after recording the fourth-best qualifying time of 24.26. North Carolina A&T State's sophomore Cambrea Sturgis produced the fastest qualify mark, clocking in at 23.93.
 
Saturday's 200 dash final is slated for 2:40 p.m.
 
Junior Ameenah Saalih (Willingboro, N.J.), sophomore Kennedy Lewis (Atlanta) and newcomer De'ja Dade (Dallas) also competed in Friday's 200 dash prelims but came up short in making Saturday's final.
 
Sophomore Ja'Tae Joyner (Bowie, Md.) represented HU in the women's long jump where she placed fourth overall, leaping over 19 feet (5.81 meters).
 
On the men's side, freshmen Richard Ninamou (Louisville) and Goba Dan-Princewill (Houston) fell short of qualifying in the 200-meter dash after registering 22.41 and 22.80 times, respectively.
 
A complete schedule of events and live statistics for the 2020 MEAC Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships can be found at www.MEACsports.com.
 
Friday's action begins at 9 a.m., with the conclusion of the men's heptathlon; the women's pentathlon will begin at 9:20 a.m., and the first running event – the prelims of the women's 60-meter hurdles – will begin at noon.
 
Admission for the MEAC Indoor Track and Field Championships is $15 Friday (Feb. 28) and $20 Saturday (Feb. 29). Fans can purchase a two-day pass Friday for $20. Tickets are available at the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex on the event dates.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.