JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 27, 2021) – Howard University senior sprinter Jessika Gbai (Philadelphia) and junior hurdler Jessica Wright (Durham, N.C.) each moved on to the NCAA Outdoor East Quarterfinals after earning automatic (AQ) bids in their respective events.
 
Both Bison inched a step closer to Eugene, Ore.
 
"Today was a great day," said Howard Director of Track & Field David Oliver after Thursday's results. "We advanced two of the four individual entries. At this time of the season, it's just about surviving and advancing. We are very happy with the level of execution our women displayed this evening."
 
Despite falling just short in qualifying for the 100-meter (100m) dash, Gbai set the tone with her AQ performance in the 200-meter (200m) event. The Philadelphia native finished top 3, clocking in at 23.09.
 
"Gbai running a new personal best in the 100m was a great set up for her 200m race, which is her bread and butter event," Oliver stated on his senior sprinter. "She's got a strong shot at advancing beyond Saturday's quarterfinal round. She must continue to execute at a high level."
 
Gbai posted an 11.51 in the 100m, just shy of breaking the school benchmark (11.50). She set to race Saturday (May 29) at 8:10 p.m. (ET).
 
In the 400-meter hurdles (400H), Wright secured a spot in Saturday's quarterfinals after finishing second in her heat with a 58.76 mark. For her efforts, she is the third Bison in four years to reach the 400H NCAA East Quarterfinal Round.
 
"This is the third straight NCAAs we've had someone advance to the 400H quarterfinals," Oliver expressed. "I'm happy Wright got an auto-qualifier for Saturday. She displayed laser-like focus, making it thru all the carnage of people falling around her. She took care of business today."
 
Wright joins fellow hurdlers and former teammates Oluchi Ike (2019) and Uchechi Onuoha (2018) since 2017 to make NCAA quarterfinals. The Tar Heel native is scheduled to run Saturday at 7:55 p.m. (ET).
 
Senior sprinter Ozioma Scott (Georgetown, Guyana) also competed Thursday in the 400-meter dash, but fell short of clinching a spot for Saturday. She registered a 53.69 time, just below the qualifying mark (53.34).
 
"Ozi (Ozioma Scott) was in a tough race," said Oliver. "She gave it her all, just fell a bit short tonight. She's our most important leg of the 4x400 relay, so she will shake this setback off and produce a great performance on Saturday like she always does."
 
Scott, Gbai, Wright and senior Ameenah Saalih (Willingboro, N.J.) are set to represent HU in the 4x400 relays, scheduled Saturday for 9:25 p.m. (ET).
 
ABOUT HOWARD ATHLETICS
 
The Howard University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors 21 NCAA Division I men and women varsity sports. The programs represent five conferences: the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Northeast Conference (NEC), Sun Belt Conference (SBC), Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com