Howard Women’s Track & Field Shines at the Wagner College Invitational

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Howard University senior Jessika Gbai part of 4x400 relay squad that won at the Wagner College (Photo Credit – Christopher Campbell)

                               Lady Bison put on a show in New York

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (January 7, 2022) – Howard University women’s track & field team shined at the Wagner College Invitational, hosted by the Seahawks. The one-day event took place at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex.

Overall, the Bison had five first-place finishes.

Freshman Nikayla Fitzgerald (Kyle, Texas) led the way with pair of wins in the long jump (LJ) and triple jump (TJ). The Texas product leaped nearly 19 feet (5.69 meters) in the LJ, followed by another impressive performance in the TJ, jumping over 36 feet (11.00 meters).

 

Seniors Jessika Gbai (Philadelphia) and Ozioma Scott (Georgetown, Guyana) and newcomers Jasmyn Hunter (Flossmoor, Ill.) and Lamaria Washington (Miami) won the 4×400 relay, clocking in at 3:57.89.

Individually, Scott claimed first in the 400-meter dash (58.10) while fellow classmate Jessica Wright (Durham, N.C.) took home gold in the 200-meter race (24.96).

Senior Ameenah Saalih (Willingboro, N.J.) also competed in the 200-meter dash, recording a time of 25.33, which finished runner-up behind Wright.

Saalih, Washington and second-year Bison Kaya-Rae Dunbar (Burtonsville, Md.) each made the 60-meter dash final, placing second (7.68), third (7.82) and seventh (8.08), respectively. Dunbar also took part in the short hurdles, finishing runner-up with an 8.60 mark.

Other noteworthy performances included sophomore Alyssa Mark (Orlando, Fla.) earning second in the 800-meter run (2:23.16) and senior Miyah Brooks (Detroit) receiving third place in the 400-meter with a 58.79 time.

 

To view the results from the 2022 Wagner College Invitational, please click here.

 

On Jan. 14, Howard returns to the Empire State for the annual HBCU Battle.

 

ABOUT HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

The Howard University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors 21 NCAA Division I men and women varsity sports. The programs represent three conferences: the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Northeast Conference (NEC) and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).

 

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.