EUGENE, Ore., June 23, 2022 – Howard University All-American Jessica Wright advanced to the United States Track & Field (USATF) Outdoor Championships Semifinal Round after producing an automatic qualifying mark Thursday.
 
In the second heat, Wright moved on with a 57.56 time in the 400-meter hurdles.
 
"Survive and advance is always the name of the game at these championship events and she did exactly that," Howard Director of Track & Field David Oliver said. "I just hope she's soaking this all in and enjoying all this success she's having this year."
 
Kentucky's Masai Russell and former Prairie View A&M standout Deonca Bookman also earned automatic qualifying times of 56.51 and 57.41, respectively, in the same heat. Coastal Carolina's Shani'a Bellamy advanced with a non-AQ mark of 57.94.
 
Olympic Medalist Sydney McLauglin posted the fastest time on Day One, producing a 54.11 mark.
 
"To make the final, she's going to have to execute the first four hurdles better," Oliver said. "She's running with professional athletes and the margin for error is thin, but she's more than capable of making it happen."
 
Friday's semifinal round is set for 10:04 p.m. (ET)/7:04 p.m. (PT).
 
Before Wright's race, rising sophomore Tiffani-Rae Pittman is scheduled to compete in the U20 100-meter dash first round. Friday's event is slated for 4:52 p.m. (ET)/1:52 p.m. (PT) with the final round taking place later that evening, commencing at 7:29 p.m. (ET)/4:29 p.m. (PT).
 
Bison Nation can follow Wright and Pittman via live results and/or USATF.org.