LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 22, 2024) – Howard University men's hurdlers graduate Samuel Bennett (Langdon Hills, United Kingdom) and senior Noah Langford (Portsmouth, Va.) advanced to the next round after Day One of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Regional, hosted by the University of Kentucky.
 
Both Bison moved one step closer to Eugene after Wednesday's performances.
 
Bennett highlighted the evening, winning his 110-meter hurdle heat with an automatic qualifying time of 13.60, which was the third-fastest mark among the 48 participants.
 
Langford, along with fellow classmate Zachary Hawkins (Lithonia, Ga.) and freshman Otto Laing (Freeport, Bahamas), also competed in the event, but fell short of reaching the quarterfinal round.
 
LSU's Jahiem Stern had the fastest mark with a 13.38 time, followed by Auburn's Ja'Kobe Tharp (13.44).
 
Friday's (May 24) short hurdle quarterfinals is slated for 6:15 p.m.
 
Despite the setback, Langford rebounded in the 400-meter hurdles with a non AQ mark of 51.72, edging out North Carolina A&T's Isaiah Taylor by one-hundredths of a second (51.73), and made Friday's quarterfinal round.
 
Alabama's Chris Robinson, who entered Lexington with the world's third-fastest mark, ran a 49.85 time in the long hurdles, holding off Louisiana's Javed Jones personal best (49.98).
 
Friday's race is scheduled for 7:25 p.m.
 
In the field, juniors Kyle Fisher (Duluth, Ga.) and Sean Wray (Stafford, Va.) competed in the long jump where they came up short of reaching Eugene. Fisher returns to the pit Friday for the triple jump.
 
Friday's action commences with the men's 4x100 relay squad at 5 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.