Wednesday, May 27
Lexington, Ky.
9:00 AM ET
Liberty University
at
NCAA Division I East First Rounds
Ben Shughart (left) and Markus White (right) both punched tickets to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Wednesday.
Shughart, White Punch Tickets to Eugene on Day 1
5/27/2026 10:27:00 PM | Track and Field
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Liberty got off to a strong start at the NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet, Wednesday at the UK Outdoor Track & Field Complex. Ben Shughart (men's javelin) and Markus White (men's long jump) both successfully advanced to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, while Tahj Brown (men's 110 hurdles) moved on to Friday's quarterfinal round.
Two years and two major injuries removed from his last NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships appearance in 2024, Shughart made things simple on Wednesday. The senior's first attempt measured 231-8, enabling him to pass his final two throws and begin making travel plans to Eugene.
Shughart finished fourth overall among the event's 12 Eugene qualifiers, becoming the third Liberty men's javelin thrower to qualify for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships multiple times. The program record holder and two-time CUSA champion joins Elliot Galeone (2010 and 2011) and Denzel Pratt (2018 and 2019) in that select group.
Shughart will next compete in the NCAA Division I men's javelin final on June 10 at 9:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
White's process for qualifying to Eugene was considerably more stressful. The junior moved up to sixth place in the men's long jump standings with a 25-2.75 leap in round two. However, White was unable to improve on his final attempt and was forced to do some scoreboard watching.
In the end, White came in 11th among the event's 12 Eugene qualifiers. He becomes the first Flame since Chad Wilson in 2004 (a year before White was born) to reach the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the men's long jump.
The Lynchburg native has long jumped at an NCAA outdoor championship event previously, placing eighth at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships as a freshman for Virginia State.
White's NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships debut will take place on June 10 at 9:40 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
Fresh off a CUSA title 11 days earlier, Brown clocked 13.70 into a slight headwind for second place in his first round heat of the men's 110 hurdles, automatically advancing to the quarterfinals.
One of only three freshmen to qualify for the men's 110 hurdles quarterfinals in Lexington on Wednesday, Brown will vie for a trip to Eugene on Friday at 6:15 p.m. He will attempt to become Liberty's first men's 110 hurdler ever to reach the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
First-year Flame Michael Long nearly made a quarterfinal appearance of his own in the men's 800. However, the CUSA champion's 1:47.48 clocking (the second fastest of his career) just missed the final time qualifier to the quarterfinals by one spot and 12 hundredths of a second.
Junior Kellen Kimes was the first Flame to compete in Lexington. Making his third consecutive NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet appearance in the men's hammer, he finished 28th at 204-0.
For the first time, Liberty had multiple men's pole vaulters compete at this meet. Chase Johnson made a first attempt clearance at the opening height of 16-6.75 and narrowly missed the second height of 17-0.75. As a result, he tied for 23rd place overall and tied for second among freshmen. Teammate Reagan Wise was unable to get over the challenging opening height (16-6.75) during his NCAA Division I East First Rounds debut.
Men's NCAA Division I National Qualifiers
Ben Shughart – Javelin – 231-8
Markus White – Long Jump – 25-2.75
Men's Qualifiers to Friday's Quarterfinal Round
Tahj Brown – 110 Hurdles – 13.70
Up Next
The women's portion of the meet will begin on Thursday. Sophie Gonzalez will get the Lady Flames started, competing in the women's hammer at 10 a.m.
Two years and two major injuries removed from his last NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships appearance in 2024, Shughart made things simple on Wednesday. The senior's first attempt measured 231-8, enabling him to pass his final two throws and begin making travel plans to Eugene.
Shughart finished fourth overall among the event's 12 Eugene qualifiers, becoming the third Liberty men's javelin thrower to qualify for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships multiple times. The program record holder and two-time CUSA champion joins Elliot Galeone (2010 and 2011) and Denzel Pratt (2018 and 2019) in that select group.
Shughart will next compete in the NCAA Division I men's javelin final on June 10 at 9:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
White's process for qualifying to Eugene was considerably more stressful. The junior moved up to sixth place in the men's long jump standings with a 25-2.75 leap in round two. However, White was unable to improve on his final attempt and was forced to do some scoreboard watching.
In the end, White came in 11th among the event's 12 Eugene qualifiers. He becomes the first Flame since Chad Wilson in 2004 (a year before White was born) to reach the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the men's long jump.
The Lynchburg native has long jumped at an NCAA outdoor championship event previously, placing eighth at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships as a freshman for Virginia State.
White's NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships debut will take place on June 10 at 9:40 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.
Fresh off a CUSA title 11 days earlier, Brown clocked 13.70 into a slight headwind for second place in his first round heat of the men's 110 hurdles, automatically advancing to the quarterfinals.
One of only three freshmen to qualify for the men's 110 hurdles quarterfinals in Lexington on Wednesday, Brown will vie for a trip to Eugene on Friday at 6:15 p.m. He will attempt to become Liberty's first men's 110 hurdler ever to reach the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
First-year Flame Michael Long nearly made a quarterfinal appearance of his own in the men's 800. However, the CUSA champion's 1:47.48 clocking (the second fastest of his career) just missed the final time qualifier to the quarterfinals by one spot and 12 hundredths of a second.
Junior Kellen Kimes was the first Flame to compete in Lexington. Making his third consecutive NCAA Division I East First Rounds meet appearance in the men's hammer, he finished 28th at 204-0.
For the first time, Liberty had multiple men's pole vaulters compete at this meet. Chase Johnson made a first attempt clearance at the opening height of 16-6.75 and narrowly missed the second height of 17-0.75. As a result, he tied for 23rd place overall and tied for second among freshmen. Teammate Reagan Wise was unable to get over the challenging opening height (16-6.75) during his NCAA Division I East First Rounds debut.
Men's NCAA Division I National Qualifiers
Ben Shughart – Javelin – 231-8
Markus White – Long Jump – 25-2.75
Men's Qualifiers to Friday's Quarterfinal Round
Tahj Brown – 110 Hurdles – 13.70
Up Next
The women's portion of the meet will begin on Thursday. Sophie Gonzalez will get the Lady Flames started, competing in the women's hammer at 10 a.m.
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Hammer
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
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