Lexington, Ky. – Youngstown State's Luke Laubacher punched his ticket to the NCAA semifinals in the 110m hurdles by 0.001 seconds on a warm Friday at the Kentucky Track and Field Complex.
Laubacher clocked an identical time of 13.71 seconds with Michigan State's Heath Baldwin. However, Laubacher's time registered at 13.701 seconds while Baldwin came in a time of 13.702 seconds.
It marks the first time in his career that Laubacher will advance to the NCAA semifinals in Eugene, Oregon.
In the pole vault, Erin Bogard ended her memorable YSU career with an 18th-place performance. In a session that lasted more than three hours, Bogard was one of 19 athletes to clear at least 4.20m and compete for a last chance to advance to Eugene at 4.30m.
On her three attempts at 4.30m, she ran through twice and came up short on another. She cleared 3.95m on her first attempt and eclipsed 4.10m and 4.20m on her final tries to keep advancing.
Sophomore Melana Schumaker finished 28th in her first career trip to the East Prelims. Schumaker easily cleared 3.85m and 3.95m before missing on three attempts at 4.10m.
In the 400m hurdles, Harry Barton clocked a time of 51.50 seconds to place 20th. In the triple jump, Jakari Lomax finished a career-best 27th place with a best leap of 15.44m.
Two final Penguins will be in action on Saturday as Molly Radcliffe competes in the discus and Esther Solarin is in the triple jump. The discus begins at 1 p.m. while the triple jump is slated for 6 p.m.
Radcliffe throws in the second of three flights while Solarin is in the third of four flights.
