Former Howard University hurdler Dylan Beard is heading to World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 after placing third in the 110-meter hurdles at the Toyota United States of America Track & Field (USATF) Outdoor & Para National Championships.
Beard joins hurdlers Grant Holloway, Ja’kobe Tharp and Cordell Tinch in representing Team USA.
“It feels great to be able to come from a HBCU and compete with people all over the world, but also people who have gone to Power Five schools or ‘bigger and better schools’ on paper,” said Beard, a 2023 graduate.
Beard started his collegiate track career at Wagner College before transferring to Hampton University and finally landing at Howard University, where he completed his final year of eligibility.
Under the leadership of David Oliver, director of Howard’s track and field program, Beard was a three-time All-MEAC First Team selection, had four top-five finishes in the 110-meter hurdles, won MEAC Track Athlete of the Week and broke the 19-year school record of 13.55 in the 110-meter hurdles.
“I’m just glad that I had a positive impact [and I am] thankful that he showed up here, willing to learn and wanted to be the best,” Oliver said.
“I’m thankful for him believing in me and what we were doing here at Howard. [He] took us to the next level and we helped him get to the next level as well,” he added.
Oliver held the 19-year school record Beard broke and is an Olympic bronze medalist in the 110-meter hurdles. Since he was appointed in September 2017 as director of track and field, the program has continued to flourish, with the women’s team winning its fourth consecutive title for indoor track and field and the men’s team winning its first championship in 40 years.
“Do what I ask, when I ask, how I ask it to be done and I guarantee you will be far more successful than you were before you came here,” Oliver said.
This is the contract he has his athletes follow and what he believes contributes the most to the success of his athletes.
Beard is a testament to that guarantee. He went from being the slowest 110-meter hurdler at Howard in 2022 and now he is the ninth fastest 110-meter hurdler in the world.
For most athletes, making it to the World Athletics Championships is the ultimate goal. However, Beard’s journey to that stage has been anything but ordinary.
Following his performance at the 2024 Millrose Games, Beard revealed to reporters he was living a double life. When he wasn’t training, he was working full-time as a deli worker at Walmart.
The Millrose features the best athletes at every level, and Beard won his event and recorded his personal best and the third-fastest time in the world that year, finishing in 7.44 seconds, while working a full-time job.
The 2025 Tokyo World Championships are set to take place Sept. 13-21.
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
