LEXINGTON, Kentucky – UNCW hurdler Josh Parks clocked a 50.61 time in the Men's 400 Meter Hurdles in Friday night's NCAA Quarterfinal race of the NCAA Outdoor East Preliminaries at the University of Kentucky's Track & Field Complex.

Parks' time was good for 13th place among 24 racers in the regional final round and was only 0.06 seconds away from Howard's Noah Langford, who finished in 12th to advance to NCAA Nationals in early June.

The Kannapolis, N.C., product improved on his first round time of 51.21 from Wednesday to advance to his second straight NCAA Quarterfinal round. Parks became the first Seahawk to advance to the National Championship last year in the Men's 110 Meter Hurdles.

Friday closes out a strong three-day East Regional for eight Seahawk student-athletes, the most in 14 years. Parks, along with J.T. Allen (Men's 110M Hurdles), Nickolis Anderson (Men's 400 Meters), Ryan DeBarber (Men's Javelin), Miles Higgins (Men's Javelin), Bryson Robinson (Men's Long Jump), Courtney Lines (Women's Long Jump) and Jordyn Robbins (Women's Javelin), represented UNCW on a national level with impressive springs.

Eight participants are the most of the Jeff Klaves era, which has increased in NCAA qualifiers in every season of his tenure. The Seahawks have had a combined 14 NCAA Regional athletes over the last two seasons. 

UNCW was tied for the most men qualifiers (six) in the CAA this season.