HAMPTON, Va. (March 20, 2026) … Hampton University track and field alums Dylan Beard and Abria Smith were named this week to the United States World Athletics Indoor Championships team.

The 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships Kujawy Pomorze will be held this weekend at Kujawsko Pomorska Arena in Toruń, Poland. It will be broadcast live in the United States on NBC and Peacock.

Beard, who will run in the 60-meter hurdles, will participate in the championships for the first time. He ran for the Pirates in 2019-20 where he finished in the top five in two indoor events with a season-best 6.90 in the 60-meter hurdles at the 2020 Big South Championships. Beard finished his career at Howard where he won the 110-meter hurdles at the Florida Tom Jones Memorial and MEAC Championships.

Smith, who will throw the shot put, will also participate in the championships for the first time. She won the shot put at the 2024 CAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships and won the shot put nine times between indoor and outdoor seasons.  Smith participated last season at Illinois and was second in the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

"I am proud of our two former athletes, Dylan Beard and Abria Smith for making the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships Team," said Hampton University head coach Maurice Pierce. "I was the Head Men's Coach of the 2025 World Indoor Team so, I know how much of an honor it is to represent Team USA. These two former athletes who had great undergraduate careers while at Hampton were also able to further their careers at two other great universities. They both are now outstanding professional athletes with outstanding careers ahead of them. It's a proven fact that Hampton continues to produce athletes that can compete on the world stage."