GREENSBORO, NC -- University of Delaware junior track and field hurdler Chris Dixon will be the lone Blue Hen competitor when the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Track and Field East Regionals gets underway Friday at North Carolina A&T University

Dixon, a junior from Manheim, PA (Hempfield High School), will compete in the men’s 400 meter intermediate hurdles trials Friday night at 7:40 p.m. Should he post one of the top eight fastest times, he will advance to Saturday’s finals. The top five finishers earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships June 7-10 at Sacramento, CA.

Delaware was scheduled to have two participants at the NCAA Regionals but senior women’s pole vaulter Casey Bennett (Shelton/Shelton, CT - at right) withdrew after spraining her ankle in practice earlier this week. Bennett, the owner of both Delaware indoor and outdoor pole vault records and the winner of 19 career meets, had qualified for the regionals for the third straight year. This year’s Colonial Athletic Association runner-up, she placed ninth at the NCAA regionals in 2004 and 20th last season.

Dixon, who qualified for the regionals by winning the Colonial Athletic Association title in the event back on April 22 at Richmond, VA, will be competing in the NCAA regionals for the first time. His career best of 52.73 in the 400 meter hurdles ranks No. 3 all-time at Delaware. He also holds the UD indoor records in the 500 meters (1:04.69) and 1,600 meter relay (3:17.04).

A honor student as a computer engineering major, Dixon has enjoyed an outstanding spring for the Blue Hens. In addition to winning the CAA 400 meter hurdles title, he also won the event at the Rider Invitational April 15, was second in the 400 meter dash at the Delaware Invitational May 6, and also competed at the Penn Relays and IC4A championships.