Trojan sprinter Reggie Wyatt sped past his opponents with ease in the third heat of the men’s 400 meter hurdles to place first overall with a time of 49.23.

In second overall place, and first in his heat, was Nebraska’s Miles Ukaoma, finishing in 49.63 seconds.

“I got out really good. I was actually able to get to the sixth hurdle the way I wanted to, and my steps were all on,” Ukaoma said. “So it was kind of just a really smooth race.”

Ukaoma hopes to run similarly in the final to how he did in today’s semifinal.

“I just hope to get out there and kind of run the same race, but a little faster in between the last few hurdles,” he said.

Kansas’ Michael Stigler, North Texas’ Steven White, Michigan’s Ali Arastu, Arkansas’ Caleb Cross, Oral Roberts’ Jeffery Gibson and Texas Tech’s Isaiah Gill will also move on to the finals.

The eight men will compete in the final 400 meter hurdle competition Friday at 4:40 p.m.