Beard posted his first sub-8.0 time in the 60m hurdles this season and it happened just in time for the 2018 NEC Indoor Championships. Beard, who set the conference meet record as a freshman when he ran 7.93, continued his sophomore season at the Fastrack National Invitational in Staten Island, NY. Competing at the same facility (Ocean Breeze Complex) that will host the upcoming NEC Indoor title meet, Beard clocked in at 7.99 to finish sixth in an eight-man final. The time, which was fourth fastest amongst collegiate competitors at the Fastrack Invite, moved the native Marylander ahead of CCSU’s Edwin Alston and into second place on the NEC performance list. Beard, who sits 0.03 second behind NEC leader Dashaun Jackson (SFU), has the 13th-best time amongst IC4A Championships qualifiers.