Men's Track and Field 3/20/2021 10:58:00 PM by Scott Goode (3/20/21)

Harding Matches, Breaks Old Records at NextEra Energy Harding Invitational

SEARCY – Harding men's track and field won the NextEra Energy Harding Invitational with 285 points Saturday at Ted Lloyd Track. Southern Arkansas was second with 183 points.

Harding's athletes won nine of the 19 events.

The Bisons had four NCAA provisional marks, broke two school records and tied another. Freshman Fallou Gaye of Senegal won the 400-meter hurdles, tying the 29-year-old school record of Harding Hall of Famer Jon Newby at 52.04 seconds.

Freshman Dorian Chaigneau seemingly breaks a record every time he goes out. The indoor national champion in the pole vault, broke the school's outdoor mark of Mike Lynch that had stood since 1980. Chaigneau cleared 5.11 meters or 16 feet, 9.25 inches, the best height thus far in Division II. Lynch's record was 16 feet, 9 inches.

Freshman Ben Ferris also cleared a provisional height. He cleared 5.01 meters (16-05.25) and now ranks fifth nationally.

In the field events, senior Mitchell Kessler provisionally qualified for nationals with a school record of 58.40 meters (191 feet, 7 inches) in the hammer. He broke the old record by more than 21 feet. Josh Syrotchen set the mark at 170 feet, 4 inches in 2016.

Harding's event winners:

200 meters – Tad Kirby, FR, 21.81
800 meters – Thibault Waeles, FR, 1:52.84
5,000 meters – Jackson Pruim, FR, 15:19.85
110 hurdles – Dakarai Bush, FR, 14.70
400 hurdles – Fallou Gaye, FR, 52.04 – NCAA provisional, ties school record
3,000 steeplechase – Keneth Chelelgo, SR, 10:20.10
4x400 relay – Nikolasz Csokas, Dakarai Bush, Thibault Waeles, Fallou Gaye, 3:19.83
Pole Vault – Dorian Chaigneau, FR, 5.11m (16-09.25) – NCAA provisional, school record
Hammer – Mitchell Kessler, SR, 58.40m (191-7) – NCAA provisional, school record

Harding would like to thank the following local businesses for sponsoring the Harding Invitational: NextEra Energy, White County Farm Bureau, First Security Bank, The Bugman, Young's Tire and Auto, Crum Chiropractic, Homer's Ace Hardware, Right up Your Alley, Bobby T's, Burrito Day, Natural State Throwers.

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Players Mentioned

Dakarai Bush: H/S; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Ben Ferris: Multi; 6' 2"; Sophomore

Jackson Pruim: MD; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Tad Kirby: S; 5' 10"; Freshman

Nikolasz Csokas: H; 6' 4"; Freshman

Dorian Chaigneau: PV; 5' 7"; Freshman

Fallou Gaye: H; 5' 10"; Junior

Thibault Waeles: MD; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Mitchell Kessler: T; 6' 3"; Senior

Keneth Chelelgo: D; 5' 8"; Senior

Players Mentioned

Dakarai Bush
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: H/S

Ben Ferris
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: Multi

Jackson Pruim
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: MD

Tad Kirby
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: S

Nikolasz Csokas
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: H

Dorian Chaigneau
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: PV

Fallou Gaye
: 5' 10"; Junior
: H

Thibault Waeles
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: MD

Mitchell Kessler
: 6' 3"; Senior
: T

Keneth Chelelgo
: 5' 8"; Senior
: D

Harding University Athletics

Schedule

Events

Harding Matches, Breaks Old Records at NextEra Energy Harding Invitational

Players Mentioned

Dakarai Bush

Ben Ferris

Jackson Pruim

Tad Kirby

Nikolasz Csokas

Dorian Chaigneau

Fallou Gaye

Thibault Waeles

Mitchell Kessler

Keneth Chelelgo

Players Mentioned

Dakarai Bush

Ben Ferris

Jackson Pruim

Tad Kirby

Nikolasz Csokas

Dorian Chaigneau

Fallou Gaye

Thibault Waeles

Mitchell Kessler

Keneth Chelelgo