Malykhin, Bush Win National Championships; HU Places Eighth at Indoor Nationals

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Harding men's indoor track and field set a school record for points scored at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championship on Saturday and tied the school record for highest finish, winning two individual national championships along the way.

Harding scored 26 points and placed eighth overall. The Bisons' previous high point total was 20 on four occasions, and matched its eighth-place finish in 2008.

Sophomore Vlad Malykhin defended his indoor national championship from 2023 with another title on Saturday. Malykhin, a native of Shostka, Ukraine, cleared 5.60m (18-4.50) for the victory.

Senior Dakarai Bush, a native of Tatum, Texas, broke his own school record and won his second individual national championship and his first indoors with a time of 46.88 seconds. Bush became the first Bison ever to win a national championship in the indoor 400 meters.

Harding also had three individuals earn All-America and a relay team.

Sophomore Kelmen de Carvalho broke his own school record and placed fifth in the heptathlon with 5,479 points. He earned First Team honors becoming Harding's first All-American in the indoor heptathlon.

Freshman Josphat Meli, who earned Second Team All-America in the 5,000 meters on Friday, added another All-America honor in the 3,000 meters on Saturday. His time of 8:10.69 was good for 10th place and an additional Second Team honor.

Sophomore Yves Bilong placed 12th in the triple jump with a mark of 15.02m (49-03.50) to earn Second Team All-America. It was Bilong's second All-America honor in the indoor triple jump.

Harding's 4x400-meter relay team of Bryan Singleton, Tad Kirby, Derick St. Jean and Dakarai Bush earned Second Team All-America with a ninth-place finish in 3:12.32. It was Harding's first-ever All-America award in the indoor mile relay.

Gallery: (3-9-2024) 2024 Track at Indoor Championships

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Players Mentioned

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

Tad Kirby: S; 5' 10"; Junior

Yves Bilong: J; 6' 0"; Freshman

Kelmen de Carvalho: Multi; 6' 2"; Freshman

Bryan Singleton: S; 5' 11"; Freshman

Vlad Malykhin: PV; 6' 1"; Freshman

Derick St. Jean: S; 6' 1"; Junior

Josphat Meli: D; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

Tad Kirby
: 5' 10"; Junior
: S

Yves Bilong
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: J

Kelmen de Carvalho
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: Multi

Bryan Singleton
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: S

Vlad Malykhin
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: PV

Derick St. Jean
: 6' 1"; Junior
: S

Josphat Meli
: Freshman
: D