No. 5 Harding Men's Track Posts 11 NCAA Provisionals at In-State Meets

SEARCY – The No. 5-ranked Harding men's track and field team competed in two in-state meets over the weekend, the John McDonnell Invitational at the University of Arkansas and the ASU Alumni Classic at Arkansas State University. Additionally, Harding had two athletes run at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays in California.

The highlights at the John McDonnell Invitational:

Senior Dakarai Bush placed third in the 200 meters in an NCAA provisional 20.82 seconds, breaking his own school record of 20.83 seconds set last season. Bush is now ranked 11th in Division II in the 200 meters.
Bush won the 400 meters in an NCAA provisional 45.79 seconds, the fastest 400-meter time in Division II this season, but just off his school record of 45.67 seconds.
Junior Derick St. Jean also ran an NCAA provisional in the 400 meters, finishing in 47.29 seconds to rank 20th in Division II.
Sophomore Noah Haileab placed second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:26.95.
Harding's 4x100-meter relay team of Krishaun Watson, Will Meredith, Donald Nwamere, and Dakarai Bush placed fifth in an NCAA provisional 40.39 seconds, the 14th-best time in Division II this season.
Junior Antiwain Jones placed second in the high jump with an NCAA provisional clearance of 2.07m (6-9.5). His season-best jump was 2.20m (7-2.5), and he ranks third in Division II.
Sophomore Vlad Malykhin won the pole vault with an NCAA provisional clearance of 5.30m (17-4.5). His season-best height of 5.51m (18-1) leads Division II.
Sophomore Anton Kopytko was third in the long jump with an NCAA provisional mark of 7.46m (24-5.75). His season-best jump of 7.80m (25-7.25) ranks fifth in Division II.
Freshman Lucas Stiper and junior Spencer Helms both had NCAA provisional throws in the discus. Stiper was second with a throw of 51.93m (170-4), and Helms was third at 50.94m (167-1). Stiper ranks eighth in Division II with Helms at 15th.
Sophomore Casen Hammitt placed second in the javelin with an NCAA provisional mark of 61.10m (200-5). His season-best throw of 64.37m (211-2) ranks 13th in Division II.

The highlights at the ASU Alumni Classic:

Sophomore Nathan Perry won the 5,000 meters in 14:51.62.
Three Bisons had NCAA provisional marks in the discus. Stiper placed second at 54.82m (179-10), junior Kenneth Hatley was fourth at 51.82m (170-0) and Helms was eighth at 50.97m (167-3).
Hatley won the hammer with an NCAA provisional mark of 59.59m (195-6). It was his best throw of the season and ranks 22nd in Division II.
Senior Ben Ferris won the javelin with a toss of 52.53m (172-4).

The highlights at the Mt. SAC Relays:

Freshman Josphat Meli won the 10,000 meters with an NCAA provisional time of 28:38.41, the fifth-fastest time in Division II this season and the second-fastest 10,000-meter time by a Harding runner. His time was just off Daniel Kirwa's school record of 28:36.23, run at the 2008 Mt. SAC Relays.
Junior Luke Walling placed 10th in the race in 30:28.77.

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Players Mentioned

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

Ben Ferris: PV/J; 6' 2"; Senior

Kenneth Hatley: T; 6' 0"; Junior

Spencer Helms: T; 6' 4"; Junior

Antiwain Jones: J; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Luke Walling: D; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Krishaun Watson: S; 5' 7"; Senior

Noah Haileab: D; 6' 0"; Freshman

Will Meredith: S; 6' 0"; Senior

Anton Kopytko: J; 6' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

Ben Ferris
: 6' 2"; Senior
: PV/J

Kenneth Hatley
: 6' 0"; Junior
: T

Spencer Helms
: 6' 4"; Junior
: T

Antiwain Jones
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: J

Luke Walling
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: D

Krishaun Watson
: 5' 7"; Senior
: S

Noah Haileab
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: D

Will Meredith
: 6' 0"; Senior
: S

Anton Kopytko
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: J