Harding Men's Track and Field Wins Third Straight GAC Championship

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The fifth-ranked Harding men's track and field team won its fifth Great American Conference championship and third straight Saturday with almost a 100-point spread over second place in the seven-team competition.

Harding accumulated 286 points with second place at 188, and the Bisons claimed 10 event titles. Head coach Don Hood won GAC Coach of the Year.

Harding's event champions included Tad Kirby in the 100 meters (10.77), Dakarai Bush in the 200 meters (21.21) and 400 meters (46.01), Josphat Meli in the 10,000 meters (30:18.56), Krishaun Watson, Will Meredith, Donald Nwamere and Dakarai Bush in the 4x100 meters (40.31), Antiwain Jones in the high jump (2.08m, 6-9.75), Vlad Malykhin in the pole vault (5.26m, 17-3), Anton Kopytko (7.40m, 24-3.5), Spencer Helms in the discus (51.71m, 169-8), and Casen Hammitt in the javelin (69.94m, 213-1).

Harding broke two school records at the meet—40.31 seconds in the 4x100 relay and 213-1 by Casen Hammitt in the javelin—and turned in 13 NCAA provisional marks.

Harding also won the conference championship in 2016, 2017, 2022 and 2023.

In addition to the athletic achievements, Harding had two team members—Spencer Helms and Tommy Valente—receive GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete honors for posting a GPA of 3.70 or higher with 70 or more hours. Jacob Wood earned GAC Elite Scholar Athlete for posting a perfect 4.00 GPA with 70 or more hours.

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Players Mentioned

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

Spencer Helms: T; 6' 4"; Junior

Antiwain Jones: J; 6' 0"; Sophomore

Tad Kirby: S; 5' 10"; Junior

Krishaun Watson: S; 5' 7"; Senior

Will Meredith: S; 6' 0"; Senior

Jacob Wood: MD; 5' 11"; Junior

Anton Kopytko: J; 6' 4"; Freshman

Vlad Malykhin: PV; 6' 1"; Freshman

Casen Hammitt: T; 5' 10"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

Spencer Helms
: 6' 4"; Junior
: T

Antiwain Jones
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: J

Tad Kirby
: 5' 10"; Junior
: S

Krishaun Watson
: 5' 7"; Senior
: S

Will Meredith
: 6' 0"; Senior
: S

Jacob Wood
: 5' 11"; Junior
: MD

Anton Kopytko
: 6' 4"; Freshman
: J

Vlad Malykhin
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: PV

Casen Hammitt
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: T