Lady Bisons Picked Second in GAC Preseason Track and Field Poll

SEARCY, Ark. — Harding University's women's track and field team has been picked to finish second in the Great American Conference preseason coaches' poll.

The Lady Bisons received three votes in the poll, which was released Thursday. Harding finished runner-up at the GAC Championships for the third consecutive season in 2024.

Harding returns several key athletes from last season's team, including three NCAA Championship qualifiers: Kiera Blankinship in the high jump, Cella Nguema in the 100-meter hurdles and Omolara Ogunmakinju in the 400-meter run. Ogunmakinju earned First-Team All-America honors with a fourth-place finish, while Blankinship earned Second-Team accolades.

Additionally, Lisa Retailleau won a GAC title in the 400-meter hurdles, and Cadence Sansom gave the Lady Bisons four straight wins in the pole vault. Sansom and Hanna Onufriieva will compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships this week, with Onufriieva qualifying in the triple jump.

The 2025 GAC Championships are scheduled for May 1-3 in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

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Players Mentioned

Kiera Blankinship: J; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Cadence Sansom: PV; 5' 5"; Freshman

Cella Nguema: S/H; 5' 7"; Freshman

Lisa Retailleau: S/H; 5' 8"; Junior

Omolara Ogunmakinju: S; 5' 0"; Junior

Hanna Onufriieva: J; 5' 11"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Kiera Blankinship
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: J

Cadence Sansom
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: PV

Cella Nguema
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: S/H

Lisa Retailleau
: 5' 8"; Junior
: S/H

Omolara Ogunmakinju
: 5' 0"; Junior
: S

Hanna Onufriieva
: 5' 11"; Junior
: J