SEARCY – The No. 7-ranked Harding men's track and field team demonstrated its strength and depth across a successful weekend of competition at the John McDonnell Invitational hosted by the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and the Arkansas State Alumni Classic in State University.
At the John McDonnell Invitational, junior Vlad Malykhin highlighted the Bisons' efforts by winning the pole vault with a season-best clearance of 5.50 meters (18 feet, 0.5 inches), an NCAA provisional qualifying mark that ranks second in NCAA Division II. Sophomore Everett Mumme and junior Kylor Aguilar tied for third, both clearing 4.80 meters (15 feet, 9 inches).
The Harding sprinters were also impressive, with sophomore Olaolu Olatunde achieving NCAA provisional qualifying marks in both the 100 and 200 meters. His time of 10.37 seconds in the 100 meters placed him third, and he ranks 20th nationally with a season-best of 10.31. In the 200 meters, Olatunde clocked a season-best 20.85 seconds to finish fifth, placing him 19th nationally. Freshman Caledon Ruwende also provisionally qualified in the 200 meters with a time of 20.98 seconds, which ranks 38th nationally. Ruwende also finished 11th in the 100 meters (10.55 seconds), and junior Donald Nwamere ran 10.76 seconds.
Junior Anton Kopytko recorded an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the long jump with a leap of 7.50 meters (24 feet, 7.25 inches), just one centimeter off his season best, to finish second. He ranks eighth nationally. Junior Daniel Osoba placed ninth in the triple jump (14.16 meters/46 feet, 5.5 inches), and freshman Christian Erkert provisionally qualified in the javelin with a throw of 60.37 meters (198 feet, 1 inch), just off his career best, to finish third. He ranks 45th nationally.
Senior Samuel Williams finished the 400 meters in 48.28 seconds (25th), and freshman Emmanuel Ragira placed 30th in 48.72 seconds.
The Arkansas State Alumni Classic saw Harding's discus throwers excel. Senior Spencer Helms led the way, finishing second with an NCAA provisional qualifying throw of 55.38 meters (181 feet, 8 inches), just shy of his season high. He ranks sixth in Division II. Senior Lukas Stiper finished third with a new season-best and NCAA provisional mark of 53.92 meters (176 feet, 11 inches), ranking 14th nationally. Junior Kelmen de Carvalho also set a new season best and achieved an NCAA provisional mark, placing fifth with a throw of 51.57 meters (169 feet, 2 inches), which ranks 35th in Division II.
In other events at Arkansas State, junior Jaxon Hardy finished sixth in the 100 meters (10.80 seconds). Sophomore Grayson Hall placed fifth in the 800 meters (2:03.48), followed by freshman Zeke Brown in seventh (2:12.81). Brown also finished 13th in the 1500 meters (4:26.13). Freshman Hayes Cox ran the 110-meter hurdles in 17.59 seconds to place seventh. In the pole vault, sophomore Elijah Barnes cleared 4.61 meters (15 feet, 1.5 inches) for sixth place, while seniors Zalen Robinson and Chad Strickland both cleared 4.46 meters (14 feet, 7.5 inches) to tie for seventh and eighth.
Looking ahead, the Harding men's track and field team will travel to Shawnee, Oklahoma, for the Great American Conference Championships, scheduled to take place from Wednesday, April 30, through Friday, May 2.
