NEW ORLEANS – Following a dominant season opener in Alabama, the Harding men's track and field team has debuted at No. 14 in the nation in the first NCAA Division II National Track & Field Rating Index (TFRI) of the 2026 indoor season.

The rankings, released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), place the Bisons as the highest-ranked independent program in the country. Harding's score of 46.66 points is fueled by six nationally ranked performances, all established during the Samford Invitational earlier this month.

Ruwende and Malykhin Lead the Charge
The Bisons' ranking is anchored by two top-five individual performances. Sophomore Caledon Ruwende accounts for the team's highest point contribution (17.80) after his school-record performance in the 200-meter dash. Ruwende's time of 21.10 seconds currently ranks No. 3 in the nation.

Senior All-American Vlad Malykhin also remains a national powerhouse in the pole vault. His clearance of 5.26 meters (17-3) ranks No. 4 nationally, contributing 16.34 points to the team's total.

Field Event Depth
Harding's reputation as a "field event factory" was reinforced by the inclusion of four additional jumpers in the national rankings:

• Triple Jump: Freshman Nathan Boulay sits at No. 7 in Division II after his debut mark of 14.98 meters (49-1.75), providing nearly 10 points to the team score.

• Long Jump: Senior Anton Kopytko ranks No. 16 with a leap of 7.25 meters (23-9.5).

• Pole Vault: The Bisons are the only team in the Top 20 to feature three different athletes in the national rankings for a single event. Joining Malykhin are junior Everett Mumme (No. 18, 5.06m) and senior Kylor Aguilar (No. 29, 4.86m).

Central Region Powerhouse
The Bisons are currently one of the top teams in the Central Region, which remains the deepest in the country. Five of the top 10 teams in the national rankings—including No. 2 Pittsburg State and No. 4 Minnesota State—hail from the Central Region.

Harding's women are ranked 43rd, led by Tetiana Kharashchuk, ranked sixth in the 400 meters (54.89).

Harding will have an immediate opportunity to improve its standing this Friday, Jan. 30, as the team travels to Pittsburg, Kansas, for the Rumble in the Jungle.