NEW ORLEANS – Backed by a historic performance from senior Vlad Malykhin, the Harding men's track and field team remained among the nation's elite Tuesday, checking in at No. 10 in the third NCAA Division II National Track & Field Rating Index (TFRI) of the season.
The Bisons, who earned 65.52 points in the computer-generated index, have now spent two consecutive weeks in the national top 10. The ranking follows a standout weekend at the Wooo Pig Classic in Fayetteville, where several Bisons improved their national standing.
Malykhin Moves to No. 1
The highlight of the new rankings is senior Vlad Malykhin, who officially took over the No. 1 national ranking in the pole vault. Malykhin's leap of 5.45m (17-10.50) at the University of Arkansas this past Saturday earned 24.31 points for the Bisons' team total. He is currently the only athlete in Division II to eclipse the 17-10 mark this indoor season.
Field Event Dominance
Harding's top-10 status is anchored by its prowess in the jumps. The Bisons currently feature four athletes ranked in the top five nationally in their respective field events:
On the track, sophomore Caledon Ruwende continues to provide a major scoring punch, ranking No. 6 nationally in the 200-meter dash with his season-best time of 21.10 seconds.
National Depth
The Bisons' scoring is bolstered by rising freshmen and veteran depth. In the triple jump, Nathan Boulay (No. 18, 14.98m) and Artem Konovalenko (No. 19, 14.97m) both sit in the national top 20, providing Harding with one of the most potent triple jump groups in the country. Junior Everett Mumme also contributes to the national score, ranking No. 20 in the pole vault (5.06m).
Harding remains the highest-ranked independent program in Division II and is one of four Central Region teams in the top 10, joining Pittsburg State (No. 3), Minnesota State (No. 5), and Northwest Missouri (No. 7).
Looking Ahead
The No. 10 Bisons will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, this weekend for the Music City Challenge hosted by Vanderbilt University on Feb. 13-14.
