NEW ORLEANS – Following a record-breaking weekend in Nashville, the Harding men's indoor track and field team climbed two spots to No. 8 in the latest USTFCCCA NCAA Division II National TFRI, released Tuesday.
The No. 8 ranking is the highest for the program this season and is fueled by eight individual performances that rank among the top 25 in the country.
Leading the charge for the Bisons is senior Vlad Malykhin, who remains the No. 1 ranked pole vaulter in Division II. Malykhin's clearance of 5.45m (17-10.50) at the Wooo Pig Classic on Feb. 7 remains the premier mark in the nation. He is joined in the national rankings by junior Everett Mumme, who ranks No. 22 in the event (5.06m).
Harding's triple jump unit continues to be one of the deepest in the country, boasting three athletes in the national top 20. Senior Yves Bilong leads the group at No. 5 nationally (15.55m), followed by freshmen Artem Konovalenko at No. 13 (15.17m) and Nathan Boulay at No. 20 (14.98m).
The Bisons' point total was bolstered this week by freshman Benson Lingokal, whose school-record 5,000-meter run (13:48.95) at the Music City Challenge on Feb. 14 debuted at No. 10 on the national list. Other top-10 Bisons include sophomore sprinter Caledon Ruwende, who ranks No. 6 in the 200-meter dash (21.10), and senior Anton Kopytko, who holds the No. 6 spot in the long jump (7.49m).
Grand Valley State remains the No. 1 team in the nation, followed by Wingate and Pittsburg State. Harding is the highest-ranked team currently competing as an Independent.
Lady Bisons Ranked No. 51
The Harding women's team moved to No. 51 nationally this week, led by seven national-caliber performances. Junior Hanna Onufriieva leads the Lady Bisons with the No. 13 triple jump in Division II (12.24m), while Tetiana Kharashchuk (400m), Jerlana Williams (60m), and the Distance Medley Relay team (Bieker, Bowman, Kharashchuk, Parks) all hold No. 15 national rankings. Senior Cadence Sansom ranks No. 16 in the pole vault (3.90m), followed by Karyna Vehner (No. 23, Triple Jump) and freshman Yedidya Bangue (No. 28, Shot Put).
Harding returns to action Friday, Feb. 20, at the Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville.
