VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Behind a historic seventh national title from Vlad Malykhin and a gritty All-America performance by Anton Kopytko, the Harding Bisons ended the first day of the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in third place nationally.

The Bisons' 15 total points through the opening day trail only Grand Valley State and Pittsburg State, who are tied for the lead with 14 points each.

Kopytko Climbs the Podium

Senior Anton Kopytko delivered when it mattered most in the long jump final. Sitting in seventh place early in the competition, Kopytko uncorked a leap of 7.42m (24-04.25) on his third attempt to rocket up the leaderboard.

The mark held strong, earning him a fourth-place national finish and five crucial points for the team standings. The performance marks Kopytko's third career indoor All-America honor and his fifth overall, further establishing him as one of the most consistent horizontal jumpers in the country.

Malykhin's Masterclass

Earlier in the day, Vlad Malykhin secured his fourth consecutive indoor pole vault national title. Malykhin's winning height of 5.41m (17-09.00) earned 10 points for the Bisons. The senior has now won every indoor and outdoor national pole vault title available to him since 2023, excluding only his freshman indoor season.

Lingokal Adds to the Tally

Freshman Benson Lingokal rounded out the scoring for the Bisons with a 10th-place finish in the 5,000-meter final. His time of 14:02.45 earned him Second Team All-America honors and solidified Harding's presence in the distance events.