VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – The Harding Bisons further established themselves as a premier national powerhouse Saturday, using a balanced attack across the field and distance events to secure a 10th-place finish at the 2026 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.
The performance marks the fourth consecutive season that the Bisons have finished among the top 10 teams in the nation at the indoor meet. Harding finished in a tie for 10th with Saginaw Valley, tallying 19 total points over the two-day event at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
Bilong Continues All-America Streak
Senior Yves Bilong provided the highlight for the Bisons on the final day of competition. Competing in a loaded triple jump field, Bilong found his rhythm early, uncorking a leap of 15.37m (50-05.25) on his second attempt.
The mark held up for a fifth-place national finish, earning Bilong First Team All-America honors. It was a milestone moment for the senior, marking his third career indoor All-America honor and his fifth All-America honor overall.
Freshman teammate Artem Konovalenko made his national debut in the same event, placing 11th with a jump of 14.87m (48-09.50) to earn Second Team All-America status.
Historic Friday Foundation
The foundation for the top-10 finish was laid during a historic Friday session. Senior Vlad Malykhin cemented his legacy by winning his fourth consecutive indoor pole vault national title, clearing 5.41m (17-09.00). The victory was Malykhin's seventh overall national championship, the most by any individual in Harding athletics history.
Senior Anton Kopytko also delivered a podium performance on Friday, placing fourth in the long jump with a mark of 7.42m (24-04.25). The finish earned Kopytko his third career indoor All-America honor and his fifth overall.
Lingokal and Ruwende Shine
Freshman Benson Lingokal proved he belongs among the elite, placing 10th in the 5,000-meter final with a time of 14:02.45. The performance earned him Second Team All-America honors in his first semester of eligibility. On the track, sophomore Caledon Ruwende also represented the Bisons, finishing 16th in the 200-meter dash (21.79) to pick up Second Team All-America honors.
National Standings
Pittsburg State claimed the men's team title with 75.5 points, followed by Grand Valley State (51) and Wingate (50). Harding's 10th-place finish places them ahead of over 40 scoring programs, including MIAA rivals and regional foes.
Harding All-Americans:
The Bisons will now transition to the outdoor season, where they look to defend their Great American Conference title and continue their streak of national prominence.
