SEARCY, Ark. – The Harding men's track and field team continued its high-velocity start to the outdoor season this weekend, splitting the squad to capture four individual event titles and three NCAA Division II provisional qualifying marks at the Ole Miss Classic and Rhodes Invitational.
Coming off a top-10 national finish in the indoor season, the Bisons used the weekend to showcase both veteran leadership in the hurdles and throws and a surging youth movement in the sprints and jumps.
Hammitt and Bush Lead the Way in Oxford
At the Ole Miss Classic, the Bisons faced a field heavy with Division I talent but managed to secure three individual victories and two provisional standards.
Senior Casen Hammitt headlined the field events, winning the javelin with an NCAA provisional toss of 63.00m (206-08). Hammitt, who already holds the school record in the event, led a dominant Harding contingent that saw Christian Erkert (58.56m) and Isaac Baker (55.97m) finish third and fifth, respectively.
On the track, All-American Savian Bush delivered a commanding performance in the 110-meter hurdles. Bush took first place with a provisional time of 14.09, coasting to victory in the final heat. He also added a fourth-place finish in the 200-meter dash, clocking a 21.49.
Sophomore Emmanuel Ragira provided the third victory in Oxford, taking the 400-meter dash title in 47.25. In the vertical jumps, Everett Mumme cleared 5.01m (16-05.25) in the pole vault to finish third overall and secure the Bisons' third provisional mark of the weekend.
Axtell Dominates Steeplechase at Rhodes
While the sprinters and jumpers found success in Mississippi, the Bisons' distance and throwing units traveled to Memphis for the Rhodes Invitational.
Junior Brady Axtell secured the Bisons' lone victory at the meet, winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 9:41.94. He led a strong distance showing that included top-five finishes from Nate Perry (15:23.36) and Aidan Bailey (15:23.41) in the 5,000-meter run.
In the throwing rings, Tytus Daugherty led the charge with a pair of fourth-place finishes in the discus (41.25m) and hammer throw (46.43m). Freshman Dawson Church also cracked the top 10 in three separate events, highlighted by a sixth-place finish in the shot put (13.66m).
Harding NCAA Provisional Qualifiers (March 20-21)
Harding Event Winners
Up Next
The Bisons will look to carry this national-caliber momentum forward in the first week of April, competing in meets at the University of Texas, Texas State University and Stephen F. Austin University.
