SEARCY, Ark. – If the opening day of the 2026 Great American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships was a statement of intent, the No. 8-ranked Harding Bisons just spoke at maximum volume.

Behind a masterclass performance by Benson Lingokal in the 10,000 meters and a scoring avalanche in the javelin, the Bisons claimed the top spot on the leaderboard with 47 points on their home turf at Lloyd Track on Wednesday. Harding holds an 11-point lead over second-place Oklahoma Baptist heading into Day 2.

Lingokal Smashes GAC Meet Record

The highlight of the opening night came under the lights as Benson Lingokal put on a distance running clinic in the 10,000 meters. Lingokal didn't just win the gold; he decimated the field with a blistering time of 29:44.17.

His performance simultaneously shattered the GAC Meet Record (previously 29:54.60), the Harding School Record, and the Lloyd Track Facility Record (previously 30:02.78). Lingokal's victory provided 10 points for the host squad, while teammate Nate Perry added three more with a gritty sixth-place finish in 31:26.61.

"Javelin Mafia" Takes Over the Podium

Harding's depth was most evident at the javelin runway, where the Bisons flexed their muscles to account for 28 total team points.

Senior Casen Hammitt successfully defended his home runway, securing the individual conference title with a toss of 63.99m (209-11). He was followed immediately by sophomore Christian Erkert, who claimed the silver medal with a throw of 62.29m (204-04).

The Bisons occupied five of the eight scoring positions:

• Casen Hammitt: 1st (10 points)

• Christian Erkert: 2nd (8 points)

• Camden Helms: 4th (5 points)

• Isaac Baker: 5th (4 points)

• Will Watts: 8th (1 point)

Cox Leads Decathlon at the Midway Point

The Bisons are poised for another massive point haul in the decathlon, which does not yet factor into the team scores. At the conclusion of Day 1 (five events), Hayes Cox sits in first place with 3,726 points. Cox showcased elite speed early, winning the decathlon 100-meter dash in 10.68 and claiming the long jump with a leap of 6.84m.

Harding currently holds three of the top four spots heading into the final five events:

1. Hayes Cox: 3,726 pts

2. Isaac Pratt: 3,477 pts

3. Henry Heilmann: 3,429 pts

Men's Team Standings (After Day 1)

Up Next

The GAC Championships continue Thursday morning at Lloyd Track. The decathlon resumes at 9:30 a.m., followed by the shot put, long jump, and high jump finals, as well as preliminaries for several track events.