SEARCY, Ark. – Following a weekend of elite-level performances on the national stage, the Harding men's track and field team has climbed into the top five of the NCAA Division II National Track & Field Rating Index (TFRI).
In the latest rankings released Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the Bisons are ranked No. 5 in the country. Harding accumulated 218.52 points in the index, positioning them as the highest-ranked program in the Central Region and the Great American Conference.
The Bisons' ascent was fueled by a dominant showing at the Texas Relays and Bobcat Invitational, where the squad's senior leadership took over the national leaderboards.
Elite Field Performers
Leading the charge is senior Yves Bilong, who currently holds the No. 1 ranking in NCAA Division II in the triple jump. Bilong's massive leap of 15.81m (51-10.5) at the Texas Relays on April 4 earned him the top spot and remains the backbone of the Bisons' scoring index.
He is joined at the top of the national lists by fellow senior Vlad Malykhin. Malykhin cleared 5.55m (18-2.5) in the pole vault in Austin to secure the No. 2 national ranking. Harding's depth in the vertical jumps was further solidified by junior Everett Mumme, whose 5.20m (17-0.75) clearance ranks No. 7 nationally.
In the long jump, senior Anton Kopytko sits at No. 4 in the country after posting a mark of 7.56m (24-9.75) at the Bobcat Invitational.
National Top-10 Marks
Harding currently boasts eight different performances ranked within the national top 10:
Depth Across the Board
The Bisons are also seeing significant contributions from their freshman class. Artem Konovalenko (No. 7, Triple Jump) and Benson Lingokal (No. 15, 5,000 Meters) have made immediate national impacts, while Kameron Kauffman holds top-50 marks in both the shot put and discus.
On the track, sophomore Emmanuel Ragira ranks No. 18 in the 400 meters (47.25), and Brady Axtell moved into the No. 23 spot in the 3,000-meter steeplechase following his performance at the Carl Kight Invitational.
Coming Up Next
Harding looks to defend its top-five ranking on home soil this week. The Bisons will host the Stallion Transportation Bison Multi on April 9-10 and the Stallion Transportation Bryan Phillips Open on April 10-11 at the Ted and Marcie Lloyd Track and Field Complex in Searcy.
The home events will serve as the final major tune-up before the Bisons host the GAC Outdoor Championships later this month.
