RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Following a historic, record-breaking performance on one of the sport's biggest stages, Harding freshman Erika Konovalenko has been named the Great American Conference Women's Field Athlete of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.
Konovalenko, a native of Kherson, Ukraine, earned the honor after her standout performance at the 98th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin. Competing in an elite javelin field that featured seven NCAA Division I athletes, Konovalenko secured a second-place finish with a massive toss of 50.26 meters (164-10).
The mark did more than just secure a podium finish; it shattered the previous Harding school record of 47.64 meters by nearly nine feet. The performance currently vaults Konovalenko to No. 4 in the NCAA Division II national rankings.
Konovalenko was one of two Lady Bisons recognized by the league this week. Junior sprinter Leila Ngapout earned a nomination for GAC Track Athlete of the Week following her 11.71-second performance in the 100-meter dash in Austin, a time that ranks 11th nationally. The track accolade went to Oklahoma Baptist's Asia Foster.
The No. 6-ranked Lady Bisons return to competition on home soil this week. Harding will host the Stallion Transportation Bison Multi on April 9-10, followed by the Stallion Transportation Bryan Phillips Open on April 10-11 at the Ted and Marcie Lloyd Track and Field Complex in Searcy.
