NEW ORLEANS – Nine members of the Harding men's track and field team have been selected to compete at the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the national committee announced Tuesday.
The Bisons enter the championship window ranked No. 9 in the latest USTFCCCA National Rating Index. Harding's qualifying group is defined by high-end elite talent, featuring four different athletes ranked in the top three of their respective events.
The championships will be held May 21-23 at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas.
INDIVIDUAL TITLE CONTENDERS
Harding's quest for a top-10 national finish is spearheaded by a trio of seniors who currently hold the No. 2 national ranking in their events:
-
Savian Bush (SR): Ranks No. 2 in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.59. Bush has consistently dipped under the 14-second mark throughout the spring.
-
Vlad Malykhin (SR): The veteran standout is No. 2 in the pole vault after clearing a season-best 5.56m (18-3) last week at the Arkansas Twilight.
-
Yves Bilong (SR): Holds the No. 2 mark in the triple jump with a massive leap of 16.20m (53-1.75).
Joining them in the top three is freshman sensation Benson Lingokal, who ranks No. 3 in the 10,000-meter run (28:45.43). Lingokal will be the first Bison on the track when the distance carnival begins on Thursday night.
CHAMPIONSHIP DEPTH
The Bisons' qualifying roster includes several other athletes positioned to score crucial team points:
-
Horizontal Jumps: Freshman Artem Konovalenko ranks No. 7 in the triple jump (15.52m), giving Harding two of the top seven seeds in the event. Senior Anton Kopytko qualified in the long jump with a mark of 7.56m (No. 14).
-
Vertical Jumps: Junior Everett Mumme provides a second high-level entry in the pole vault, ranking No. 8 nationally (5.30m).
-
Sprints: Sophomore Caledon Ruwende moved into the top 10 at the final hour, securing the No. 10 seed in the 200-meter dash (20.66).
-
Throws: Senior Casen Hammitt rounds out the top-10 presence for the Bisons, ranking No. 10 in the javelin (69.48m).
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
The three-day event begins Thursday, May 21. Key early action for the Bisons includes Kopytko in the long jump and Lingokal in the 10,000 meters. The majority of Harding's top-seeded field events, including the pole vault, triple jump, and javelin, will take place on the final day of competition, Saturday, May 23.
Harding enters the meet with 208.79 total ranking points, seeking its third straight top-five national finish.
For a full schedule of events and live results, visit HardingSports.com.
