EMPORIA, Kan. — Senior Anton Kopytko delivered a historic, gut-check performance to secure a second-place finish in the long jump, leading the No. 9-ranked Harding men's track and field team on the opening day of the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Welch Stadium.

Behind Kopytko's runner-up finish and a top-10 performance from freshman distance standout Benson Lingokal in the 10,000 meters, the Bisons officially put eight points on the team leaderboard.

A Jump to Remember

Kopytko, a senior from Dnipro, Ukraine, entered the competition making his third consecutive outdoor national appearance. On his very first attempt of the afternoon, Kopytko unleashed a massive season-best leap of 7.63 meters (25-0.50).

However, the opening jump came at a major cost, as Kopytko suffered an injury on the landing and was unable to take any of his remaining five attempts. Despite being sidelined for the rest of the competition, Kopytko's initial mark held up against the nation's elite, securing him the silver medal.

The second-place finish marks the highest placement ever by a Harding men's athlete in the long jump at the national championships. It also represents Kopytko's third First Team All-America honor in the outdoor long jump—following a third-place finish in 2024 and a seventh-place finish in 2025—and his fifth All-America honor overall.

Lingokal Battles in the 10,000m

On the track, freshman Benson Lingokal made his national debut in the 10,000-meter run. The Eldoret, Kenya native showed his aggressive championship style early, asserting himself at the front and leading the national field through the opening miles.

Lingokal began to fall off the lead pack around the 6,000-meter mark of the grueling 25-lap race, but fought hard to cross the finish line in ninth place with a time of 29:42.01. His top-10 finish earned him Second Team All-America honors, continuing Harding's storied history of elite national performers in the 10,000 meters.

Day 2 Preview: Sprints and Hurdles Take Center Stage

The Bisons will turn their attention to track qualifying on Friday, May 22, with two of the team's top point-scoring threats looking to punch their tickets to Saturday's finals.

• 5:30 PM – Men's 200m Prelims: Sophomore Caledon Ruwende lines up in the 200-meter dash. Ruwende enters the meet fresh off a 20.66-second performance at the Arkansas Twilight, which ranks him 10th in Division II.

• 6:35 PM – Men's 110m Hurdles Prelims: Senior Savian Bush will begin his hunt for a national title. Bush enters the event as the No. 2 seed in the country with a season-best time of 13.59 seconds.

Live results, broadcast links, and updates from Welch Stadium can be found on HardingSports.com.