SEARCY, Ark. — The historic nature of the 2026 Harding women's track and field season has reached a global scale.

Four members of the Lady Bisons' track and field program finished the 2026 outdoor campaign ranked among the top 500 athletes in the world in their respective events, according to the official world rankings released by World Athletics (WorldAthletics.org).

Led by senior pole vaulter Cadence Sansom, who secured a ranking inside the top 250 globally, the quartet of international standout performers highlights the unprecedented depth and high-end talent currently residing in Searcy. Joining Sansom in the world top 500 are senior Josie Parks (3,000-meter steeplechase), freshman Yedidya Bangue (shot put), and senior Tetiana Kharashchuk (400 meters).

Sansom Vaults Into the World Top 250

Cadence Sansom capped off her stellar senior campaign with the highest global ranking on the team, landing at No. 245 in the world in the women's pole vault. The Lago Vista, Texas native cleared a lifetime outdoor personal best of 4.12 meters (13-06.25) at the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Sansom, a two-time Second Team All-American, concludes her collegiate career holding the school record and cemented as one of the premier vertical jumpers in the country.

Parks and Bangue Secure Top-400 Marks

Harding's exceptional representation in the world rankings spanned both the track and the field circles:

• Josie Parks (No. 360 – 3,000m Steeplechase): The Columbia, Tennessee native ended her final collegiate season ranked No. 360 in the world in the grueling steeplechase. Parks punched her ticket to her first NCAA final this spring, running a personal-best time of 10:26.96 at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California, making her just the second steeplechase All-American in program history.

• Yedidya Bangue (No. 362 – Shot Put): True freshman Yedidya Bangue made an immediate impact on the global stage, ranking No. 362 in the world in the shot put. The Yaounde, Cameroon native entered the season as a highly touted prospect and delivered, placing eighth at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships with a toss of 15.12 meters (49-07.25) to earn First Team All-America honors as the highest-finishing freshman in the field.

Kharashchuk Shines in the Sprints

Senior Tetiana Kharashchuk rounded out the elite quartet, finishing the year ranked No. 434 in the world in the outdoor 400-meter dash. Kharashchuk, who hails from Kolomiya, Ukraine, clocked a blistering season-best of 53.98 seconds at the Arkansas Twilight on May 8. A multi-time All-American, she represented the Lady Bisons on both the regional and national stage, playing an integral role in Harding's record-breaking sprint and relay squads.

The global rankings cap off the most successful collective year in Harding track and field history. Behind these historic performances, the No. 11-ranked Lady Bisons captured a 17th-place team finish at the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in May, securing the program's second-highest national point total ever.

For more information and complete coverage of Harding track and field, visit HardingSports.com. Harding's men in the top 500 will be announced Tuesday.