National Stage: No. 9 Men, No. 11 Girls Set for NCAA Outdoor Championships

SEARCY, Ark. — The Harding males’s and girls’s observe and subject groups are headed to Emporia, Kansas, with historic expectations and title-hunting rosters for the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The three-day nationwide meet, hosted by Emporia State University at Welch Stadium, begins Thursday, May 21, and runs by way of Saturday, May 23.

Harding arrives as one of many premier dual-program powerhouses within the nation. The Bison males enter the weekend ranked No. 9 within the newest USTFCCCA National Rating Index, whereas the Lady Bisons climbed to No. 11.

Historic Depth for the Lady Bisons

The Lady Bisons are making historical past earlier than even stepping onto the observe. Harding is sending a program-record 9 athletes to the out of doors nationwide meet, topping the earlier college report of seven qualifiers set simply final 12 months.

Harding’s girls characteristic a balanced assault throughout a number of occasion teams, spearheaded by three top-10 nationwide seeds:

• Erika Konovalenko (FR): Holds the No. 3 seed within the javelin throw with a mark of 51.84m (170-1).

• Roselyn Spencer (FR): Enters ranked No. 8 within the grueling heptathlon (5,240 factors).

• Cadence Sansom (SR): Sits at No. 8 within the pole vault after clearing 4.12m (13-6.25) this spring.

The Lady Bisons can even subject a harmful 4×100-meter relay squad, which certified with a school-record time of 45.25 (No. 12 in DII). Due to a late adjustment, multi-event standout Roselyn Spencer will slide into the anchor place alongside Tetiana Kharashchuk, Leila Ngapout, and Kewes Gomes. Kharashchuk will pull double obligation after additionally qualifying individually within the 400-meter sprint (No. 18, 53.98).

Rounding out the ladies’s entries are GAC champion Yedidya Bangue within the shot put (No. 10, 15.16m), Josie Parks within the 3,000-meter steeplechase (No. 10, 10:26.96), Ally Cheek within the excessive bounce (No. 13, 1.73m), and Hanna Onufriieva, who vaulted into the sphere at No. 18 within the triple bounce (12.28m) on the Mother’s Day Last Chance meet.

Top-Heavy Men Eye Podium Finish

While the ladies convey unprecedented roster numbers, the No. 9-ranked Bison males are outlined by high-end, elite high quality. Of Harding’s 9 particular person male entries, an astonishing 4 athletes are ranked within the high three of their respective occasions.

Harding boasts three senior title favorites who all maintain the No. 2 seed in Division II:

• Savian Bush (SR): No. 2 within the 110-meter hurdles (13.59 seconds).

• Vlad Malykhin (SR): No. 2 within the pole vault after his 5.56m (18-3) clearance on the Arkansas Twilight.

• Yves Bilong (SR): No. 2 within the triple bounce with a large 16.20m (53-1.75) leap.

Freshman distance phenom Benson Lingokal joins the elite tier because the No. 3 seed within the 10,000-meter run (28:45.43).

The remainder of the Bisons’ contingent is equally able to scoring large staff factors. Freshman Artem Konovalenko offers Harding a twin menace within the triple bounce because the No. 7 seed (15.52m), whereas junior Everett Mumme pairs with Malykhin within the pole vault at No. 8 (5.30m). Senior Casen Hammitt is a top-10 seed within the javelin (No. 10, 69.48m), sophomore Caledon Ruwende traces up within the 200-meter sprint (No. 10, 20.66), and senior Anton Kopytko appears to be like to make noise within the lengthy bounce (No. 14, 7.56m).

Bisons Championship Competition Schedule

Thursday, May 21

• 11:00 AM – Women’s Heptathlon (Day 1) | Roselyn Spencer

• 2:30 PM – Men’s Long Jump (Final) | Anton Kopytko

• 3:00 PM – Women’s Pole Vault (Final) | Cadence Sansom

• 5:00 PM – Women’s 4×100 Meter Relay (Prelims) | Kharashchuk, Ngapout, Gomes, Spencer

• 5:55 PM – Women’s 400 Meter Dash (Prelims) | Tetiana Kharashchuk

• 7:10 PM – Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase (Prelims) | Josie Parks

• 8:10 PM – Men’s 10,000 Meter Run (Final) | Benson Lingokal

Friday, May 22

Saturday, May 23

Note: Running occasions on Thursday and Friday perform as qualifiers. Athletes advancing by way of preliminary heats will compete in observe finals on Saturday afternoon.

Live outcomes, broadcast hyperlinks, and every day recaps might be obtainable all through the weekend on HardingSports activities.com.