Written by Emma Jones, Balazs Balassa and Morgan Wrigley \/\/ Photo by Balazs Balassa <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five players from the Harding track and field teams earned All-America honors at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships held last weekend, March 10-11, at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vlad Malykhin, a freshman from Shostka, Ukraine, won the national championship in the pole vault with a height of 5.52 meters (18 feet, 1.25 inches), which was the highest clearance ever at the NCAA Division II indoor national championships, the third-highest ever recorded in Division II and a Harding school record, according to hardingsports.com. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was very happy, and I appreciate all the people who support me, who support Ukraine,\u201d Malykhin said. \u201cI really appreciate it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Head track and field coach Don Hood said he ordered new poles that arrived two weeks before the national championship meet, which he hoped would suit Malykhin\u2019s vault style better. Malykhin\u2019s previous vault record was 5.32 meters (17 feet, 5.5 inches), and he said the new poles were \u201creally worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other All-America athletes from the men\u2019s team included sophomore Antiwain Jones, who placed fifth in the high jump by tying his school record of 2.15 meters (7 feet, 0.5 inches); senior Dakarai Bush, who placed sixth in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.95 seconds; and freshman Yves Bilong, who placed sixth in the triple jump with a jump of 15.13 meters (49 feet, 7.75 inches). The men\u2019s team tied for 10th overall with 20 points, its first top-10 finish since 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lady Bisons only had one competitor at the national meet, senior pole vaulter Sierra White, who placed fifth with a height of 4.05 meters (13 feet, 3.5 inches), breaking her own school record and making her the second Lady Bison indoor track and field athlete to ever earn multiple All-America honors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis year it\u2019s my senior year, so I was nervous because I wanted to do well, and I didn\u2019t want to end [indoor] on a bad note,\u201d White said. \u201cI had a tough season leading up to it so it was difficult to approach it and be like, \u2018Okay I have to clear this,\u2019 but then I did, and it was really really exciting. \u2026 It was a very electric meet and moment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hood said he feels the teams\u2019 success stems partially from his coaching staff, and that he feels very fortunate to have the staff that he has working with him right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s one of the best coaching staffs in Division II, maybe the country,\u201d Hood said. \u201cIt\u2019s a good time to be here right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the conclusion of indoor season, the track and field teams will be transitioning into their outdoor season starting this weekend as they host their first home meet at their new outdoor facility, located by the intramural fields. Harding Healthy Eating Active Living will host a meet tailgate Saturday at 1 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope some people will come out this weekend and watch a little bit,\u201d Hood said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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