JOPLIN, Mo. – Harding men’s indoor track and field team had one event winner, two NCAA provisionals and two school records Friday and Saturday at the MSSU Lion Open and Multi, contested at the Missouri Southern Leggett and Platt Athletic Center.

Junior Matt Hipshire won the two-day heptathlon with a Harding-record 4,701 points, breaking the previous record of 4,539 set by Matt White at Arkansas in 2007.

Senior Mitchell Kessler broke his own school record in the weight throw with an NCAA provisional mark of 18.53 meters (60-09.50). His record came on his first of six throws and he is ranked 20th nationally in Division II.

In the seeded pole vault event, junior Alex Hindman cleared an NCAA provisional height of 4.89 meters (16-00.50). It was a career high and moved him into second place on Harding’s career indoor performers list. He is 16th nationally in the pole vault.

Below is a summary of Harding’s performances in each event:
60 meters – Sophomore Will Meredith finished first of four Bisons in the event. Meredith placed 16th of 59 dashers in 7.12 seconds. Freshman Krishaun Watson was 21st (7.16), sophomore Jamaric Hill was 33rd (7.26) and freshman Dakarai Bush was 38th (7.28).
200 meters – Sophomore Will Meredith placed 10th of 50 sprinters in 23.08 seconds. Freshman Andrew Ashmore was 19th in 23.38, freshman Krishaun Watson was 25th in 23.62, and sophomore Jamaric Hill was 33rd in 24.02.
400 meters – Freshman Andrew Ashmore placed 13th in 52.79, and sophomore Todd Earhart was 31st in 56.75.
600 yards – Junior Bryce Wiedower placed fourth of 16 runners in a personal-best time of 1:18.19.
800 meters – Freshman Jean-Louis Bouric placed third of 30 in 1:59.39 in his first collegiate 800.
Mile – Junior Keneth Chelelgo led three Harding runners with a 14th-place finish in a personal-best 4:32.59. Freshman Kendall Townsley was 15th in 4:35.02, and sophomore Colton Bowman placed 34th in 4:59.49.
3,000 meters – Freshman Tyler Harrod won his heat and placed eighth overall in 9:20.37. It was Harding’s fastest 3,000-meter time this season.
60-meter hurdles – Freshman Dakarai Bush placed fourth of 16 runners in the prelims with a time of 8.63 seconds, qualifying for Saturday’s final. Sophomore Garrett Watkinsplaced 12th in 8.98. Bush placed third in the final in 8.48 seconds.
4×400 Relay – Harding’s team of Andrew Ashmore, Dakarai Bush, Jean-Louis Bouric and Will Meredith teamed to finish fourth of 14 squads in 3:29.33.
Distance Medley Relay – Harding’s team of Kendall Townsley, Garrett Watkins, Jean-Louis Bouric and Jackson Pruim placed fifth of 11 teams in 10:53.49.
Heptathlon – Junior Matt Hipshire won the event with a Harding-record 4,701 points, breaking the previous record of 4,539 set by Matt White at Arkansas in 2007.
High Jump – Sophomore Garrett Watkins cleared 1.92 meters (6-03.50) to place third. It was a career-best clearance and moved him into ninth on Harding’s career indoor performers list.
Long Jump – Freshman Cedric Gable placed 22nd of 33 jumpers with a mark of 6.01 meters (19-08.75). Sophomore Kaleb Naceanceno was 26th at 5.73 meters (18-09.75).
Pole Vault – Sophomore Steven Konwent placed fifth of 11 vaulters by clearing 4.14 meters (13-07.00). In the seeded pole vault event, junior Alex Hindman cleared an NCAA provisional height of 4.89 meters (16-00.50). It was a career high and moved him into second place on Harding’s career indoor performers list.
Triple Jump – Sophomore Todd Earhart jumped 12.34 meters (40-06.00) to place 13th, and freshman Cedric Gable placed 14th at 12.24 meters (40-02.00).
Weight Throw – Senior Mitchell Kessler broke his own school record again with an NCAA provisional mark of 18.53 meters (60-09.50). His record came on his first of six throws.

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