SHAWNEE, Okla. – Harding, the three-time Great American Conference Men’s Track & Field champions, built a 20-point lead at the 2025 Championships led by event wins from Hayes Cox in the decathlon, Spencer Helms in the shot put, Anton Kopytko in the long jump.
Cox amassed 6,123 points by 78 points. He took first in the 100-meter dash and the long jump. Helms registered a mark of 16.70 meters on his fifth try. Kopytko won the long jump for the third-straight year.
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Oklahoma Baptist ended the day in second place with 70 points. Maddox Mottley took second in the decathlon; Evan Olson placed second in the javelin; Zavier Freeman finished as runner-up in the shot put.
East Central claimed third, one point ahead of Southern Arkansas thanks to wins by Melvin Kipkemboi in the 10,000 and Paul Korir in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Korir’s victory represented his second-straight GAC title. SAU’s Jason Patrick won the hammer throw with a top effort of 58.61 meters.
Southern Nazarene’s Coltor Bufford set a GAC Championship record in the javelin with a best attempt of 67.35 meters, an NCAA Provisional mark.
Ouachita Baptist and Northwestern Oklahoma State rounded out the team scoring.
Friday features the field events of the triple jump, pole vault, high jump and discus. On the track, finals include the 5,000, the 4x100-meter relay, the 1,500, the 110-meter hurdles, the 400, the 100, the 400-meter hurdles, the 200 and the 4x400 meter relay.