GAC Championships: Harding Lady Bisons Achieve Fifth Place Finish
MONTICELLO, Ark. — In a notable performance at the Great American Conference Championships held on Saturday, the Harding Lady Bisons cross-country team secured a fifth-place finish. The event, hosted by Arkansas-Monticello, showcased standout individual performances, particularly from freshman Vivien Kipkorir.
Vivien Kipkorir: A Freshman Sensation
Vivien Kipkorir, hailing from Iten, Kenya, distinguished herself as the top freshman competitor, earning the GAC Freshman of the Year title. Kipkorir finished second overall with an impressive time of 17:35.39. This achievement marks the fifth occasion in which a Harding athlete has received the GAC Freshman of the Year award and the first since Alicja Minczuk in 2017.
All-GAC Recognition for Josie Parks
Joining Kipkorir in recognition of their exceptional performance was Josie Parks, who also made the All-GAC First Team by finishing eighth overall in a time of 18:03.70. This accolade signifies Parks’ second consecutive year as a First Team honoree.
Team Performance and Scoring Runners
The Harding Lady Bisons accumulated a total of 111 points for their fifth-place finish. Arkansas Tech captured the team title with 59 points, narrowly defeating Ouachita Baptist (64 points) and East Central (70 points).
The following Harding runners contributed to the team score:
- Vivien Kipkorir: 2nd place, 17:35.39 – 2 points
- Josie Parks: 8th place, 18:03.70 – 8 points
- Addison Lyles: 23rd place, 18:42.35 – 23 points
- Kaia Bieker: 37th place, 19:04.59 – 35 points
- Jaclyn Weilnau: 50th place, 19:24.85 – 43 points
Looking Ahead
With this competition behind them, the Lady Bisons are now preparing for the NCAA Division II Central Regional Championships, set to take place on November 8 in Joplin, Missouri. The team will aim to secure a position in the national meet as they continue to build upon their successes this season.
