PENSACOLA, Fla. – The Harding men's cross country team claimed its first victory of the season Saturday winning the Gulf Coast Stampede, hosted by the University of West Florida at the Escambia County Equestrian Center.

Harding placed five runners in the top 15 and won with 34 points. West Florida finished second with 52 points, followed by West Alabama with 74 points.

Senior Andrew Evans earned his first collegiate title by finishing the 8k race in 25 minutes, 54.9 seconds.

Junior Lajos Farkas finished fourth overall and second for the Bisons in 26:23.30. It was his best 8k finish since the 2011 Great American Conference meet.

The Bisons in the top 10 overall included senior Taylor Lively (26:34.10), who finished sixth and senior Matthew Cumpian (26:45.00) who finished eighth.

Freshman Daniel Evans (27:20.70), junior Logan Green (27:26.00), and freshman Mesa Allison (27:48.90) rounded out the top seven runners for the Bisons.

Other finishers for the Bisons include: freshman Russell Chase (27:51.20), freshman Jonathan Jackson(27:59.60), junior Zach Uhiren (28:32.80), freshman Jim Pile (28:36.40) and junior Matt Sherk (30:15.60).