Harding Men's Cross-Country Sets Program First, Places 11th at Central Region Meet

JOPLIN, Mo. – Posting its top regional finish in seven seasons, the Harding men's cross-country team placed 11th of 28 teams on a chilly Saturday morning at the NCAA II Central Regional Championship, hosted by Missouri Southern State.

Harding finished with 301 points, its best score in the Central Region meet since a 239 total in 2015 on the same course. Harding's 11th-place finish was its best since the 2015 team placed ninth.

Sophomore Luke Walling was Harding's top finisher in the 10K race. He cut more than a minute off his regional time last season and placed 28th in 30 minutes, 24.6 seconds. It was the fastest time by a Harding runner at a regional race since Harding Hall of Famer Daniel Kirwa ran 29:58.0 in winning the 2008 South Region Meet in Searcy. Walling's 28th-place finish was Harding's best since Lucas Goodspeed placed 12th in 2015.

Crossing next for Harding was freshman Noah Haileab, who placed 35th in 30:33.4. The last time Harding had two runners finish in less than 31 minutes was in 2010 when Kirwa (30:28) and Philip Biwott (30:52) finished 1-2 in the South Region Meet.

Sophomore Zach Reed placed third among Bison runners and 58th overall 30:55.6, giving Harding three runners under 31 minutes at a regional 10K race for the first time in program history.

Freshman Nate Perry placed 87th 31:33.4, and senior Jackson Pruim placed 93rd with a career-best 10K time of 31:42.9. All five of Harding's scoring runners finished in under 32 minutes for the first time since 2008.

Junior Matt Ingalsbe was 94th in 31:43.8, and freshman Kyle Oakes placed 181st in 34:13.2.

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Players Mentioned

Matt Ingalsbe: 6' 0"; Junior

Jackson Pruim: 6' 0"; Senior

Zach Reed: 6' 1"; Sophomore

Luke Walling: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Noah Haileab: 6' 0"; Freshman

Kyle Oakes: 6' 1"; Freshman

Nate Perry: 6' 0"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Matt Ingalsbe
: 6' 0"; Junior

Jackson Pruim
: 6' 0"; Senior

Zach Reed
: 6' 1"; Sophomore

Luke Walling
: 5' 10"; Sophomore

Noah Haileab
: 6' 0"; Freshman

Kyle Oakes
: 6' 1"; Freshman

Nate Perry
: 6' 0"; Freshman