Walling Cruises to Second Guymon Invitational Victory

SEARCY, Ark. – Harding junior Luke Walling took an early lead Friday and cruised to a 10.7-second victory at the 2023 Steve Guymon Invitational at the Harding Cross-Country Course. He covered the four miles in 19:45.8, winning the Guymon Invitational for the second time in his career.

Harding's team placed second in the five-team event with 33 points.

TEAM NOTES

Harding has had the winning individual in all three editions of the Guymon Invitational … Walling won in 2021 and 2023 and Noah Haileab won in 2022.
Harding has finished either first or second in all three Guymon Invitationals.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Walling's time of 19:45.8 over four miles was the best of his career and his first time under 20 minutes … it was also the fastest time ever to win the Guymon Invitational, topping Haileab's 20:11.4 last season.
Sophomore Nate Perry finished second among Harding runners and sixth overall in 20:33.4, his career-best four-mile time and tied his best-ever finish … he was also sixth last season at the Guymon Invitational in 21:28.8.
Third among Harding runners and seventh overall was senior Jackson Pruim in 20:35.6 … it was also his career-best four-mile time … has been a scoring runner for Harding in all 18 of his career cross-country races.
Freshman Brady Axtell placed ninth overall and fourth among Bison runners in 20:50.6 … it was his second career race, and he shaved almost 50 seconds off his time at the Memphis Twilight.
Senior Tom Valente placed 10th and fifth among Bisons in 20:57.9 … it was his fastest career four-mile time.
Harding's sixth and seventh finishers were sophomore Arnaud de Boscs (11th, 20:59.5) and senior Matt Ingalsbe (12th, 21:01.3).

UP NEXT

Harding travels to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to run in the Cowboy Jamboree, hosted by Oklahoma State University on Sept. 23.

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Players Mentioned

Noah Haileab: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Matt Ingalsbe: 6' 0"; Senior

Nate Perry: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Jackson Pruim: 6' 0"; Fifth Year

Tom Valente: 6' 1"; Senior

Luke Walling: 5' 10"; Junior

Brady Axtell: 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Noah Haileab
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Matt Ingalsbe
: 6' 0"; Senior

Nate Perry
: 6' 0"; Sophomore

Jackson Pruim
: 6' 0"; Fifth Year

Tom Valente
: 6' 1"; Senior

Luke Walling
: 5' 10"; Junior

Brady Axtell
: 5' 9"; Freshman