MONTICELLO, Ark. — The Harding Lady Bisons cross-country team finished fifth at the Great American Conference Championships on Saturday, hosted by Arkansas-Monticello. The major individual highlight came as freshman Vivien Kipkorir claimed the GAC Freshman of the Year award.
Kipkorir, a freshman from Iten, Kenya, was the top-finishing first-year athlete, securing the honor. She also earned a high finish individually, coming in second overall with a time of 17:35.39. This is the fifth time in program history a Harding runner has been named GAC Freshman of the Year and the first since Alicja Minczuk in 2017.
Also making the All-GAC First Team was Josie Parks, who finished 8th overall in 18:03.70. This marks the second consecutive year Parks has earned First Team honors.
The Lady Bisons compiled 111 points for their fifth-place finish. Arkansas Tech won the team title with 59 points, edging out Ouachita Baptist (64) and East Central (70).
Harding's five scoring runners were:
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Vivien Kipkorir (2nd, 17:35.39) - 2 points
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Josie Parks (8th, 18:03.70) - 8 points
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Addison Lyles (23rd, 18:42.35) - 23 points
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Kaia Bieker (37th, 19:04.59) - 35 points
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Jaclyn Weilnau (50th, 19:24.85) - 43 points
The Lady Bisons now shift their focus to the NCAA Division II Central Regional Championships, scheduled for Nov. 8 in Joplin, Missouri, where they will vie for a spot in the national meet.
