LOUISVILLE, Ky. — 1st-year runner Benson Lingokal posted a blistering sub-24:00 time to finish fourth overall, leading the Harding men's cross-country team to a sixth-place team finish in the Men's 8K Gold race at the Live in Lou Louisville Classic on Saturday morning at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park.

Competing against a loaded 24-team field featuring prominent Division I and Division II programs, the Bisons compiled 215 points. Harding finished just three points behind Division I Western Kentucky (212) for a spot in the top five, while comfortably holding off Division I Marshall (257) and regional contender Mississippi College (274).

No. 2-ranked West Texas A&M claimed the team title with 36 points behind individual champion Meshack Keter (23:33.4), followed closely by Lee (Tenn.) in second with 47 points. Division III powerhouse North Central (Ill.) placed third with 159 points, followed by NAIA contender Cumberlands in fourth with 160 points.

Lingokal covered the fast 8,000-meter circuit in 23:50.5, averaging a 4:47 mile pace to claim fourth place overall in a field of 251 competitors. Lingokal trailed only Keter and Lee's duo of Pierre Chauveau (23:42.2) and Stephen Clark (23:45.9).

Fellow 1st-year Noah Cooper continued his outstanding debut campaign, clocking 24:38.2 to take 29th place overall. 4th-year Brady Axtell delivered a strong performance as Harding's third scorer, crossing the line in 25:02.6 to place 51st.

5th-year Noah Haileab (71st, 25:18.8) and 4th-year Ryan McCarn (72nd, 25:20.2) finished back-to-back to round out the Bisons' scoring five.

1st-year Rhett Moss (96th, 25:36.3) and 2nd-year Noah Brothers (103rd, 25:39.5) rounded out Harding's top seven as displacers. 2nd-year Jack Fink (113th, 25:44.8), 4th-year Aidan Bailey (122nd, 25:47.4), 2nd-year Marek Krisica (160th, 26:13.8), and 3rd-year Glenn Graves (185th, 26:34.3) also competed for the Bisons.

Harding returns to competition on Saturday, Oct. 10, traveling to Clarksville, Arkansas, for the University of the Ozarks Invitational.