RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Harding 1st-year distance runner Benson Lingokal has been named the Great American Conference Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week for Week 5, the league office announced Tuesday.
The honor marks the second time this season Lingokal has received the conference's weekly award. He previously garnered the recognition on Sept. 7 following his runner-up collegiate debut at the Memphis Twilight Classic.
Lingokal earned this week's accolade after placing fourth overall in the Men's 8K Gold race at the 25th Annual Swags Live in Lou Louisville Classic on Saturday morning at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Eldoret, Kenya native was one of just six runners in the 251-competitor field to eclipse the 24-minute mark, crossing the line in 23:50.5 with an average mile pace of 4:47. Lingokal finished behind only West Texas A&M's individual champion Meshack Keter and Lee University's duo of Pierre Chauveau and Stephen Clark.
Behind Lingokal's performance, the Bisons compiled 215 points to finish sixth overall in the 24-team field, besting multiple Division I squads and finishing just three points back of Western Kentucky.
East Central sophomore Joyce Kemboi took home GAC Women's Runner of the Week honors alongside USTFCCCA NCAA Division II National Athlete of the Week recognition after running a nation-leading 16:09.7 5K at Arkansas' Chile Pepper Festival.
Harding returns to competition on Saturday, Oct. 10, traveling to Clarksville, Arkansas, to run in the University of the Ozarks Invitational.
