SHAWNEE, Okla. — Powered by an individual title from Benson Lingokal and a dominant six-man All-Conference showing, the Harding men's cross-country team captured the 2026 Great American Conference Championship on Saturday morning at the Gordon Cooper Technology Center.

Harding tallied 34 points over the 8,000-meter course to secure its fourth GAC team title in program history and its first since Fall 2021. The Bisons held off host Oklahoma Baptist (49 points) and perennial contender East Central (52 points) in an eight-team field.

Head coach Don Hood was named the GAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year, marking the second time in his career he has earned the league's top coaching honor (Fall 2021).

Lingokal headlined a sweep of the conference's major individual postseason honors. The 1st-year standout was named both the GAC Runner of the Year and the GAC Freshman of the Year after running away with the individual crown in 24:19.72. Lingokal broke away from the pack early and crossed the finish line with a commanding 28.97-second margin of victory over runner-up Emery Crayton of Oklahoma Baptist (24:48.69).

The Eldoret, Kenya native becomes the fourth runner in Harding history to win the GAC men's individual cross-country championship, joining Andrew Evans (2013), three-time champion Dylan Douglas (2019, Spring 2021, Fall 2021), and Josphat Meli (2024). Lingokal is also the sixth Bison to earn GAC Freshman of the Year honors, following Lajos Farkas (2011), Matthew Rice (2014), Luke Walling (Fall 2021), Noah Haileab (2022), and Meli (2024).

The Bisons placed four runners inside the top 10 to garner First Team All-GAC accolades. 1st-year competitor Noah Cooper delivered a brilliant conference debut, finishing third overall in 25:00.59 to collect first-team honors. 5th-year veteran Noah Haileab placed seventh in 25:15.14, becoming a four-time All-GAC honoree in his decorated career (First Team in 2022, 2025, and 2026; Second Team in 2024). 4th-year runner Brady Axtell rounded out the top-10 sweep, taking 10th place in 25:24.03 to secure First Team All-GAC honors.

Harding's depth sealed the conference championship in the second 10. 4th-year runner Ryan McCarn crossed in 13th overall (25:33.30) to secure his third career All-GAC plaque (Second Team in 2024 and 2026; First Team in 2025) and finalize the Bisons' 34-point total.

4th-year runner Aidan Bailey placed 16th overall in 25:45.90 to earn Second Team All-GAC honors for the second straight season, giving Harding six All-GAC honorees among the top 16 finishers.

1st-year runner Rhett Moss took 21st place in 26:06.33 to serve as Harding's second displacer, while 2nd-year runner Noah Brothers crossed just behind in 23rd at 26:07.23.

2nd-year runner Jack Fink (26th, 26:20.25) and 5th-year runner Marek Krisica (29th, 26:36.43) gave the Bisons 10 runners inside the top 30 of the 109-man field.

The championship victory marks Harding's fourth GAC men's title (2013, 2017, Fall 2021, 2026) and the program's 38th all-time conference cross-country championship across the AIC, Lone Star, Gulf South, and Great American conferences.

Harding takes a week off before opening NCAA postseason competition on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Team Standings

Harding Finishers (109 Total Runners)