SEARCY, Ark. — 1st-year runner Benson Lingokal captured his first collegiate individual victory to power the Harding men's cross-country team to a perfect score of 15 points and a team title at the Steve Guymon Invitational on Friday night.
Lingokal, fresh off being named Great American Conference Runner of the Week, covered the 4-mile course in 20:34.0 to win top honors by more than 12 seconds. 4th-year runner Brady Axtell claimed second place overall with a time of 20:46.6.
1st-year runner Noah Cooper ran unattached and placed third overall in 20:54.7. 4th-year runners Noah Haileab and Ryan McCarn crossed the line together in 21:11.8 to secure third and fourth team points (fourth and fifth overall). 2nd-year runner Marek Krisica finalized the perfect score for Harding, finishing fifth for the team and sixth overall in 21:14.5.
The Bisons compiled a team time of 1:44:59 with a 40.5-second spread among their five scorers. 1st-year runner Rhett Moss (21:29.5) and 1st-year runner Noah Brothers (21:43.0) finished eighth and 10th overall as team displacers. 1st-year runner Parker Weaver (12th, 22:09.4), 2nd-year runner Jack Fink (13th, 22:21.3), and 3rd-year runner Glenn Graves (14th, 22:35.3) also posted top-15 overall finishes for the Bisons.
The victory marks Harding's third consecutive Guymon Invitational title and fifth team victory in the six-year history of the home event. The Bisons previously won home crowns in 2021 (30 points), 2022 (15 points), 2024 (24 points), and 2025 (29 points). Lingokal becomes the fourth different Bison to win the individual Guymon Invitational title, joining Luke Walling (2021, 2023), Noah Haileab (2022), and Josphat Meli (2024).
Team Standings
| Rank |
Team |
Score |
Total Time |
Spread |
| 1 |
Harding |
15
|
1:44:59
|
0:40.5
|
| 2 |
Blue Mountain |
67
|
1:52:57
|
2:23.5
|
| 3 |
Mineral Area College |
77
|
1:54:43
|
2:34.8
|
| 4 |
UA Rich Mountain |
103
|
1:59:13
|
18:32.0
|
| 5 |
Lyon |
112
|
2:01:04
|
2:52.8
|
Harding Top Finishers
