MEMPHIS, Tenn. — 1st-year runner Benson Lingokal made an electric collegiate debut Saturday night, placing second overall to lead the Harding men's cross-country team to a fifth-place finish at the City Auto Memphis Twilight XC Classic.
Competing in a 20-team field under the lights at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex, the Bisons tallied 154 points over the 4-mile course to finish as the top Division II program in the team standings. Harding edged out regional rival Alabama-Huntsville (158 points) by four points while finishing behind Division I programs Middle Tennessee (28 points), Ole Miss (56 points), Alabama (103 points), and Arkansas State (152 points).
Lingokal, an Eldoret, Kenya native, covered the 4-mile circuit in 19:09.83, finishing behind only Middle Tennessee's Allan Kiplagat (18:54.26). Lingokal's runner-up performance marks the highest individual finish by a Bison at the Memphis Twilight since four-time meet winner Daniel Kirwa took top honors in 2008.
Fellow 1st-year runner Noah Cooper delivered a strong debut of his own, placing 18th overall in 20:08.41. 3rd-year runner Brady Axtell served as Harding's third scorer, crossing 29th in 20:26.20. 2nd-year runner Marek Krisica took 54th in 21:00.67, while 1st-year runner Rhett Moss completed the scoring group in 59th place with a time of 21:02.77.
5th-year runner Noah Haileab (66th, 21:07.89) and 2nd-year runner Noah Brothers (69th, 21:15.08) served as the team's displacers.
The fifth-place team result continues a storied legacy for the Bisons at the Memphis Twilight, where Harding has won four men's team titles (2003, 2004, 2008, and 2015) and produced four individual champions.
Top 5 Team Standings
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Middle Tennessee — 28
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Ole Miss — 56
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Alabama — 103
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Arkansas State — 152
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Harding — 154
Harding Top 7 Finishers
Harding hosts its home opener on Friday, Sept. 11, when the Bisons contest the 6th Annual Steve Guymon Invitational in Searcy.
