Freshman Helen Singoei, junior Hanna Ritakallio, sophomore Janet Kogo, senior Britney Copeland and sophomore Sarah Reardon battle for position as the race begins at the Gulf South Conference Championships. The Bison team repeated as GSC champions. The Harding men's and women's cross country teams enjoyed their second year of success in a dominant fashion, winning their second straight Gulf South Conference championship. Both teams finished with the same results as last year, winning the conference and regional championships and collecting Slh place at the NCAA Division II Championship meet. "We knew that we had a great shot at repeating as conference champions," senior Andrew Scharff said. "Our focus shifted to trying to stay on top of the hill. And that's a lot tougher to do. When you're the best, you have a big target on your back that all of your opponents are aiming for." Senior Scott Penick, who last year made a bold prediction for a top five finish at the 2001 national meet, felt good that the team was able to live up to his promise. "We were more prepared heading into the national meet this year than last, and I think it showed," Penick said. "We knew we couldn't rest on our laurels and coast into such a big event. I was just glad I didn't have to eat my shoe when it was over." According to head coach Bryan Phillips, the teams' success came from a solidarity that many teams competing in cross country running do not enjoy. "There is such a spirit of unity and hard work that runs through this team on both the men's and women's sides," Phillips said. "No one runner is leaned on heavily to carry the load of the team. Everyone works hard. We had our top six or 262 athletics seven runners finishing within a minute of each other. It makes a huge difference when you have a team like that." The teams opened up the season with a win at the Bob Gravett Invitational at Ouachita Baptist University and rolled steadily through the season's meets around the country. The teams' top runners included sophomore Jacob Rotich, junior David Scharff and senior Linus Chepkwony for the men, along with junior Hanna Ritakallio, sophomore Janet Kogo and freshman Helen Singoei for the women. -Jeff McKeand Cooling down after an 8K race, senior Andrew Scharff catches his breath. Scharff helped lead the Bisons to a first place finish at the first meet of the season. Photo by Daniel Dubois
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