62FALL ATHLETICS THE MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY team took home the first place title at Harding’s inaugural Steve Guymon Invitational on Sept. 17, 2021. The meet was named after the former Harding cross country and track coach who trained the Bisons from 2002 to 2019. Guymon was present at the invitational as the head coach of an opposing team, Ouachita Baptist University. The Harding men’s team topped the field of six schools in the four-mile race and posted a score of 30 points, beating secondplace Ouachita Baptist University by eight points. The Bisons also swept the top three individual spots in the men’s race, with freshman Luke Walling clocking the fastest time at 20 minutes, 25.8 seconds. Juniors Dylan Douglas and Jackson Pruim earned second and third. Douglas was happy with both his and the team’s performances. Having a home meet for the first time in his cross country career helped him and the team prepare for the terrain and layout of the course, which included a daunting hill. “The fact that we’ve been able to go there before to have practices really helps because the nature of the course is physically and mentally demanding,” Douglas said. Assistant cross country and track and field coach Victoria Hindman said members of the Harding track team came to watch the race, giving the cross country runners an extra boost of energy during the competition. “To have the opportunity to be at home and race in front of some familiar faces was an incredible experience,” Pruim said. “We couldn’t be more thankful.” Before the meet head cross country and track coach Don Hood read a list of Guymon’s accomplishments and presented the coach with a plaque. Although Guymon arrived at the meet as head of an opposing team, Douglas said the coach was individually greeted by friends, athletes and parents. Hindman, who competed under Guymon for five years at Harding, said facing her former coach was a weird but fun experience all at once. Hindman added that Guymon deserved all the honors he received at the invitational. “I think he had a lot of success that needs to be recognized, and I was just really, really happy that we got to do that for him,” Hindman said. WRITTEN BY SOPHIE ROSSITTO Guy WHAT A The men’s cross country team finds local success in fall 2021. LEADING THE PACK Senior Dylan Douglas, junior Jackson Pruim and freshman Luke Walling lead the competition Sept. 17, 2021. Pruim and Walling were among the top performers at the invitational. Photo courtesy of: Harding Sports Information
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