Kipsang’s winning time, 23:56.03, ranks as the second-fastest time in GAC Championship history. It trails only the mark set by his teammate, Aspel Kiprob, at the 2023 GAC Championships. He became the seventh Tiger to win the individual title as the league’s Runner of the Year accolade. Fellow Tiger Kennedy Bett took second with a time of 24:03.27, the fourth-best time in GAC Championship history. Peter Kipkemboi finished sixth to give the Tigers three First Team runners. Four Tigers – Paul Korir, Brian Mitei, Bhekizulu Khumalo and Kiprob – claimed spots on the All-GAC Second Team.
Oklahoma Baptist edged out Harding by one point for second place. Three Bison produced top-10 finishes, headlined by Damien Williams, who crossed in fourth. Emory Crayton followed in fifth; Zachary Williams grabbed the last First-Team spot after a 10th-place result. James Williams, Levi Haynes and Elijah White earned spots on the All-GAC Second Team.
For the first time since 2022, Harding saw three finish inside the top 10. Noah Haileab became a three-time All-GAC selection and a two-time First-Team runner after he finished third in 24:13.20. Nate Perry took eighth, followed by Ryan McCarn. Aidan Bailey and Oren Arthun collected spots on the All-GAC Second Team.
Ouachita Baptist finished in fourth, followed by Southern Arkansas. The Tigers’ Caleb Greenwich became the first in program history to win the league’s Freshman of the Year award after he crossed in seventh. Wesley Maxwell led SAU with a 17th-place result.
Northwestern Oklahoma State finished in sixth, followed by Southern Nazarene and Arkansas-Monticello.
The league also honored its top student athletes with its Elite Scholar Athlete award, presented by Conway Regional Health System and its Academic Honor Roll. Ouachita Baptist’s Noah Embrey, Gabriel Greenwich and Zach Wigginton plus Harding’s Parker Hansen all received the Elite Scholar honor as all four own perfect 4.00 grade-point averages.
An additional 39 GAC standouts made the Academic Honor Roll.
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