RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the men’s and women’s cross country runners of the week for the second week of the 2024 season. Harding’s Josphat Meli claimed the men’s award while the Lady Bisons’ Josie Parks earned the women’s honor.
#theGAC MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Josphat Meli, Fr., Harding, Eldoret, Kenya
In his first meet as a Bison, Meli ran away with the individual title at the Steve Guymon Invitational as he ran the four-mile course in a time of 18:32.4. He bested his closest competition by 59.6 seconds and he broke the meet record by 1 minute, 13 seconds. The Bisons won the event by 18 points.
#theGAC WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE WEEK – Josie Parks, Jr., Harding, Columbia, Tennessee
For the second-straight race, Parks finished as the Lady Bisons’ top runner after she finished second at the Guymon Invitational. She ran a 5K personal best of 18:11.9 - cutting more than 34 seconds off of her previous fastest time. Harding finished second in the team competition.
OTHERS NOMINATED
Christian Franklin, Jr. (Northwestern Oklahoma State)
Jamaiar Ross, Sr. (Northwestern Oklahoma State)