Tweet #theGAC  SEARCY — The Harding women's and men's cross-country teams kicked off their season in dominant fashion on Friday. In the women's race, freshman Vivien Kipkorir capturing the individual title to lead the Lady Bisons to a first-place finish at the Steve Guymon Invitational on their home course. On the men's side, junior Ryan McCarn led the Bisons for the first time in his career, pacing Harding to a first-place team finish.

The Lady Bisons finished with a team score of 27, well ahead of second-place Little Rock (56) and third-place Christian Brothers (72). The Bisons' victory was a true team effort, with all five scoring runners placing in the top eight overall. Harding's top-five pack finished with a total of 29 points, handily defeating second-place Little Rock, which scored 44 points. Christian Brothers finished third with 68 points.

Kipkorir, who will be a middle distance runner for the Harding track team, finished first overall with a time of 18:33.12. She was followed closely by teammate, senior Josie Parks, who secured second place in 18:52.12, and Christian Brothers' Kaley Byrd, who placed third (18:56.20).

The Lady Bisons' depth proved crucial to their victory, as all five of their scoring runners finished in the top 14. Addison Lyles placed fourth with a time of 19:04.41, and Zoe Williamson secured a top-10 finish, placing 10th with a time of 20:31.13. Jaclyn Weilnau (14th, 20:44.37), Emily Driskill (16th, 20:59.48), and McKellee Pape (18th, 21:15.91) rounded out the team's stellar performance.

McCarn completed the 4-mile (6.44-kilometer) course in 20 minutes, 8.97 seconds, finishing third overall among all runners, his first career top-10 finish in 11 career races.

Joining McCarn in the top 10 were four of his teammates: Noah Haileab (fifth, 20:16.70), Nate Perry (sixth, 20:34.84), Oren Arthun (seventh, 20:35.97), and Aidan Bailey (eighth, 20:36.64). Marek Krisica rounded out the team's top six, finishing 10th with a time of 20:54.18.