Harding College - Petit Jean Yearbook (Searcy, AR)

Page 29 text:

ALL ALONE. Jon Murray, senior, leads the conference race for the first quarter mile. Murray won the conference meet in 25.46, a full 15 seconds ahead of the nearest compe- tition. -Photo by Don T. Strader. TAKING OFF. The team begins its quest for a 15th consecutive District 17 win. Victory was on the horizon for the Bisons as they easily outran their nearest competitors, U.C.A., by nine points. -Photo by Don T. Strader. w? Mahbg A7 177599 'The season proved to be one of our best since we all stepped up and fulfilled our potential: said Davis A ccepting the challenge, the team pulled together to com- pose a fifteenth consecutive District championship and an eighteenth con- ference win. The year's outcome was question- able in August because only three of the top five previous team members had returned. It was a rough yearfl said Ken Edwards. ttWith each meet our places changed, with the excep- tion of Jon tMurrayl.n Murray ran consistently at the number one spot for the team. Throughout the year the team placed from first to third in all their meets without their leading runner lMurrayl. Throughout their season, University of Central Arkansas pre sented a threat to the Bisons and a close 12-sec0nd loss on October 22 provided a preconference shock ttto get it in gear for the big race, said Coach Ted Lloydl ttlt was a team ef- fort. The men pushed to be the differ- ence. The run of Edwards, Eric VanMatre and Mark Halbert as a group provided a low 27 points towards the overall score of 39. Murray led the race from its start and completed it as the victor in 25.46, 15 seconds ahead ofany com- petition on the five mile course. Be- hind Murray was a crew of Henderson State and University of Central Ar- kansas runners. ttWhen I walked back to the finish line and saw all of those UCA and Henderson runners I felt crushed as I felt victory slip from our group. But then I saw all the Harding guys and was elated? said Murray. ttThis win was very special because of how close it was. We saw what needed to be done and did it. Collectively the team captured four of the top ten spots in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference meet, and seven of the top 15 spots for a nine point victory over UCA. Complications developed which prevented the participation of a full team in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics meet. With four of the top seven runners out of action, the remaining squad entered the race. Against approximately 450 runners, Andrew Guturrie finished 248, Allen Gill 227, Edwards 197, and Murray 67. ttIt was an enjoyable year and a joy to be on the team, said Murray. -Don Strader Menls Cross Country 25

Page 28 text:

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY. Front row: James Johnson, Darren Robertson Brent Elfoi-d, An- drew Guthrie, Lynn Kernoodle, Allen Gill, Greg Richie, Barry Bnggetl. Back row: Ted Lloyd munch. Rich Lockhart, Eric Van- Malre, Mark Halbert, Marty Koonce. Jon Murray. Doug Horton. Ken Edwards. - Photo by Ken Bissell. '-' SCORECARD Harding University .. . .39 University of Central Arkansas . ....... . . . .48 Henderson State University ............. 60 University of Arkansas at Monticello ,V ....... 90 Ouachita Baptist University V ., . V 129 University at the Ozarks V .. .170 Southern Arkansas University . . . ....... 178 24 Playing for keeps ON THE LINE. Kevin Yaws, a junior, competes in the AlC conference meet held at the Alumni field on November 8. It was here that UCA threatened the teamb championship. Yaws com- pleted the meet in under 30:00. - Photo by Bill Tripp.

Page 30 text:

ENDURING THE PAGE. Margaret Eoff, junior, along with Carrie Crider, sophomore, lengthens the distance between them and the ttpackh at the meet. Eoff completed the race in fifth place. -Photo by Don T. Strader OUT OF THE WOODS. Kelsie Hutch- inson, sophomore, leads as she and Parks, sophomore run through the rough. Hutchinson received her first All AIC rating. -Photo by Don Strader Compemg m9 coarse 'Competition was great among the teammates but being a unit was first said Edwards A third consecutive conference championship comprised the teamts seventh year and saw all seven of the members place as All-AICtDistrict 17 runners. Leading the team was Cheryl Bed- nosky who won the conference meet in 17:26, a full minute ahead of her nearest competitor. The nearest competitor was teammate Melynda Davis who ran in second place throughout the meet. Tak- ing the top four spots and seven of the eleven spots the team was as- sured a victory. With the confer- ence Championship under their belts the team looked forward to the nationals in Kenosha, WI. The Lady Bisons ran mainly out of state in order to compete with larger and more competitive schools. Competing in Springfield, MO, they achieved a fourth place finish against such teams as Kan- sas State University and South- eastern Missouri State. At the University of Missouri-Rolla, the team finished second with Bed- nusky and Davis in second and third place. Two other members, Kelsie Hutchinson and Tracy 26 Playing for keeps Parks, also placed in the top twen- ty. After a string of Victories, the team lost a close race with Emory University 31-37. This late season loss was followed by the confer- ence meet, which they easily won November 8. All year we had been ranked close to the top ten, but it wasnt until after we won the conference that we started believing itf com- mented Melynda Davis. The team was ranked from 12th to 18th dur- ing the season and proved to be one of the finest teams in the na- tional competition. A team goal of placing in the top ten wasntt achieved; however, the team did place in the top twenty. Once again the team was lead by Bednosky followed by Davis and Parks in the national meet. Bed- nosky placed Slst With Davis plac- ing 4lst and Parks 84th. All three broke 19:00 on the 5k course. At the completion of the race the team was in 14th place, proving to be one of the finest teams in the nation. -Melynda Davis