SEARCY – The Harding track and field teams are competing at three different locations this weekend. Action began Thursday for Harding’s 10,000-meter runners at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in Walnut, Calif., and for the middle distance runners at the Kansas Relays in Lawrence.
Harding junior Daniel Kirwa and sophomore Philip Biwott competed in two different 10,000 meter races at Mt. SAC. Kirwa ran an NCAA automatic qualifying time of 29 minutes, 24.09 seconds and placed 10th of 24 runners in the Invitational University/Open race. Kirwa’s time could have been even better, but he missed the start of the race and started 100 meters behind the rest of the runners. As it was, Kirwa’s time was the second fastest among NCAA Division II runners this season.
Biwott, running in the Olympic Development University/Open race, placed 15th of 37 runners in an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 29:54.02, the sixth-fastest 10,000 meter time this season in Division II.
At the Kansas Relays, Harding had four top 10 finishes. Junior Frank Bolling placed eighth in the 800 meters in 1:55.47, and freshman Manase Busienei was eighth in the 1500 meters in 4:01.10. For the Lady Bisons, sophomore Rysper Sirma was ninth in the 1500 meters in 4:52.56, and sophomore Gladys Kimtai was 10th in 4:52.82.
Competition continues at the Kansas Relays on Friday. Harding will have Dia Gibson competing in the women’s high jump. The Lady Bisons will also have a team in the distance medley relay, and Katy Grant and Esther Kosgei will compete in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
Harding’s men will run in the preliminaries of the 4x100 meter relay and the 4x400 meter relay on Friday.
Saturday, the Bisons’ sprint medley team will be in action. The Lady Bisons will send out their 4x800 relay team.
Also Saturday, Harding will have Justin Durham (800 meters), Jermaine Blanchard (110 hurdles), Brad Furlong (400 hurdles) and Logan Callier (high jump) compete at the Memphis Invitational.