Kirwa, Guymon Earn Cross Country Regional Honors

Nov 14, 2008

Harding University freshman Daniel Kirwa earned NCAA Division II South Region Athlete of the Year and head coach Steve Guymon earned South Region Coach of the Year honors Thursday as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced its regional award-winners. The USTFCCCA names the Division II athletes and coaches of the year for eight regions.

Kirwa is undefeated this fall in seven races, the most recent victory coming at the South Region Championships. He is expected to be one of the top contenders at the upcoming NCAA Championships. Kirwa, the reigning NCAA track champion in the 10,000 meters, is a freshman from Burnt Forrest, Kenya.

The Bisons scored a perfect score of 15 points in winning their seventh South Region title in the last eight years. In his seven seasons as head coach at Harding, Guymon has won six Gulf South Conference and six South Region men's titles. Guymon's male and female athletes have earned 20 All-America honors in cross country.

Photo: Daniel Kirwa is undefeated in seven races this fall; Harding University