Written by Alexandra McClain
With the recent news that Harding and many other schools are leaving the Gulf South Conference, it is surprising that Harding received high accolades at the GSC All-Decade Awards. However, cross-country coach Steve Guymon received the honor of being named GSC All-Decade cross-country coach at this year’s ceremony.
“Any honor that I receive is because of the kids. I coach great kids,” Guymon said.
Guymon said he was honored and humbled by the award and that he believes Harding will be missed in the GSC beginning in the 2011-2012 academic year.
“Over the years, I think they’ve seen that not only do we have good runners in our program, we have good people,” he said.
Guymon also praised the Harding administration for their dedication to all Harding sports.
“I got a call from the athletic director the other day asking when our National Cross Country Meet was so he could book his flight,” Guymon said. “I worked at a state school for 12 years and the athletic director never even went to a home meet.”
Guymon said at a meet last year, Chancellor Clifton Ganus and Dr. David Burks were both in attendance with head men’s basketball coach Jeff Morgan announcing the meet.
Several cross-country runners won first team All-GSC awards this year.
Ever humble, Guymon seems to refuse to talk about his award but does look to the future, praising the team for this year.
“I think by the end of this season we’ll see the most decorated athlete in the history of Harding sports,” Guymon said.
He speaks, of course, of senior track star Daniel Kirwa. Kirwa has won national titles every season he’s run. He has accumulated more than 10 national titles over the course of his track career at Harding.
“We have a long track tradition here and I think it’ll continue, no matter what conference we are in,” Guymon said.
Guymon said he does not know what to expect from schools in the new conference, not coming in from the GSC, but expects no less than the standard of excellence Harding Track and Cross Country have set over the past decade.
“It’s really all about these kids. They’re good and I’m blessed to coach them,” Guymon said.
