Kirwa to open with 2-mile test

Assuming he runs, outdoors 5k/10k champ and my favorite to win the men's cross title in Evansville, Ind., this fall (Daniel Kirwa of Harding) will debut this season at Arkansas Tech's 2-miler Aug. 28. Any bets on his time? Sub-9 for sure; 8:40?

Kirwa and the Harding boys will run his first invitational at Memphis Sept. 5. It appears to be a pretty good field, although tough D1 sqaud Eastern Kentucky won't return.

Harding returns a solid core, with soph Phillip Biwott (48th in Slippery Rock) and Wociech Kopec (66th) returning. Expect them to again dominate the Gulf South Conference and the South Regional.