Corbin Harris caps career at Campbellsville U. with Character First Award

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Corbin Harris is the epitome of what a Campbellsville University student-athlete is all about. He’s not only a national champion on the track but out of competition, Harris is one that makes a difference in so many ways.

On Friday morning in the Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green, the Mid-South Conference announced Harris as the Male Character-First Award winner.

“I am extremely honored to receive this award, but it most definitely would not be possible without my coaches, teammates, family, and friends being role models and pushing me to always strive to be a better person than I am an athlete,” Harris said. “It’s been an honor being a part of the CU family for the past four years. I will forever be grateful for my time at Campbellsville and I am excited to see what the next two years hold. CU has provided me with an amazing support system that continually encourages me in all of my endeavors.”

Harris finished his indoor track season in February with his first national title. He led the Tigers in the 5000-meter run and became only the second individual national champion in indoor track and field history. That didn’t last long, though, as two of his teammates, Haley Payton and Garland Webb, won a national title the very next day.

But Harris’ story isn’t about his national championship race, it’s about the true servant leader he is within his teams, the athletics department and his commitment to helping others.

Harris came to Campbellsville University as a scrawny freshman in the fall of 2015. A Leitchfield native, he prepped at Grayson County High School and came in with a 5k time over 17 minutes. The 5k in cross country is equivalent to the 5000-meter run in indoor track and field – which is the event he claimed the national title in with a time of 15:25.

Harris was a member of the first cross country team at CU to reach the NAIA Championship as a freshman but he wasn’t able to make much of an impact on the course.

Over the years, Harris turned himself into one of the best to ever come through the cross country program. He shaved a little over two minutes off his 8k time and finished his career with a career-best 8k of 25:57. The Tigers reached the NAIA Championship again this past fall and Harris helped lead CU to its highest finish at 14th.

“When you look at the type of athlete Corbin was in high school I could see potential but I never imagined he would run a 15:11 5k in indoor season and go from 28 minutes in the 8k to 25’s his senior year,” said cross country coach Hilary Lakes.

On the track, Harris has seen success in the 5000-meter run, 3000-meter run, javelin and the steeplechase. In 2017, he burst on the scene with a bronze finish at the Mid-South Conference championship in the steeplechase. He now holds the second fastest all-time run in the event.

He never ran the 5000 or 3000-meter races until last season. He just won the conference and national title in the 5000m and finished All-American in the 3000m.

Harris did all this by never letting his morals, values and heart steer off the path Jesus Christ had for him. In November, he earned his third straight Mid-South Conference Champion of Character award and was named the Campbellsville University Champion of Character, Mr. Tiger and the Alumni Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year during the inaugural Athletics Awards night in late April.

Not only does he excel on the track, cross country course, in the classroom with a 3.9 GPA but Harris also works in the sports information office full-time. Many have heard his voice over the speaker system at Finley Stadium on Saturdays but also inside the Powell Athletic Center during basketball games.

“When recruiting high school athletes, it’s hard to tell what type of person they truly are off the course and track until they get onto campus. But with Corbin Harris, I could tell that he was something special. Not just as an athlete but as a student and as a person.”

When he claimed his first national championship, the overflow of support and joy from other teams, coaches and administration was almost overwhelming.

“By living a life valuing characteristics like the five core values of the Champions of Character initiative, I can show love and encouragement to everyone I encounter, ultimately serving as the hands and feet of Jesus,” Harris said. “That support and encouragement was returned after I won the national championship. The texts, phone calls, messages on social media, and support from everyone in the CU community was something I had never experienced and I couldn’t be more appreciative.”

The Corbin Harris story is one that will live on at CU. Yes, he’s made his mark on the cross country and track and field programs but also inside the entire athletics department. We are fortunate to have him for another few years as he plans to work as a graduate assistant in the athletics office starting in the fall of 2019.

By Campbellsville University Athletics