GREAT FALLS, MT (Tuesday, April 1, 2008) - The University of Great Falls men's cross-countryand track team has announced the signing of a student-athlete from Bellingham, Washington to an NAIA/Frontier Conference Letter of Intent.

Mark Hardin will be joining the University of Great Falls from Meridian High School in Bellingham, Washington. He has been a varsity letterman cross-country and track runner for the Trojans for all four years of high school. In October 2006, Mark placed 15^th at the Westside Classic District Championship Meet. A month later in Pasco, Washington, his team placed 7^th overall in the Washington State A Cross-Country Championships. Mark was named team captain of the Trojan cross-country team his senior season. During the spring of 2007, he qualified for the State A Track Championships as a member of the 4 X 400 meter relay team running a 52 second split.

Mark has excelled in the classroom by maintaining a 3.56 cumulative GPA and was on the Honor Roll throughout his entire high school career. He is also involved in the National Honor Society. In his spare time, the Meridian High senior enjoys skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and traveling.

Mark plans on majoring in Elementary Education while attending the University of Great Falls in the fall. He is the son of Chris and Mary Hardin.

"Mark will be a great addition to our school and our running program. He's an outstanding student-athlete that came highly recommended to us by his head coach at Meridian High School, Mike Holz. He's from a small school and he wants to be a teacher, so we're confident he has made a really good choice academically. He also has competitive times, a great work ethic, and a desire to run in college so we know he will make a positive impact on our team," said UGF Cross Country and Track Coach Jim Brewer.