BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- Junior Cameron Ponder ran a sub-4:00 mile, and the Paladins set two meet records Friday in the team's season opener at the Samford Invitational at the Birmingham Crossplex in Birmingham, Ala.

Ponder, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., won the event with a time of 3:59.34, the top time in the nation so far this season, marking the 20th sub-4:00 mile performance under Furman head coach Robert Gary.  He established a new meet record, shattering the previous record of 4:04.40, which was set last season, and just surpassing the former facility record of 3:59.41, set by Brian Schrader of Saucony in 2018.  Freshman Carson Williams was third with a time of 4:11.38.

"Cameron's sub-4:00 performance was certainly the highlight of the meet," said Gary.  "We currently have three sub-4:00 milers in the program:  Cameron, Ryan Adams, and Aaron Weir.  But perhaps even more impressive than Cam's commitment to this goal throughout this strange year is the fact that every time we have had someone in the program break 4:00, it is with the help of another in the program rabbiting. Our master goal for indoors is to keep everyone healthy and for every person to achieve a personal record."

Furman took the top four spots in the men's 3,000m, led by sophomore Ares Reading, who won the event with a time of 8:12.69, breaking the former meet record of 8:24.98, which was set in 2019.  Junior Noah Dolhare was second with a time of 8:26.68, followed by senior Jake Ogden in third at 8:25.58.  Sophomore Adam Beucler took fourth place at 8:32.23.

Also on the men's side, sophomore Nick Epstein crossed the line in 1:57.46 to finish third in the 800m, and sophomore Evin McEntee placed fifth with a mark of 12.89 in the triple jump.  Sophomore Jonah Dill was seventh with a time of 8.69 in the prelims and 13.38 in the finals of the 60m hurdles.  He also finished 16th with a time of 24.57 in the 200m, and rookie Adrian Gonzalez was 17th in the 60m dash at 7.53. 

The Furman women competed in just three events, but captured first place in two events and second place in the final event.  Freshman Megan Marvin won the 800m with a time of 2:10.82, followed by senior Emma Kuntz in second at 2:12.57.  Sophomore Nicole Matysik finished sixth (2:18.43), and freshman Beth Donnelly was seventh (2:18.58), while freshman Kylie Wittman recorded a 12th-place finish with a time of 2:30.72.

Donnelly won the mile with a time of 4:56.43, and Matysik placed third at 5:04.00.  Wittman finished 11th with a time of 5:22.87 in the event.  In the 3,000m, freshman Emily Little took second place with a time of 9:56.32.

The Paladins will compete at the South Carolina Invitational in Columbia, S.C, on February 6.

Samford Invitational -  Furman Results

Men

60m Dash

17th Adrian Gonzalez 7.53

200m

16th Adrian Gonzalez 24.57

800m

3rd Nick Epstein 1:57.46

Mile

1st Cameron Ponder 3:59.34 - Meet & Facility Record

3rd Carson Williams 4:11.38

3,000m

1st Ares Reading 8:12.69 - Meet Record

2nd Noah Dolhare 8:16.66 

3rd Jake Ogden 8:26.68

4th Adam Beucler 8:32.23

60m Hurdles

7th Jonah Dill 8.69q

7th Jonah Dill 13.38 - Finals

Triple Jump

5th Evin McEntee 12.89

Women

800m

1st Megan Marvin 2:10.82

2nd Emma Kuntz 2:12.57

6th Nicole Matysik 2:18.43

7th Beth Donnelly 2:18.58

12th Kylie Wittman 2:30.72

Mile

1st Beth Donnelly 4:56.43

3rd Nicole Matysik 5:04.00

11th Kylie Wittman 5:22.87

3,000m

2nd Emily Little 9:56.32