LEXINGTON, VA. -- Furman captured four titles Sunday in the final day of competition at the 2021 SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championship, which were held this weekend at the Corps Physical Training Facility in Lexington, Va. The Paladins men scored 118 points, the highest point total in the history of the Furman program, to take third place, while the Furman women finished fourth with 102 points, the third-highest point total in the history of the women's program.
Freshman Madelynne Cadeau won the 5,000m Sunday with a time of 16:32.11 after taking the 3,000m title on Saturday. She led a group of five Paladin freshmen in the top nine, including Bethany Graham in second place at 16:32.34, and Jonna Strange in third at 16:48.52. Beth Donnelly claimed fifth place at 17:07.06, and Emily Little crossed the line in 17:28.92 for ninth. Sophomore Nicole Matysik finished tenth with a time of 17:30.97. Cadeau's victory marked the Paladins' fifth-straight in the event.
Also on the women's side, freshman Megan Marvin won gold in the 800m, posting a time of 2:07.72. Senior Emma Kuntz took silver with a time of 2:09.97. In the mile, Donnelly finished as runner-up with a time of 5:02.15, followed by Matysik in third at 5:03.69. Freshman Kylie Wittman placed seventh with a time of 5:13.73.
In the men's 5,000m, sophomore Adam Beucler took the title with a time of 14:20.86. Sophomore Ares Reading placed second with a time of 14:23.55, followed by senior Daniel Bernal in third with a time of 14:25.44. Freshman Dylan Schubert turned in a time of 14:27.86 for fifth place, followed by senior Trenton Mandato in sixth at 14:39.74. Rookie Andrew Hammel placed eighth at 14:56.48.
Junior Cameron Ponder won his second-straight title in the mile, giving Furman five-straight gold medals in the event. Ponder posted a SoCon record time of 4:02.62, breaking Mark Scruton's time of 4:03.97, which had stood for almost 40 years. The Paladins took the top five spots in the event, as senior Aaron Wier finished second with a time of 4:03.14, followed by senior Jake Ogden in third at 4:07.47. Freshman Carson Williams placed fourth at 4:08.39, and senior Daniel Bernal completed the top five at 4:09.11. Senior Mason Coppi placed eighth with a time of 4:14.53.
Ponder took third place in the 800m at 1:50.86, while Wier finished fifth with a time of 1:53.36. Sophomore Nick Epstein scored in sixth place with a time of 1:53.95.
The Paladins placed nine rookies on the SoCon All-Freshman Team: Carson Williams (men's mile), Dylan Schubert (men's 5,000m), Andrew Hammel (men's 5,000m), Beth Donnelly (women's mile), Kylie Williams (women's mile), Megan Marvin (women's 800m), Madelynne Cadeau (women's 5,000m), Bethany Graham (women's 5,000m), and Jonna Strange (women's 5,000m).
"This was one of the best weekends we have had at Furman," said head coach Robert Gary. "The men missed a trophy by just 11 points and secured the highest point total in history of the program. Our women finished with the third-most points in program history. We are a very young team, and I could not be more proud with the way we competed. We are excited for upcoming NCAA Championships for both indoors and cross country."
Samford won both the women's and men's meets. The Bulldogs totalled 191 points on the men's side, followed by Western Carolina in second with 129 points. Samford tallied 155.5 points in the women's meet, while Wofford took second place with 131 points.
Qualifying members of the Furman team will compete at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, which will be held March 11-13 in Fayetteville, Ark.
SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships - Day 2 Complete Furman Results
Men's Results
800m Finals
3rd Cameron Ponder 1:50.86
5th Aaron Wier 1:53.36
6th Nick Epstein 1:53.95
Mile Finals
1st Cameron Ponder 4:02.62
2nd Aaron Wier 4:03.14
3rd Jake Ogden 4:07.47
4th Carson Williams 4:08.39
5th Daniel Bernal 4:09.11
8th Mason Coppi 4:14.53
5,000m
1st Adam Beucler 14:20.86
2nd Ares Reading 14:23.55
3rd Daniel Bernal 14:25.44
5th Dylan Schubert 14:27.86
6th Trent Mandato 14:39.74
8th Andrew Hammel 14:56.48
4x400m Relay
8th Epstein, Ogden,3:29.26
Coppi, Powers
Triple Jump
10th Evin McEntee 13.02m 42'8.75"
Women
800m Finals
1st Megan Marvin 2:07.72
2nd Emma Kuntz 2:09.97
Mile
2nd Beth Donnelly 5:02.15
3rd Nicole Matysik 5:03.69
7th Kylie Wittman 5:13.73
5,000m
1st Madelynne Cadeau 16:32.11
2nd Bethany Graham 16:32.34
3rd Jonna Strange 16:48.52
5th Beth Donnelly 17:07.06
9th Emily Little 17:28.92
10th Nicole Matysik 17:30.97
4x400m
7th Nguyen, Trone, 4:03.32
Kuntz, Marvin
SoCon All-Freshman Team
Men's mile
Carson Williams, Furman
Men's 5,000-meter run
Andrew Hammel, Furman
Women's mile
Beth Donnelly, Furman
Kylie Wittman, Furman
Women's 800-meter run
Megan Marvin, Furman
Women's 5,000-meter run
Madelynne Cadeau, Furman
Bethany Graham, Furman
Jonna Strange, Furman
