COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Junior Cameron Ponder won the 3,000m with a time of 7:55.15 Saturday, setting a facility record at the South Carolina Invitational at the South Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex in Columbia.
Ponder, whose time ranks ninth on the NCAA season top performances list, led a contingency of eight Paladin runners in the event. Furman placed six runners among the top eight, including senior Mason Coppi, who posted a time of 8:07.94 to take third place, and senior Aaron Wier, who finished fourth with a time of 8:13.90. Junior Noah Dolhare and sophomore Adam Beucler finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Dolhare crossed the line in 8:16.29, followed by Beucler at 8:18.00. Freshman Carson Williams turned in a time of 8:27.01 for eighth place.
Also on the men's side, senior Daniel Bernal placed third in the mile with a time of 4:04.79, and sophomore Ares Reading was fifth with a time of 4:06.32. Senior Jake Ogden crossed the line in 4:06.78 for sixth place, while senior Trenton Mandato turned in a personal best time of 4:17.20 for 17th place.
Sophomore Nick Epstein placed ninth with a personal best time of 1:54.71 in the 800m, and sophomore Evin McEntee recorded a mark of 12.96m in the triple jump, finishing ninth.
On the women's side, senior Emma Kuntz and freshman Megan Marvin went 2-3 in the 800m. Kuntz tallied a season-best time of 2:07.91, while Marvin posted a personal-best time of 2:08.75. In the mile, sophomore Nicole Matysik finished 11th with a time of 4:54.49.
The Furman #girlgang has reset this season with a strong group of freshmen among the distance runners. The Paladins placed four rookies among the top nine in the 3,000m, led by Madelynne Cadeau in fourth place with a time of 9:34.00. Jonna Strange placed fifth at 9:35.69, and Beth Donnelly finished seventh at 9:38.40. Emily Little rounded out the Paladin runners, taking ninth place with a time of 9:35.69.
Furman had two women's distance medley relay teams among the top four. The Paladin team of Cadeau, Kuntz, Matysik, and Kylie Wittman placed third with a time of 11:57.72, followed by Strange, Marvin, Donnelly, and Little in fourth at 12:18.04.
The Paladins will compete at the Music City Challenge in Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 12-13.
South Carolina Invitational - Furman Results
Men
60m Dash
24th Adrian Gonzalez 7.51
200m
33rd Adrian Gonzalez 24.22
800m
9th Nick Epstein 1:54.71
Mile
3rd Daniel Bernal 4:04.79
5th Ares Reading 4:06.32
6th Jake Ogden 4:06.78
17th Trent Mandato 4:17.20
22nd Mac Roberts 4:21.82
3,000m
1st Cameron Ponder 7:55.15 Facility Record
3rd Mason Coppi 8:07.94
4th Aaron Wier 8:13.90
5th Noah Dolhare 8:16.29
6th Adam Beucler 8:18.00
8th Carson Williams 8:27.01
14th Andrew Hammel 8:31.01
18th David Ahlmeyer 8:42.86
Triple Jump
9th Evin McEntee 12.95m
Women
200m
27th Caroline Fults 28.26
28th Caroline Nguyen 29.06
400m
22nd Caroline Fults 1:03.38
23rd Caroline Nguyen 1:05.52
800m
2nd Emma Kuntz 2:07.91
3rd Megan Marvin 2:08.74
Mile
11th Nicole Matysik 4:54.59
24th Kylie Wittman 5:12.97
3,000m
4th Madelynne Cadeau 9:34.00
5th Jonna Strange 9:35.69
7th Beth Donnelly 9:38.40
9th Emily Little 9:43.67
Distance Medley Relay
3rd Cadeau, Kuntz, 11:57.72
Matysik, Wittman
4th Strange, Marvin, 12:18.04
Donnelly, Little
