GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman senior Gabbi Jennings leads the nation after winning the 1,500m with a program record time of 4:12.60 Friday at the Joe Walker Invite in Oxford, Miss.
A native of Slidell, La., Jennings knocked over five seconds off the previous school record of 4:17.73, set by Allie Buchalski in 2018. Her time qualifies Jennings for the NCAA East Preliminaries, which are scheduled for May 27-29 in Jacksonville, Fla.
The men's 1,500m, which was scheduled for Friday evening, was moved to Saturday due to inclement weather in the Oxford area. Senior Ryan Adams, junior Cameron Ponder, and freshman Carson Williams will compete in the event on Saturday.
Senior Jake Ogden won the 1,500m, and senior Emma Kuntz took second in the 800m to lead the Paladins at the Tennessee Relays in Knoxville, Tenn. All told, Furman recorded 20 top-15 finishes at the meet.
Ogden recorded a time of 3:43.71 in the 1,500m, ranking 10th on the NCAA East qualifying list, while senior Daniel Bernal placed 11th at 3:49.77 in the event, and senior Mason Coppi posted a time of 3:50.58 to take 13th place.
Kuntz was one of three Paladins in the top 13 in the 800m, turning in a time of 2:05.99, which ranks 11th on the NCAA preliminaries qualifying list. Freshman Megan Marvin placed fifth with a time of 2:09.56, and rookie Beth Donnelly finished 13th at 2:14.22.
Three freshmen led the Furman #girlgang in the 1,500m and 5,000m. Bethany Graham finished third with a time of 4:20.67, ranking 17th on the NCAA qualifying list, followed by Madelynne Cadeau in fourth place at 4:21.06, which ranks 19th on the national qualifying list. Jonna Strange turned in a time of 4:27.10 for seventh place in the 1,500m, and Kylie Wittman finished ninth in the 5,000m with a time of 17:42.06.
Sophomore Erin MacDevette finished 17th at 26.49 in the 200m and 14th in the 400m with a time of 1:02.29, while junior Sammy Trone was 18th in the 200m (28.28) and 15th in the 400m (1:04.27). Sophomore Caroline Nguyen placed 15th in the 100m hurdles with a time of 17.34.
On the men's side, freshman Adrian Gonzalez finished 10th in the 100m at 11.73 and 11th in the 200m with a time of 24.18. Sophomore Mac Roberts claimed 17th in the 800m at 1:58.31, and sophomore Jonah Dill was seventh in the 110m hurdles with a time of 15.28 and eighth in the 400m hurdles at 56.22.
The Paladins placed three runners among the top 15 in the 3,000m Steeplechase. Freshman Spencer Tate took 12th at 9:43.02, while sophomore Josh Powers turned in a time of 10:17.35 for 14th place. Sophomore Justin Hager finished 15th at 10:29.84. Sophomore Evin McEntee posted a mark of 6.20m for 14th in the long jump.
In the 5,000m, sophomore Benjamin Seeber crossed the line in 15:08.36 for 14th place, and sophomore James Lalonde was 16th at 15:18.86.
The Tennessee Relays will conclude on Saturday. The Paladins will run in the women's 4x1500m at 9:30 a.m. and in the 4x800m at 11:05 a.m.
Joe Walker Invite
Women
1,500m
1st Gabbi Jennings 4:12.60 - School Record
Tennessee Relays
Men
100m
10th Adrian Gonzalez 11.73
200m
11th Adrian Gonzalez 24.18
800m
17th Mac Roberts 1:58.31
1,500m
1st Jake Ogden 3:43.71
11th Daniel Bernal 3:49.77
13th Mason Coppi 3:50.58
5,000m
14th Benjamin Seeber 15:08.36
16th James Lalonde 15:18.86
110m Hurdles
7th Jonah Dill 15.28
400m Hurdles
8th Jonah Dill 56.22
3,000m Steeplechase
12th Spencer Tate 9:43.02
14th Josh Powers 10:17.35
15th Justin Hager 10:29.84
Long Jump
14th Evin McEntee 6.20m
Women
200m
17th Erin MacDevette 26.49
18th Sammy Trone 28.28
400m
14th Erin MacDevette 1:02.29
15th Sammy Trone 1:04.27
800m
2nd Emma Kuntz 2:05.99
5th Megan Marvin 2:09.56
13th Beth Donnelly 2:14.22
1,500m
3rd Bethany Graham 4:20.67
4th Madelynne Cadeau 4:21.06
7th Jonna Strange 4:27.10
5,000m
9th Kylie Wittman 17:42.06
100m Hurdles
15th Caroline Nguyen 17.34
