WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Furman senior Cameron Ponder established a new 3,000m meet record Saturday at the JDL DMR Invitational at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Ponder posted a time of 7:50.97, shattering the former meet record of 8:07.35.  The converted time of 7:45.55, which is a new personal record for Ponder, ranks 11th on the NCAA Indoor Championships qualifying list, with 16 athletes set to qualify in each event for the national meet, which will be held March 11-12, at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Ala.

Senior Aaron Wier paced Ponder to a time of 4:44.44 at the 1,800m mark, then sophomore Carson Williams took over the pacing duties, pushing Ponder to 6:17.44 at 2,400m.  Ponder maintained the pace over the last 800m. 

"I have been coaching 25 years and that was one of the greatest races I have ever been involved with," said Furman head coach Robert Gary after the race.  "The NCAA has gotten so fast this year, and Cameron has responded great.  Watching his two teammates pacing him around, and then Cam finishing it off was tremendous.  I feel very good about Cameron's chances of competing at NCAAs following today's race." 

The Paladins will compete at the Southern Conference Indoor Championships Feb. 26-27 in Lexington, Va.