SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Furman cross country program opened the 2022 season Friday with two team victories at USC Upstate's Eye Opener at Milliken Research Center in Spartanburg, S.C. The Paladin women scored a perfect 15 points in the victory, while the Paladin men tallied 29 points for the win.
Furman runners took the top seven spots in the women's 5K race, en route to the perfect score. Senior Abigail Robertson paced the Paladins, taking first place with a time of 17:49.7, while junior Emily Little finished second with a time of 17:52.7. Sophomore Meghan Ford claimed third place at 17:58.7 followed by freshman Carly Wilkes in fourth at 18:01.5, and sophomore Sierra Bower rounded out the Furman slate of scorers in fifth place with a time of 18:11.9. Freshmen Camryn Wennersten and Emma Jones made their collegiate debut, finishing sixth (18:21.6) and seventh (18:58.3), respectively.
On the men's side, sophomore Foster Wilfong led the Paladins with a second-place finish on the 8K course after crossing the line in 25:04.4. Senior Mac Roberts posted a time of 25:05.5 for third place, while sophomore Nick Goldstein finished fifth with a time of 25:09.9. Rookie Colton Kempney placed sixth with a time of 25:27.2, and senior Josh Powers was the final scorer for Furman in 13th place at 26:15.9. Senior Nick Epstein recorded a time of 26:51.3 for 18th place, and sophomores Ethan Vargas and Casey Burr finished back-to-back in 21st place (27:10.3) and 22nd place (27.12.7), respectively.
After an off weekend, the Paladins will host the Furman Invitational on Sept. 17 in Greenville, S.C.
Furman Men's Individual Results - 8K
2 Foster Wilfong 25:04.4
3 Mac Roberts 25:05.5
5 Nick Goldstein 25:09.9
6 Colton Kempney 25:27.2
13 Josh Powers 26:15.9
18 Nick Epstein 26:51.3
21 Ethan Vargas 27:10.3
22 Casey Burr 27:12.7
Furman Women's Individual Results - 5K
1 Abigail Robertson 17:49.7
2 Emily Little 17:52.7
3 Meghan Ford 17:58.7
4 Carly Wilkes 18:01.5
5 Sierra Bower 18:11.9
6 Camryn Wennersten 18:21.6
7 Emma Jones 18:58.3
