COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Furman sophomore Matthew Smith set an indoor program record in the 800m and the Paladins recorded 17 top-10 finishes this weekend at the Carolina Challenge at the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex in Columbia.
Smith, a native of Leesburg, Va., posted a time of 1:49.83 for second place, breaking the former record of 1:50.77, set by Ryan Adams in 2016. Junior Carson Williams also competed in the event, taking fifth place with a personal-best time of 1:52.01.
Junior Megan Marvin won the women's invitational 800m with a time of 2:05.77, while freshman Camryn Wennersten placed third at 2:09.23. In Friday's 800m, sophomore Callie Harper finished eighth with a time of 2:21.36.
In the mile, Marvin paced senior Abigail Robertson to gold in the women's invitational race with a personal-best time of 4:43.12, and the Paladins placed four runners among the top 10 in the men's invitational. Senior Nick Goldstein finished third with a personal-best time of 4:10.72, while freshman Luke Taylor was seventh at 4:19.64. Sophomores Ethan Vargas (4:27.75) and Casey Burr (4:27.80) finished ninth and tenth, respectively.
Furman claimed the top four spots in the women's 3,000m. Freshman Jenna Mulhern set a freshman record in the event, posting a time of 9:27.86 for the win. Junior Emily Little was second with a personal-best time of 9:28.43, followed by sophomore Sierra Bower in third with a PR of 9:29.00. Freshman Emma Jones finished 10th at 10:21.43, also a personal best.
In the men's 3,000m, senior Adam Beucler, who was paced by senior David Ahlmeyer, notched a time of 8:10.05 for second place, while sophomore Nick Goldstein recorded a PR of 8:25.41 to finish eighth. Senior Josh Powers tallied a personal-best time of 9:26.16 for ninth place.
"We had a wonderful opening meet at USC, including many different PRs and huge jumps in performances from several different areas," said Furman head coach Robert Gary. "Matthew Smith's school record in the 800m and Megan Marvin's performance on the day were probably the two greatest highlights."
Furman will compete at the Clemson Bob Pollock Invitational Friday and Saturday in Clemson, S.C.
Carolina Challenge - Furman Results
Men
60m Dash
69th Adrian Gonzalez 7.63
73rd Evin McEntee 8.06
800m - Invite
2nd Matthew Smith 1:49.93 - Program Record
5th Carson Williams 1:52.01
Mile - Invite
3rd Nick Epstein 4:10.72
7th Luke Taylor 4:19.64
9th Ethan Vargas 4:27.75
10th Casey Burr 4:27.80
3,000m - Invite
2nd Adam Beucler 8:10.05
8th Nick Goldstein 8:25.41
9th Josh Powers 8:26.16
60m Hurdles
15th Jonah Dill 8.87
Women
400m
41st Erin MacDevette 1:03.06
44th Caroline Nguyen 1:03.97
800m - Invite
1st Megan Marvin 2:05.77
3rd Camryn Wennersten 2:09.23
800m
8th Callie Harper 2:21.36
11th Clair Garrett 2:22.14
Mile - Invite
1st Abigail Robertson 4:43.12
2nd Kaylie Armitage 4:45.00
Mile
20th Kylie Wittman 5:20.67
3,000m
1st Jenna Mulhern 9:27.86
2nd Emily Little 9:28.43
3rd Sierra Bower 9:29.00
4th Emma Jones 10:21.43
