CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Junior Carson Williams took gold in the men's 3,000m Steeplechase Monday in the opening day of the 2023 Southern Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Western Carolina's Catamount Athletic Complex in Cullowhee, N.C.
A native of Raleigh, N.C., Williams posted a time of 8:46.56 for the victory, setting a new SoCon meet record in the process. The former record of 8:49.66 was set by Cameron Ponder in 2021. Ponder also came in under his former record to claim silver with a time of 8:49.54, while senior Josh Powers placed fourth at 9:17.59. Sophomore Casey Burr crossed the line in 9:38.93 for seventh place.
In the men's 10,000m, sophomore Nick Goldstein led the Paladins with a third-place finish and a time of 31:49.74. Senior David Ahlmeyer was fourth at 31:55.18, followed by sophomore Ethan Vargas in fifth place at 32:07.63. Freshman Luke Taylor posted a time of 32:52.14 for 11th place and was honored with a SoCon All-Freshman team citation.
The Paladins scored 40 points in the two events to finish the first day of competition in second place. Samford leads the meet with 67 points following Monday's events.
On the women's side, junior Emily Little finished second with a time of 35:56.81 in the 10,000m, while freshman Emma Jones recorded a time of 38:03.34 to take seventh place in the event and earn a spot on the SoCon All-Freshman team. Senior Nicole Matysik turned in a fourth-place finish at 11:10.42 in the 3,000m Steeplechase.
Furman tallied 15 points in just the two events, landing the Paladins in sixth place after the first day of competition. Samford also leads the women's meet after scoring 81.5 points in the first day of competition.
Furman senior hurdlers Caroline Nguyen and Jonah Dill advanced to Tuesday's finals. Nguyen recorded a personal-best time of 1:06.51 in the women's 400m hurdles to advance in seventh place, while Dill was sixth (56.09) in the men's 400m hurdles and seventh (15.23) in the 110m hurdles.
In the 400m trials, senior Erin MacDevette finished tenth with a personal-best time of 59.35, while junior Beth Donnelly was ninth in the 800m with a season-best time of 2:17.32, and freshman Clair Garrett placed tenth with a personal-best time of 2:18.98 in the event.
On the men's side, junior Adrian Gonzalez finished 15th with a PR in the 100m (11.54) and 21st in the 200m (23.62).
The meet will conclude on Tuesday, with the first of the final six decathlon events at noon. and the heptathlon resuming at 12:15 p.m. Field events begin with the men's discus and women's shot put finals at 2:15 p.m. and the women's 4x100m relay gets the track events started at 4 p.m. The day concludes with the men's and women's 4x400m relays at 7:25 p.m. and 7:35 p.m., respectively, followed by the awards ceremony. Thirty events will crown champions on the final day of the meet.
Men's results – Day 1
1. Samford – 67 points
2. Furman – 40
3. Western Carolina – 33
4. VMI – 28
5. The Citadel – 26
6. ETSU – 23
7. UNCG – 11
8. Wofford – 6
Women's results – Day 1
1. Samford – 81.5 points
2. ETSU – 35
3. Wofford – 32
4. The Citadel – 24
5. Chattanooga – 16
6. Furman – 15
7. Western Carolina – 13.5
8. VMI – 10
9. Mercer – 7
T9. UNCG – 0
SoCon Championships - Day 1
Complete Furman Results
Men
100m
15th Adrian Gonzalez 11.54
200m
21st Adrian Gonzalez 23.62
10,000m
3rd Nick Goldstein 31:48.74
4th David Ahlmeyer 31:55.18
5th Ethan Vargas 32:07.63
11th Luke Taylor 32:52.14
110m Hurdles
7th Jonah Dill 15.23q
400m Hurdles
6th Jonah Dill 56.09q
3,000m Steeplechase
1st Carson Williams 8:46.56
2nd Cameron Ponder 8:49.54
4th Josh Powers 9:17.59
7th Casey Burr 9:38.93
Women
400m
10th Erin MacDevette 59.35
800m
9th Beth Donnelly 2:17.32
10th Clair Garrett 2:18.98
10,000m
2nd Emily Little 35:56.81
7th Emma Jones 38:03.34
400m Hurdles
9th Caroline Nguyen 1:06.51
3,000m Steeplechase
4th Nicole Matysik 11:10.42
Men's SoCon All-Freshman Team – Day 1
10,000-meter run
Luke Taylor, Furman
Women's SoCon All-Freshman Team – Day 1
10,000-meter run
Emma Jones, Furman
