GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The 30th-ranked Paladin women's cross country team captured the team title at the Furman Invitational Saturday morning in Greenville, S.C., while the Paladin men finished second to No. 16 Tennessee.
The Furman women ran as a pack and finished 3-4-5-6-7 to win the meet with 25 points. SEC foe Tennessee placed second with 42 points, while Clemson finished third with 80 points.
Senior Abigail Robertson led the Paladins with a third-place finish and a time of 20:50.13 on the 6K course. Junior Kaylie Armitage followed in fourth place at 20:50.93, while senior Bethany Graham finished fifth at 20:55.00. Sophomore Carly Wilkes posted a time of 20:55.39 for sixth place, while junior Sierra Bower was seventh at 20:58.00 to complete the scoring.
Senior Nicole Matysik turned in a time of 21:47.42 for 13th place, and senior Emily Little finished 16th at 21:54.94. Senior Megan Marvin crossed the line in 22:05.52 for 20th place, and senior Madelynne Cadeau (22:18.14) placed 24th. Sophomore Emma Jones finished 27th at 22:28.82, while freshman Lily Feingold was 34th (22:48.21), and sophomore Clair Garrett finished 47th with a time of 23:44.90. Senior Beth Donnelly placed 58th with a time of 24:36.23, and senior Kylie Whittman finished 66th at 24:57.47.
The Paladin men, led by seniors Cameron Ponder and Carson Williams in third and fourth place, respectively, scored 47 points in the 6K race. The Vols won the meet with 23 points, while Charleston Southern placed third with 76 points. Clemson scored 107 points for fourth place.
Ponder paced the Paladins with a time of 18:01.46 for third, followed closely by Williams in fourth at 18:04.03. Junior Gabe Montague turned in a time of 18:34.64 for 14th place, and junior Nick Goldstein was 18th at 18:48.73. Senior David Ahlmeyer finished the scorers with a time of 18:53.57 for 20th place.
Sophomore Luke Taylor and freshman Brayden Seymour finished back to back in 23rd and 24th place, respectively. Taylor posted a time of 18:59.18, while Seymour crossed the line in 18:59.71. Junior Casey Burr recorded a time of 19:58.22 for 49th place, and freshman Tucker Wright placed 61st at 20:22.57.
"Our women really ran a great race keying off of each other," said Furman head coach Robert Gary at the completion of the day's races. "On the men's side, we got too spread out, and Tennessee did a better job staying steadier. Overall, it was a beautiful day to officially start the season, and we really appreciated so many other Furman athletic teams, parents, and alumni coming out to support the programs."
The Furman men will compete at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind., while the women will run in Chicago at the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, both on September 29.
Complete Furman Results
Furman Cross Country Classic
Women - 1st out of 10 teams - 6K - 25 Points
3rd Abigail Robertson 20:50.13
4th Kaylie Armitage 20:50.93
5th Bethany Graham 20:55.00
6th Carly Wilkes 20:55.39
7th Sierra Bower 20:58.00
13th Nicole Matysik 21:47.42
16th Emily Little 21:54.94
20th Megan Marvin 22:05.52
24th Madelynne Cadeau 22:18.14
27th Emma Jones 22:28.83
34th Lily Feingold 22:48.21
47th Clair Garrett 23:44.90
58th Beth Donnelly 24:36.23
66th Kylie Wittman 24:57.47
Men - 2nd out of 8 teams - 6K - 47 points
3rd Cameron Ponder 18:01.46
4th Carson Williams 18:04.03
14th Gabe Montague 18:34.64
18th Nick Goldstein 18:48.73
20th David Ahlmeyer 18:53.57
23rd Luke Taylor 18:59.18
24th Brayden Seymour 18:59.71
49th Casey Burr 19:58.22
61st Tucker Wright 20:22.57
