Cross Country / Track & Field 9/29/2023 1:57:00 PM Julie Paré

Furman Women Win Loyola Lakefront Invitational

Paladin Men take 8th at Notre Dame Invite

Furman Women's Cross Country

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Furman women's cross country team won the 44th annual Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational Friday at the Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course on Chicago's north side, while the Paladin men took eighth place at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invite in South Bend, Ind.

The Furman women scored 58 points for the victory, beating out No. 25 Ole Miss, who finished second with 66 points, and 17th-ranked Wisconsin, who placed third with 94 points.

Sophomore Carly Wilkes paced Furman with a time of 20:00.7 in the 6K race, followed by junior Kaylie Armitage in seventh at 20:02.2. Senior Bethany Graham finished 11th with a time of 20:06.6, while senior Abigail Robertson posted a time of 20:12.2 for 16th place. Junior Sierra Bower was the final Furman scorer, coming in at 19th place with a time of 20:19.5.

Sophomore Jenna Mulhern finished in 20:26.4 for 24th place, while senior Nicole Matysik was 32nd at 20:34.5. Senior Emily Little placed 61st with a time of 21:06.9, and senior Megan Marvin recorded a time of 21:18.3 for 72nd place.

"Our women ruled the day, beating several ranked teams and picking up some great potential NCAA points," said Furman head coach Robert Gary following the two meets. "We are especially excited for Carly Wilkes leading the Girlgang finishers!"

The Furman men finished eighth out of 18 teams in South Bend. No. 9 Notre Dame won the meet with 87 points, followed by Florida State with 95 points, while No. 27 Alabama finished third with 114 points.

Senior Carson Williams led the Paladins on the five mile course, posting a time of 23:42.8 for tenth place. Senior Cameron Ponder placed 33rd at 24:07.7, while senior Dylan Schubert crossed the line in 24:22.8 for 47th place. Junior Nick Goldstein turned in a time of 24:34.0 for 65th place, and senior David Ahlmeyer completed the scoring in 83rd place with a time of 24:49.2.

Sophomore Luke Taylor placed 93rd at 24:58.8, while junior Matthew Smith finished 106th at 25.11.8. Junior Casey Burr recorded a time of 25:52.4 for 136th place.

"On the men's side, we had some good positives -- a great race from Carson up front and some guys with breakthroughs," added Gary. "Dylan returning from mono will take some time, but he has it in him for sure."

The Furman teams will compete at the Royals Challenge in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 6, and at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational in Madison, Wis., on Oct. 13.

Complete Furman Results

Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational

Women - 1st out of 16 teams - 6K - 58 points

6th Carly Wilkes 20:00.7

7th Kaylie Armitage 20:02.2

11th Bethany Graham 20:06.6

15th Abigail Robertson 20:12.1

19th Sierra Bower 20:19.5

24th Jenna Mulhern 20:26.4

32nd Nicole Matysik 20:34.5

61st Emily Little 21:06.9

72nd Megan Marvin 21:18.3