LEXINGTON, VA. -- Furman won four events Saturday to open the 2024 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship, which is being held this weekend at the Corps Physical Training Facility in Lexington, Va.

Both Paladin distance medley relay teams won gold on Saturday.  Sophomore Camryn Wennersten, junior Callie Harper, senior Megan Marvin, and junior Sierra Bower crossed the line in 11:31.07 to win Furman's eighth-straight women's DMR title, while the Furman men's team of seniors Cameron Ponder and Christian Newman, freshman Chris Knight, and senior Dylan Schubert posted a time of 9:55.18, breaking the former Paladin record of 9:56.28, which was set at last year's SoCon championships.

The Paladin men took the top five spots in the 3,000m.  Senior Carson Williams led the squad with a time of 8:12.77 for his second-straight title in the event, while sophomore Luke Taylor finished second at 8:15.05.  Junior Nick Goldstein turned in a time of 8:17.68 for third place, and junior Casey Burr finished fourth at 8:331.70.  Freshman Owen Shifflett earned a spot on the SoCon All-Freshman team after placing fifth with a time of 8:35.66.

Senior Abigail Robertson won the women's 3,000m for the second-straight year, marking Furman's fourth-consecutive win in the event.  Senior Madelynne Cadeau finished third with a time of 9:34.77, while Lily Feingold was honored as a member of the SoCon All-Freshman team after placing fourth with a time of 9:59.93 in her first year of competition.

Four Paladins advanced to Sunday's 800m finals.  Williams qualified with the second-best time of 1:54.55 in the men's field.  Senior Megan Marvin led all women with a time of 2:12.14, while Wennersten posted the second-best qualifying time of 2:14.97.  Harper also advanced to Sunday's final after recording a qualifying time of 2:17.48, good for fifth place.  

After the first day of competition, Samford leads the men's meet with 60 points.  Furman sits in second with 43 points, followed by VMI in third with 40 points.  On the women's side, Samford scored 59.5 points on day one to take the lead over Wofford, who sits in second with 46 points.  Furman is in third place with 31 points.

The final day of competition will begin Sunday morning at 10 a.m. with the men's triple jump.  Running events start at noon with the men's mile.  Furman will compete in the men's and women's 800m, mile, 5,000m, and 4x400m relay on Sunday.  The Paladin men are looking to win their eighth-straight title in the mile, while the women are looking for their eighth-straight championship in the 5,000m. 

SoCon Indoor Track and Field Championships - Day 1 Complete Furman Results

Men's Results

800m Qualifying

2nd Carson Williams 1:54.55Q

3,000m

1st Carson Williams 8:12.77

2nd Luke Taylor 8:15.05

3rd Nick Goldstein 8:17.68

4th Casey Burr 8:31.70

5th Owen Shifflett 8:35.66

Distance Medley Relay

1st Ponder, Newman, 9:55.18

Knight, Schubert

Women

800m Qualifying

1st Megan Marvin 2:12.14Q

2nd Camryn Wennersten 2:14.97Q

5th Callie Harper 2:17.48Q

9th Beth Donnelly 2:18.65

3,000m

1st Abigail Robertson 9:31.02

3rd Madelynne Cadeau 9:34.77

4th Lily Feingold 9:59.93

Distance Medley Relay

1st Wennersten, Harper, 11:31.07

Marvin, Bower

Shot Put

16th Kaylie Armitage 6.88m

Men's All-Freshman – Day 1

3,000m

Owen Shifflett, Furman

Women's All-Freshman – Day 1

3,000m

Lily Feingold, Furman