LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Furman junior Sierra Bower finished 18th in the 5,000m Saturday at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships East Preliminaries, which were hosted by the University of Kentucky this week at the Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility in Lexington, Ky.

Bower, who hails from Carbondale, Colo., finished tenth in her heat with a time of 16:16.37.  After entering the meet ranked 40th in the event, she eclipsed her starting position by 22 spots.  Bower, who was competing in her first NCAA East Preliminary, recorded a personal-best time of 16:03.89 at the Raleigh Relays to qualify and went on to win the 5,000m at the SoCon Outdoor Championships earlier this month.  

On Friday night, senior Dylan Schubert of Loveland, Colo., won the men's 5,000m, shattering the facility record with a time of 13:50.99.  With the victory, he became the first regional winner in the history of the Furman men's track and field program and advanced to the finals of the event, which will be held Friday, June 7, at 10:55 p.m. ET in Eugene, Oregon. 

Senior Cameron Ponder, who made his third NCAA East Preliminary appearance, concluded his Furman career by recording a time of 3:55.63 in the 1,500m on Wednesday, placing 48th.  A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., he qualified for the meet after turning in a time of 3:40.90 in the event at the Wake Forest Invitational earlier in the season.  He won league titles in the 5,000m and 3,000m Steeplechase this season.

In Thursday's action, senior Megan Marvin of Chapel Hill, N.C., made her third preliminary appearance, including her second in the 1,500m, where she posted a time of 4:24.15 to finish 35th.  The reigning SoCon Champion in the 800m, she entered the preliminaries ranked 41st after posting a time of 4:18.13 at the Wake Forest Invitational.  She finished sixth with a PR of 4:13.47 in the event at the regional meet in 2022 and went on to place 15th nationally that season.  

Twelve competitors in each event at the preliminary meet advanced to the NCAA Championships, which will be held in Eugene, Oregon, June 5-8.

NCAA East Preliminaries - Furman Schedule/Results

Wednesday, May 22

Men's 1,500m 1st Round - Cameron Ponder -- 48th (3:55.63)

Thursday, May 23

Women's 1,500m 1st Round – Megan Marvin -- 35th (4:24.15)

Friday, May 24

Men's 5,000m Semifinals – Dylan Schubert -- 1st (13:50.99)

Saturday, May 25

Women's 5,000m Semifinals –  Sierra Bower -- 18th (16:16.37)