GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Paladin men's cross country teams captured the team title and the women's team finished as runner-up Saturday morning at the Furman Invitational in Greenville, S.C.

The Furman men scored a perfect 15 points, going 1-2-3-4-5 to win the four-mile race.  Clemson finished second with 60 points, while Charleston Southern scored 67 points to take third place.

Graduate student Albert Velikonja crossed the line in 18:46.86 to claim the individual title, while junior Chris Knight finished second with a time of 18:50.32.  Sophomore Ryan Smith placed third at 18:51.31, followed by sophomore Colin Eckerman in fourth at 18:54.89 and sophomore Rives Boltwood in fifth with a time of 19:13.30.  

Senior Luke Taylor turned in a time of 19:15.35 for seventh place, and graduate student Bryn Woodall captured ninth place at 19:19.23.  Junior Trevor Coggin placed 11th with a time of 19:21.57, then sophomore Tripp Roemer and senior Colton Kempney finished back-to-back in 14th (19:27.87) and 15th (19:28.24) place, respectively.  Junior Owen Shifflett was 19th with a time of 19:40.53, sophomore Matteo Tonnos placed 27th at 20:00.53, and sophomore Alex Friedli rounded out the Paladin team in 46th place with a time of 20:42.58.

All five scorers for the Furman women's team placed among the top 10 collegiate runners in the four-mile race, scoring 36 points for second place.  Clemson won the meet with 19 points, while UNC Asheville took third with 97 points. 

Two freshmen led the way for the Paladins.  Rookie Tessa Walter finished third with a time of 22:04.62 to pace Furman, and freshman Elly Velasquez placed ninth with a time of 22:48.99.  Sophomore Zoie Lamanna turned in a time of 22:59.65 for tenth place, followed by sophomore Nysa Males in 11th at 23:03.10, and sophomore Rory Sullivan completed the scoring in 12th place at 23:09.69.  

Sophomore Delaney Vickers crossed the line in 23:19.12 for 13th place, and sophomore Jais Ward was 14th at 23:21.51.  Senior Emma Jones posted a time of 23:25.20 to finish 15th, while freshman Kate Bannigan took 19th at 23:42.57.  Senior Clair Garrett recorded a time of 24:32.93 for 28th place, and freshman Avery Belk finished 30th at 24:50.36.  Sophomore Katie Sobieraj, freshman Annie Miller, and sophomore Joiner Evans placed 33rd through 35th, respectively.  Sobieraj turned in a time of 25:02.14, Miller followed in 25:11.86, and Evans completed the Furman slate in 25:13.39. 

The Paladins will compete at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo., on Sept. 26.

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Complete Furman Results
Furman Cross Country Classic 
Men - 1st out of 10 teams - 4 Miles - 15 points
1st Albert Velikonja 18:46.86
2nd Chris Knight 18:50.32
3rd Ryan Smith 18:51.31
4th Colin Eckerman 18:54.89
5th Rives Boltwood 19:13.30
7th Luke Taylor 19:15.35
9th Bryn Woodall 19:19.23
11th Trevor Coggin 19:21.57
14th Tripp Roemer 19:27.87
15th Colton Kempney 19:28.24
19th Owen Shifflett 19:40.53
27th Matteo Tonnos 20:00.53
46th Alex Friedli 20:42.58

Women - 2nd out of 9 teams - 4 Miles - 36 Points
3rd Tessa Walter 22:04.62
9th Elly Velasquez 22:48.99
10th Zoie Lamanna 22:59.65
11th Nysa Males 23:03.10
12th Rory Sullivan 23:09.69
13th Delaney Vickers 23:19.12
14th Jais Ward 23:21.51
15th Emma Jones 23:25.20
19th Kate Bannigan 23:42.57
28th Clair Garrett 24:32.93
30th Avery Belk 24:50.36
33rd Katie Sobieraj 25:02.14
34th Annie Miller 25:11.86
35th Joiner Evans 25:13.39