SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Junior Colin Eckerman finished as runner-up to lead the 23rd-ranked Furman men's cross country team Saturday at the Upstate Invite at the Milliken Cross Country Course in Spartanburg, S.C.

Eckerman posted a time of 23:52.4 on the 8K course to pace the Paladins.  Freshman Evan Spreitzer turned in a ninth-place finish at 24:09.9, and freshman Lucas Tanner crossed the line in 24:25.4 to take 15th place.  Sophomore Ben Winn posted a time of 25:14.9 to place 54th, and freshman Chappell Martin concluded the Furman scoring in 62nd place at 25:22.8.  Freshman Connor Demmerle placed 74th with a time of 25:31.5. 

Charleston Southern won the meet with 46 points, while Duke placed second with 53 points.  Furman scored 120 points to finish third, beating out SoCon foes UNC Greensboro, Western Carolina, Mercer, East Tennessee State, Citadel, and Wofford. 

The Paladins will defend their SoCon titles at the league championship on Oct. 1 at the Tryon Equestrian Center in Tryon, N.C.

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Complete Furman Results
Men - 3rd out of 37 teams - 8K - 120 points
2nd Colin Eckerman 23:52.4
9th Evan Spreitzer 24:09.9
16th Lucas Tanner 24:25.4
54th Ben Winn 25:14.9
62nd Chappell Martin 25:22.8
74th Connor Demmerle 25:31.5