GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The Paladin cross country programs captured both team titles Saturday morning at the Furman Invitational in Greenville, S.C.

The Furman women scored a perfect 15 points in the opening race of the day, going 1-2-3-4-5 to win the 6K contest.  Charleston Southern finished second with 58 points, while North Greenville scored 87 points to take third place.

Sophomore Tessa Walter led all runners with a time of 20:22.82 to take the individual title.  Sophomore Elly Velasquez placed second at 20:52.14, followed by freshman Georgy Helmers in third at 21:07.25.  Junior Zoie Lamanna took fourth place at 21:07.92, and junior Nysa Males was fifth at 21:17.58 to complete the Paladin scorers.

Junior Rory Sullivan turned in a time of 21:22.53 to finish sixth, freshman Celia Schulte was seventh at 21:31.51, and freshman Olivia Ferraro crossed the line in 21:38.72 for eight place.  Freshman Bridge Dunn placed ninth with a time of 21:50.01, and Calysta Garmer completed the top 10 at 21:56.01.  Junior Joiner Evans finished 15th with a time of 22:27.00, and sophomore Kate Bannigan was 30th with a time of 21:31.03.  Junior Delaney Vickers posted a time of 23:45.82 for 35th, and sophomore Katie Hetzel finished 46 with a time of 25:29.50.  

All five scorers for the Furman men's team placed among the top eight in the 6K  race, scoring 19 points for the victory.  Charleston Southern scored 42 points to take second, while Gardner-Webb finished third with 106 points.

Senior Chris Knight won the individual race with a time of 17:11.80, followed by sophomore Ty Jones in second at 17:23.29.  Junior Owen Shifflett turned in a time of 17:30.95 for third place, and junior Ryan Smith finished third with a time of 17:56.62.  Senior Trevor Coggin completed the Furman scoring in eight place with a time of 18:00.06.

Freshman Michael Ferguson led all rookies, taking ninth place with a time of 18:07.72, and sophomore Zach Youngblood was 11th at 18:21.53.  Freshman Evan Spreitzer recorded a time of 18:35.52 for 15th  place, and senior Brayden Seymour finished 18th after crossing the line in 18:46.31.  Freshman Connor Demmerle finished 24th with a time of 19:16.41, and rookie Chappell Martin placed 25th with a time of 19:22.40.  Sophomore Ben Winn was 27th at 19:38.60.

The Paladins will compete at two meets on September 25:  the Tryon Fall XC Festival in at the Tryon Equestrian Center, the site of the 2026 SoCon Championship, and at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational in Chicago, Ill.

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Complete Furman Results
Furman Cross Country Classic 
Women - 1st out of 7 teams - 6K - 15 points
1st Tessa Walter 20:22.82
2nd Elly Velasquez 20:52.14
3rd Georgy Helmers 21:07.25
4th Zoie Lamanna 21:07.92
5th Nysa Males 21:17.58
6th Rory Sullivan 21:22.53
7th Celia Schulte 21:31.51
8th Olivia Ferraro 21:38.72
9th Bridget Dunn 21:50.01
10th Calysta Garmer 21:56.01
15th Joiner Evans 22:27.00
30th Kate Bannigan 23:31.03
35th Delaney Vickers 23:45.82
46th Katie Hetzel 25:29.50

Men - 2nd out of 7 teams - 6K - 19 Points
1st Chris Knight 17:11.80
2nd Ty Jones 17:23.29
3rd Owen Shifflett 17:30.95
7th Ryan Smith 17:56.62
8th Trevor Coggin 18:00.06
9th Michael Ferguson 18:07.72
11th Zach Youngblood 18:21.53
15th Evan Spreitzer 18:35.52
18th Brayden Seymour 18:46.31
24th Connor Demmerle 19:16.41
25th Chappell Martin 19:22.40
27th Ben Winn 19:38.60