MILL SPRING, N.C.. -- The Furman men's cross country team won the Tryon Western NC XC Showcase Friday night at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C. The Paladin women turned in a second-place finish.
The Paladins ran split-squad meets on Friday, with half the team competing at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational in Chicago earlier in the day.
At the Tryon Equestrian Center, the site of the 2026 SoCon Championship, the Furman men scored 38 points for the victory. Western Carolina also scored 38 points, but the Paladins were awarded the tiebreaker. Furman beat out league foes Tennessee Tech, VMI, and Wofford.
Junior Colin Eckerman posted a time of 24:26.5 on the 8K course to win the individual title. Freshman Lucas Tanner finished second at 25:42.9, and rookie Chappell Martin took sixth with a time of 26:08.0. Freshman Connor Demmerle and sophomore Ben Winn finished back to back in 14th (26:28.4) and 15th (26:36.2) place, respectively, to complete the Furman scoring. Freshman Michael McKnew turned in a time of 26:52.0 for 27th place.
On the women's side, Furman finished second with 73 points. Tennessee Tech won the meet with 56 points, with the Paladins defeating SoCon opponents VMI, Western Carolina, and Wofford.
Freshman Bridget Dunn led all collegiate runners with a time of 17:49.9 on the 5K course, and rookie Calysta Garmer took second with a time of 18:10.5. Freshman Jazzlyn Garmer placed sixth with a time of 18:23.7, and junior Delaney Vickers crossed the line in 18:45.6 for 17th place. Sophomore Kate Hetzel completed the Furman scoring in 51st place with a time of 20:43.2.
Furman will compete at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational in Madison, Wis., and at the Royals Cross Country Challenge in Charlotte, N.C., on Oct. 9.
Minuteman Press is the Official Sponsor of Furman Athletics press releases.
Complete Furman Results
Tryon Western NC XC Showcase
Men - 1st out of 14 teams - 8K - 38 points
1st Colin Eckerman 24:26.5
2nd Lucas Tanner 25:42.9
6th Chappell Martin 26:08.0
14th Connor Demmerle 26:28.4
15th Ben Winn 26:36.2
27th Michael McKnew 26:52.0
Women - 2nd out of 12 teams - 5K - 73 Points
1st Bridget Dunn 17:49.9
2nd Calysta Garmer 18:10.5
7th Jazzlyn Garmer 18:23.7
17th Delaney Vickers 18:45.6
51st Kate Hetzel 20:43.2
