SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Cameron Ponder and Bethany Graham have been named the Southern Conference men’s and women’s cross country runners of the week, respectively, after both won individual titles at the Furman Invitational 5K on Saturday.
 
Selections were made by panels of the league’s track and field coaches and included all competition from Sept. 8-14.
 
Ponder turned in a time of 13:56.79 to win the men’s race by more than six seconds and lead the Paladins to the team title in the six-team field. The junior from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, won his first Furman Invitational title en route to leading his squad to a 1-5 individual finish and perfect team score of 15 points. The weekly award is Ponder’s first for cross country. He was honored twice during the 2020-21 indoor track and field season.
 
Graham posted a time of 16:41.88 to win the women’s race Saturday, claiming her first collegiate cross country victory by nearly nine seconds. The freshman from Aldie, Virginia, led the Paladins to a 1-8 individual finish and a perfect score of 15 points to claim the team title in the five-team field. The weekly cross country award is the first of Graham’s career. She claimed two weekly honors during the 2021 outdoor track and field season.
 
Furman is back in action at the Florida State XC Open on Friday.
 
2021 Southern Conference Cross Country Men’s Runners of the Week
Sept. 8             Matt Scarr, ETSU
Sept. 15            Cameron Ponder, Furman
 
2021 Southern Conference Cross Country Women’s Runners of the Week
Sept. 8             Lindsey Stallworth, ETSU
Sept. 15            Bethany Graham, Furman