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Cameron Ponder Eager To Run At 'Home' In Camel City Invitational

Published by
DyeStat.com   Feb 17th 2021, 11:44pm
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For Furman's Breakout Junior, Running On The JDL Fast Track Means More; Fields Include College Debut For N.C. State's Katelyn Tuohy

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

(Photo Furman Athletics/Phil Ponder)

Cameron Ponder of Furman has enjoyed a breakout month, with the first two sub-four miles of his career and a facility record in the 3,000 meters at the University of South Carolina. 

But this weekend offers a chance to go home, to Winston-Salem, N.C., for the Camel City Invitational. 

"I'm expecting it to feel awesome," Ponder said. "To be on that 200-meter flat track that I've run in so many times, it's like having home court or home field advantage." PONDER INTERVIEW

The meet will be carried live on RunnerSpace, with several events Friday evening and then Saturday's action picks up at 10 a.m. Eastern. 

WATCH THE LIVE WEBCAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ON RUNNERSPACE | Sign Up For RunnerSpace +PLUS

Since spectators will not be allowed inside, Ponder said his mom planned to drive to the venue, watch the meet live on her phone from the parking lot, and be there for a wave when he goes for a post-race cool-down.

The Camel City Invitational is the only event on the calendar for the normally busy JDL Fast Track this winter.

And it matters for Ponder to be part of it. 

He grew up "five or 10 minutes" from the track and ran there numerous times for Mount Tabor High. 

"It couldn't be a better opportunity to go home and race and see what I can do against the big boys," Ponder said. "I think I went to the first or second (Camel City Invite) and every year thereafter my dad and I got tickets to go watch. As I got more involved in the sport I went back every year and when I was a senior in high school, I was lucky enough to be asked to compete in the mile race (in 2018). That was one of the coolest experiences ever, racing against Paul Chelimo and Edward Cheserek. I was nowhere near them, but to be on a starting line with them was so cool."

Ponder ran a 4:11 mile that day at JDL.  RACE VIDEO - 2018 CAMEL CITY ELITE MEN'S MILE

Three years later, he is one of 30 collegiate men who have run sub-four for the mile during the indoor season. 

As with many of them, Ponder made good use of his time during the final nine months of 2020 when racing opportunities became scarce. 

"After the pandemic hit, I told myself a lot of people are going to check out and this is the time they're going to lose motivation, so you've got to put your head down and work and it's going to pay off at some point," he said. 

Truth is, Furman coach Robert Gary said Ponder could have probably achieved his sub-four mile last year. 

"He had some tremendous bad luck when he got to college," Gary said. "He had a dislocated shoulder. He was running with Ryan Adams last year before the indoor season and got the flu, while Ryan went and ran 3:57."

It was a long wait, but Ponder finally made it happen Jan. 22 at the Samford January Invite at the Birmingham CrossPlex (after the intended meet on the schedule at Vanderbilt was canceled). 

With Adams pacing for 1,000 meters, Ponder stuck to a consistent pace and then clicked off the final laps, crossing the line in 3:59.34. Several steps beyond the finish line was his father, Phil, who was photographing the meet and greeted him with a bear hug. 

"It was such a special moment," Ponder said. "He's the reason I run in the first place."

Ponder grew up in a home with a framed photo of Roger Bannister on the wall. 

"I can remember being 7, 8 years old and my dad explaining the significance of the photo and what it was about," Ponder said. 

Ponder is currently 24th on the NCAA Division 1 indoor list in the mile and 12th in the 3,000 meters. He's aiming to improve on that ranking at Camel City. 

"Cam has done a great job plugging away. He had an incredible fall," Gary said. "He's learned to punch through in some tough spots."

Saturday's race features Peter Seufer from VT Elite, Ben Flanagan from Reebok BostonTrack Club, Brian Barraza from Tinman Elite and John Reniewicki of Under Armour.

The men's mile feaures college standouts Sean Dolan of Villanova and Christian Noble of Division 2 Lee (Tenn.) and pros Joey Berriatua and Jeff Thies of Tinman Elite, Willy Fink of Under Armour District Track Club and Alex Rogers of Reebok Boston Track Club. 

Alex Amankwah, Edose Ibadin and Quamel Prince of the Under Armour District Track Club are the top entries in the men's 800. 

A North Carolina State contingent that includes Elly Henes (mile), Hannah Steelman (3,000 meters), Kelsey Chmiel (3,000 meters) and Katelyn Tuohy (3,000 meters) are also set to compete. 

For Tuohy, a freshman from North Rockland in New York who broke national high school records from the mile to the 5,000 meters, the Camel City Invitational marks her college debut. 

The women's 800 meters includes former NCAA champion Jazmine Fray, now with the Under Armour District Track Club, and teammate Michelle Howell

The women's mile includes Josette Norris of the Reebok Boston Track Club, Megan Mansy (unattached) and Under Armour's Rachel Schneider

The women's 3,000 also includes Georgia Tech's Nicole Fegans, Wake Forest's Hannah Brookover, and Schneider. 



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