The Paladin talked with Cameron Ponder, a Junior runner here at Furman, who just recently became the newest member of the sub-4-minute mile club here at Furman. In a season affected by COVID-19, Cameron spoke about his training as well as what his experience was like during the race. He also considered what his future will look like now that he has accomplished this extraordinary feat.
Ponder ran this incredible mile at the Din Men’s season opener at the Samford Invitational at the Birmingham Crossplex in Birmingham, Ala.
Ponder said he knew that he could hit a sub-4-minute mile when, “I saw the clock and it was right at 3 minutes and to run it would be 59 second quarter mile and I had a quarter mile to go. So, I said ‘Ok, I know I can run a 59 second quarter right now, I think I’m going to do it.’” Although this feat was extraordinary, it was not a product of luck. Ponder commented on the preparation required for such a prominent mile time and if he did anything special in preparation for this race. He said, “No, honestly not at all. I mean, I just wanted to trust my training over the past two years. This moment was a result of the work I’ve put in over the last two years. I will say it was a little different in the way that COVID has affected our season and all; I just kind of told myself no race is guaranteed.” It is clear Ponder wanted to give everything he had to this run, and he did just that.
Ponder elaborated further on his mindset mid-race: “I have this opportunity in front of me, I could go run a 4:03 and it be my last race of the year. I could come down with COVID next week and then be out. So, I said ‘Why not now?’ I have this opportunity in front of me and nothing is guaranteed this season so let’s get it done today.”
Ponder attributed the help of Senior Ryan Adams, one of his teammates, to be a significant reason that he was able to run such a mile. Ponder’s mile came after Ryan Adams’ running. Ponder considered that having Adams “rabbit” for him was huge: “Oh yeah, that was a help. I mean Ryan’s gone under 4 himself with a 3:57 so to have him rabbit 1000 meters of that race for me set me up…. He executed it perfectly. I don’t think I could’ve done that by myself. I owe him a lot of thanks.”
Furman Athletes have had their own struggles in a lack of a fan base at physical events and distance from family whose inability to attend many events is not familiar and. can make competing tougher during a pandemic. However, perhaps what made Ponder’s achievement even more memorable was having his father in attendance. Ponder described the special feeling of having his father there to witness his triumph: “That one is out of a movie. My dad is a big photographer and at first the question was ‘were they going to allow spectators?’ because I wanted to go under 4 and my dad is the reason, I started running so I wanted him to be there for that moment. So, he was able to be there on track with the media pass. As soon as I crossed, I saw he was the only person on the track, and I looked at the clock and I knew I had it.”
Ponder stated what it was like being able to share the moment he crossed the finish line and share it with his father: “I went ahead and started celebrating. It was funny because he was looking down the lens of the camera and not really looking at the clock and so I was saying ‘I did it, I did it’ and as soon as he saw it [on the scoreboard] we both just kind of had a special moment. I mean it was so special because like I said he is the reason I started running, and so to experience that with him and for him to be there I can’t even put into words how amazing that was.”
What makes Furman DinMen and the rest of the cross country/ track program so special is their desire to always improve. Furman’s national prominence in sport has been built over decades. A combination of drive and talent has produced a national ranking and a top program in the country. Ponder exemplifies the motivation of athletes that have propelled Furman’s excellence in sports. Despite his groundbreaking mile time, Ponder is not complacent in his success. He said, “My goal is to run faster. I want to be a national champion. Whether that is in the mile, the 1500, the 300 steeplechases. I want to be a national champ. I’m not going to be content until that happens. Now, it’s back to work. I think in a few weeks I can run 3:57-3:58 and punch a ticket to nationals and keep getting better every season; every year I’m here.”
Coach Robert Gary had this to say about Ponder’s performance: “Cameron’s sub-4:00 performance was certainly the highlight of the meet… perhaps even more impressive than Cam’s commitment to this goal throughout this strange year is the fact that every time we have had someone in the program break 4:00, it is with the help of another in the program rabbiting.”
Gary clearly attributes Cameron’s success to not only his hard work but also the programs inclination to push each other, something Cameron also commented on. Coach Gary continued on to elaborate on team goals going forward: “Our master goal for indoors is to keep everyone healthy and for every person to achieve a personal record.”
The Paladins are back in action on February 6th against in-state foe, South Carolina.
