GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Gators are proud to announce the addition of Cameron Ponder to its coaching staff. A decorated former student-athlete and coach, Ponder joins the program as an Assistant Coach for both the Track & Field and Cross Country programs.
 
A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Ponder joins the Gators after a successful stint at the University of Toledo, where he was instrumental in both the men’s and women’s teams capturing the 2024 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Cross Country Championships. Under his guidance, the Toledo women’s team qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, and several school records were shattered on the track in the Women’s 800m, 1500m, Mile (Indoor), 3000m (Indoor), and 5000m.
 
“We are excited to have Cameron join our staff,” said Head Coach Mike Holloway. “His experience and knowledge in the recruiting and coaching areas will be a great asset to our programs.”
 
Ponder’s journey as a standout distance runner began at Furman University, where he was named the 2021-22 Southern Conference Co-Male Athlete of the Year and earned back-to-back honors as Furman’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2021 and 2022. On the national stage, Ponder was a First Team All-American in the indoor 3,000m in 2021 and a Second Team All-American in 2022.
 
In cross country, Ponder was the 2021 Southern Conference Runner of the Year and the 2018 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year. He captured nine Southern Conference titles across cross country and track and was a four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree.
 

Ponder earned USTFCCCA All-Southeast Region honors in cross country and graduated from Furman with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Politics & International Affairs.
 
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