Kristen James-Furness of Fayetteville, Class of 1986, was a sprinter with the Lady Raider track and field team. In her four years with the team Shippensburg never lost a dual meet and had a 33-0 record. The team won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championship in 1984.
A Carlisle native, Furness first set the Lady Raider team record in the 100 meter dash in 1983 with a time of 12.5 seconds. She also helped the 400 meter relay team set a new mark with a time of 48.9.
In 1984, Furness played a key role in the Lady Raiders’ drive to the conference title. After helping Shippensburg go 12-0 in dual meets, she placed second at the conference meet in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes with times of 12.10 and 24.81, respectively. Both marks are still the team records today. She also anchored the 400 meter relay team to fourth place in 49.19 and she helped the 1600 meter relay team take first place with a then conference record of 3:55.58.
In 1985 and 1986, injuries slowed Furness but she still was a major factor in the team’s success. Shippensburg placed third in the team standings at the conference championships in 1985 and fourth in 1986. As a junior Furness was fourth in the 100 meter dash, third in the 200 meters and she helped the 1600 relay team place sixth.
Furness was elected team co-captain in 1986. At the PSAC championships James anchored the 400 meter relay team to first place in a team record time of 48.61. That mark was not broken until 1998. She also ran one leg on the 1600 meter relay team which finished fourth.
After graduation, Furness became a first-grade teacher in the Carlisle School District and also the head coach for both the boys and girls’ track and field teams at Carlisle High School.
