Abrams, Gisore Lead Impressive Finishes for Men’s Track & Field at BU Terrier Invitational

Two relays solid as well

BOSTON, Mass. (January 26, 2013) – Freshman Mike Abrams (Newark, N.J.) posted a pair of dash times that put him among the 10 fastest runners in the Northeast-10 in 2012-13, while junior Antoine Gisore (Concord, N.H.) was similarly impressive in the mile on Saturday for the Franklin Pierce University men's track and field team at the BU Terrier Invitational, hosted by Boston University at the BU Track and Tennis Center. One of the largest meets of the indoor season, the BU Terrier Invitational was loaded with talent across all three NCAA divisions.

Gisore's run in the mile (4:16.88) was arguably the most impressive display of the day for the Ravens. The time was good for 46th overall at the meet, as well as third among runners representing Northeast-10 institutions at BU, and was the sixth-fastest time posted by a Northeast-10 runner thus far in the indoor season. In addition, Gisore's time was good enough to qualify him for the New England Championships, scheduled for Feb. 22.

Meanwhile, Abrams was busy speeding through a pair of dash events at BU. In the 400-meter dash, he became the first Northeast-10 freshman to break 50 seconds this season (49.86) to place 44th in the event. He was fourth among Northeast-10 runners and his time is now tied for the sixth-fastest so far in 2012-13 in the NE-10. Abrams had already been the fastest freshman in the 200-meter dash in the Northeast-10 this winter, but he shaved another 0.06 seconds off his time and now ranks seventh in the Conference overall (22.37). The time was good for 45th at the meet and fifth among Northeast-10 competitors.

Abrams had company in the 400-meter dash, as freshman Adam-Corey Rander (Bronx, N.Y.) knocked over a second off his best time of the year (50.71) to move himself into the top-10 performances in the Northeast-10. He finished 77th at BU, as well as sixth among Northeast-10 runners.

A pair of relay squads put together solid showings at the BU Terrier Invitational over the weekend. The more impressive of the two actually ran late Friday night, after the women's portion of the meet. The Ravens' distance medley relay (1200m-400m-800m-1600m) squad of sophomore Makopa Rugabirwa (Concord, N.H.) to Abrams to freshman Ryan Cross (Suffern, N.Y.) to Gisore threw down a 10:20.04 to place third in the meet. The time currently ranks second in the Northeast-10 on the season.

Elsewhere, on Saturday, Franklin Pierce fielded a 4x400-meter relay squad of freshman Vincent Biunno (Montgomery, N.Y.) to Rander to Gisore to Abrams which finished 28th (3:23.32). The time moved the Ravens up one spot among Northeast-10 performances; it was the third-fastest run in the Conference this season.

The Ravens return to action on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Tufts Invitational.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce track and field apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).