Ravens shatter school record

Note: conversion times cited in story were unofficial at press time.

BOSTON, Mass. (January 24, 2014) – The Franklin Pierce University men's track and field team put together the school's fastest-ever run, by far, in the distance medley relay on Friday at the Terrier Invitational, hosted by Boston University at BU Track & Tennis Center. The run easily met the NCAA Championships provisional qualifying standard in the event.

The Ravens' lineup of freshman Dage Minors (Hamilton Parish, Bermuda) to freshman Matt Carpenter (Gloucester, Mass.) to freshman Jon Holmes (Albany, N.Y.) to junior Antoine Gisore (Concord, N.H.) finished second to only Division I Monmouth after stopping the clock at 10:01.55. The time should convert to 10:09.73, which is still the top time in the Northeast-10 Conference by nearly 10 seconds and sits well inside the provisional qualifying mark of 10:17.29. The time is also 12-plus seconds outside the automatic qualifying standard of 9:57.01, putting the Ravens roughly halfway between the two standards.

At the end of the season, the 12 fastest times below the provisional standard will qualify for the NCAA Championships. For reference, a year ago, only four schools met the distance medley relay's automatic standard, allowing the next eight schools which met only the provisional standard to qualify as well. While it is too early in the season to accurately predict where the line will fall in 2013-14, the mark is a strong starting point and leaves the team with five weeks to lower the time further and make a push towards qualifying.

The distance medley relay was the only men's event contested on Friday at the Terrier Invitational, as the women took center stage on the meet's first day. The remainder of the men's squad will compete on Saturday.

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).