BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 11, 2017) – For the fourth time in his collegiate career, senior Dage Minors (Hamilton Parish, Bermuda) of the Franklin Pierce University men's track & field team is an All-American. On Saturday evening, he finished fourth in the 800 meters at the NCAA Championships, hosted by the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the City of Birmingham, at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Before the race began, Minors proved athletes remain subject to nerves -- or at least nervous energy -- no matter how many championships they've competed in. Lined up on the innermost start position, Minors stepped over the start line ahead of the gun the first time the eight competitors lined up, for a false start.

After the field reset, Minors led the way for the inner quartet around the first turn, as the field was split in a staggered start. Once the field convened, Minors spent the majority of the race bouncing between third, fourth and fifth position. Ultimately, he turned in a time of 1:50.73, edging Fort Hayes State sophomore Brett Meyer (1:50.75) by just two-hundredths of a second at the line to take fourth place.

St. Augustine's sophomore Shaquille Dill claimed the national title with a mark of 1:49.96. Texas A&M-Commerce senior Luis Romero took second in 1:50.12, while St. Augustine's senior Immanuel Hutchinson placed third in 1:50.23.

Minors' run wraps up the indoor season for Ravens track & field. Franklin Pierce will kick off the outdoor campaign on Saturday, March 25, when they travel to the Wesleyan Spring Classic in Middletown, Conn.

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).