Tallent, Walker, Men’s 4x800 Take All-New England Honors for Track & Field at Second Day of NEICAAA Championships
SMITHFIELD, R.I. (May 14, 2022) -- It was a trio of All-New England performances for the Franklin Pierce University track & field program on Saturday, as the team wrapped up its trip to the NEICAAA Championships, hosted by Bryant. All three came on the men's side, as senior Cody Tallent (Bellows Fall, Vt.) took eighth in the steeplechase, sophomore Ryan Walker (Seabrook, N.H.) was eighth in the 800 meters, and the 4x800-meter relay squad took eighth as well.
Tallent was the first to clinch his All-New England certificate on the day, as he put together a run of 9:43 over the 3000 meters of the steeplechase, to lay claim to the eighth and final All-New England spot. In the 800, Walker came home in 1:52.68, to take eighth place. The 4x800 rounded out the competition for the Ravens, with an eighth-place time of 7:57, courtesy of sophomore Evan McNeice (Wethersfield, Conn.), sophomore Ryan Outerbridge (Paget, Bermuda), sophomore Thomas Darrah (Thetford, Vt.) and graduate student Sebastien Vicary (Ulceby, United Kingdom).
Earlier, junior Connor Everidge (Baldwinville, Mass.) got the day started for the Ravens, in the men's shot put. His third and final heave traveled 14.77 meters, which was good enough for 15th place.
From there, all the rest of the day's action was out on the track, beginning with a quartet who competed in the steeplechase events. Behind Tallent on the men's side, sophomore Ntakirutimana Janvier (Burlington, Vt.) ran a 10:40 to finish 18th.
For the women in the steeplechase, junior Victoria Van Houten (Wantage, N.J.) and graduate student Julia Cormier (Northwood, N.H.) finished right behind each other in 18th and 19th, respectively. The former posted a 12:11, while the latter turned in a 12:18.
Franklin Pierce will now wait to see if any of its athletes are selected for the NCAA Championship. NCAA selections are set to be announced on Tuesday evening.