ROCHESTER, N.Y. (September 24, 2016) – Senior Dage Minors (Hamilton Parish, Bermuda) finished second, just four seconds off the pace, to lead the Franklin Pierce University men's cross country team on Saturday at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational, hosted by Roberts Wesleyan College. Minors was joined in the top-five by senior B.J. Smith (Concord, N.H.) in fourth, as the duo led the Ravens to a fourth-place finish, out of 22 teams.

Minors led the Ravens with an 8k time of 25:36.2, while Smith followed with a 25:48.1, as both placed in the top-five of the 213-runner field. Behind Smith, it was 18 spots back to the next Raven, as freshman Aidan Gilbride (East Kilbride, Scotland) finished 22nd, with a time of 26:31.4.

All five members of the Franklin Pierce scoring five would finish among the top-50 runners on Saturday morning. Senior Jon Holmes (Albany, N.Y.) placed 40th with a time of 27:13.4, while junior Martin Gradijan (Lebanon, N.H.) rounded out the Ravens' scoring in 50th, with a time of 27:32.5

It all added up to 104 points and a fourth-place finish for the Ravens on the day. Up front, Oswego State finished with 84 points to claim the title and narrowly edge out Rochester (86 points). Host Roberts Wesleyan (92 points) finished third, in front of Franklin Pierce, which enjoyed a 16-point margin over fifth-place Fredonia (120 points).

Daemen junior Kevin Roginson finished first individually, with a time of 25:32.6.

The Ravens return to action on Saturday, Oct. 8, when they travel to the NEICAAA Championships at Franklin Park in Boston.

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 cross country apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).