NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (December 3, 2016) – Three program records and a trio of wins highlighted the day for the Franklin Pierce University women's track & field team, which opened the 2016-17 season on Saturday, with a trip to the Smith Snowflake Invitational, hosted by Smith College. Elsewhere, senior Nicole Galewski (Weymouth, Mass.) set a program record as well, as she competed in the pentathlon at the Elm City Challenge, hosted by Southern Connecticut State University.

Program records were under assault throughout the day for the Ravens on Saturday. Junior Emily Quinn (West Bridgewater, Mass.) led the way, with a heave of 14.50 meters in the weight throw, which was good enough to win the event. Freshman Jen Iozzi (Cranston, R.I.) picked up a win and a school record as well in her collegiate debut, with a heave of 11.31 meters in the shot put. Meanwhile, sophomore Lilian Baah (Danielson, Conn.) turned in a triple jump distance of 11.30 meters to finish second and set a program record of her own. Baah's mark was also good enough to meet the NEICAAA Championships qualifying mark in the event.

One other Raven joined Quinn and Iozzi in the winner's circle on Saturday. Senior Breigh Souliere (Cumberland, R.I.) turned in a time of 9.22 seconds to win the 60-meter hurdles.

The Ravens were able to cook up 10 other top-five finishes on the day at Smith. On the track, freshman Ariana Alvarado (Naugatuck, Conn.) took fourth in the 60-meter dash (8.08), freshman Julia Cormier (Northwood, N.H.) was third in the mile (5:43.28), sophomore Caitlyn Leary (Tewksbury, Mass.) finished fifth in the mile (5:56.18), senior Holly Lindoe (Holbrook, N.Y.) placed fourth in the 800 meters (2:32.68) and freshman Eileen Savinelli (Goffstown, N.H.) snagged second in the 60-meter hurdles (10.04). Meanwhile, in field events, Baah added second in the long jump (5.38m), freshman Katey Comstock (Windsor, Vt.) notched second in the shot put (11.21m), senior Kendra Plant (Cumberland, R.I.) was third in the weight throw (13.64m) and senior Samantha Toscano (Northwood, N.H.) took home fourth in the long jump (5.13m).

The 4x400-meter relay team added a top-five finish as well, by finishing fifth. The quartet of junior Alexa Cassara (Bay Shore, N.Y.), junior Danielle Crawford (Lowell, Mass.), Lindoe and freshman Meghan Tarr (Atkinson, N.H.) turned in a time of 4:25.15.

Elm City Challenge pentathlon results

Meanwhile, at the Elm City Challenge, Galewski was busy shattering her own school record in the pentathlon. She would pile up 3068 points at the event, on her way to a third-place finish in New Haven, Conn. Along the way, Galewski won the shot put (10.65m) and finished second in the 55-meter hurdles (8.81).

The Ravens return to the track on Friday, Dec. 9, at the PSU Winter Classic, hosted by Plymouth State University in Plymouth, N.H.

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).