Men’s Track & Field Wins SNHU Invitational; Ravens Also in Action in Florida
MANCHESTER, N.H. (April 2, 2022) -- The Franklin Pierce University men's track & field team had not one competition this weekend, but two. The team split up, with some athletes traveling to Daytona Beach, Fla., for the two-day Spikes Classic, hosted by Embry-Riddle. The rest of the team competed in Manchester, N.H., where they won the Southern New Hampshire University Invitational on Saturday, with a program-record 250-point performance.
In Florida, the Ravens had some alumni in action as well, as Dage Minors '17 took first in the 1500 meters for his 3:49 time, while running unattached. He set the pace for sophomore Wondu Summa (Burlington, Vt.), who claimed 11th in the same event for his 3:59 time. Sophomore Stephen Harris (Billerica, Mass.) was sixth in the preliminaries for the 100-meter dash after his 11.08-second time, and was second in the preliminaries for the 200 for his 22.02-second time. Sadly, most of the Saturday competition was cancelled due to Inclement weather, and Harris was not able to compete in the 200 finals. Also included in the cancellation was the 800 meters, which sophomore Ryan Walker (Seabrook, N.H.) and Summa were both seeded for.
At the SNHU Spring Invitational in Manchester, the Ravens dominated, taking first overall out of seven teams. Senior Devin Jones (Manchester, N.H.) claimed the top spot in the 100-meter dash with his 11.33-second time. Jones also took first in the 200-meter dash, with a 22.04-second time. Directly behind him in the 100 was sophomore Angel Gonzalez (North Andover, Mass.), who crossed the line in 11.45 seconds. Sophomore Nathan Rinaldi (Bristol, R.I.) claimed first in the 400 for his 49.96-second performance, and second in the 200 for his 22.54-second time.
In the 800, graduate student Sebastien Vicary (Ulceby, United Kingdom) took first after putting out a time of 1:58. Vicary also ran the mile in a program-record time of 4:22 to claim second place. In the 5k, sophomore Ryan Outerbridge (Paget, Bermuda) claimed first for his 15:54 time, while freshman Logan Mihelich (Northwood, N.H.) took second for a 16:10 time. They were accompanied by sophomore Ntakirutimana Janvier (Burlington, Vt.), who claimed fourth for his 16:42 time.
The 4x100 relay consisting of Gonzalez, senior Ethan Pezzullo (Bristol, R.I.), Jones and Rinaldi claimed first for their 42.71-second performance. The 4x400 team made up of sophomore Evan McNeice (Wethersfield, Conn.), sophomore Thomas Darrah (Thetford, Vt.), Outerbridge and freshman Cole Cooper (North Hampton, N.H.) ran a time of 3:42 to also take first.
Sophomore Connor Nordmann (Bethel, Conn.) took first in the pole vault after clearing 4.25 meters, while Pezzullo took first in the long jump for his 6.20-meter mark.
In the discus, sophomore Sal Lando (Sterling, Mass.) claimed second for his 41.84-meter performance. In the hammer, junior Connor Everidge (Baldwinville, Mass.) took first for his 47.08-meter mark. Lando followed in third with a 41.66-meter mark.
It was a top-five sweep in the shot put for the Ravens. Leading the pack was Everidge who hit a 15.02-meter mark. Next was senior Croix Albee (Trenton, Maine) in second for his 14.13-meter throw. After a 14.11-meter mark, Lando took third. Junior Victor Da Silva (Shrewsbury, Mass.) claimed fourth for his 12.23-meter throw, and senior Armani Mette (Randolph, Mass.) threw 12.10 meters to take fifth.
Sophomore Brogan Bonsaint (Somersworth, N.H.) took first in the javelin for his 58.91-meter throw. Throwing 47.64 meters was Albee, to take second.
The Ravens will return to the track for the Jim Sheehan invitational in Fitchburg, Mass., on Saturday, April 9.