PITTSBURG, Kan. (March 11, 2016) – On Friday evening at the Robert W. Plaster Center, senior Alyssa Lambert (Manchester, N.H.) became the first member of the Franklin Pierce University women's track & field team to compete in the NCAA Championships, as she took to the track in the mile. She would finish 12th at the meet -- hosted by Pittsburg State and the Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau -- to become the first All-American in program history as well.

Lambert's time of 4:56.74 was her fastest of the season, and was good for sixth in the eight-runner first heat. The time allowed her to finish 12th overall, as she edged heat-mate and Alabama-Huntsville senior Vicky Winslow by 0.67 seconds at the line for what turned out to be the final spot on the All-America Second Team.

University of Indianapolis sophomore Kieran Casey ran a 4:51.41 and will take the top time into Saturday's final in the mile, as Friday's top nine times qualified for the national title race. The top three times all came from the second heat, as Casey was followed by Missouri Southern junior Emily Harris (4:51.92) and Minnesota-Duluth sophomore Emilee Trost (4:52.24).

Lambert and the Ravens will return to the track to open the outdoor season on Saturday, March 19, when they travel to the Tribe Invitational, hosted by The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.

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).