PLYMOUTH, N.H. (December 7, 2019) -- The Franklin Pierce University women's track & field program opened its season at Plymouth State on Saturday, for the PSU Winter Classic. The Ravens opened the season in style, as they claimed the meet title. Combined with the victory by the men at Plymouth State as well, head coach Zach Emerson now has 20 career meet victories under his belt.

The Ravens dominated the sprinting events. Freshman Destini Hill-Edwards (Paget, Bermuda) took first place in the 60-meter dash with a time of 8.07 seconds. Following shortly after was junior Alyssa Harris (Billerica, Mass.), who took third in the event, with a time of 8.24 seconds. In the 200-meter dash, junior Sara Joyce (Pepperell, Mass.) came in third in the after sprinting a time of 30.07 seconds.

The distance events fared extremely well for the Ravens as well. In the 800, freshman Nadia Cathcart (Hyde Park, N.Y.) took first with a time of 2:43. For the 1000 meters, Sophomore Alena Masterson (Pelham, N.H.) took the competition, by taking first with a time of 3:23. She was followed by freshman Victoria Van Houten (Wantage, N.J.), who snatched third place for her 3:25 finish. The Ravens took second through fifth in the 5k race. Leading the pack was senior Julia Cormier (Northwood, N.H.), with a time of 19:32. She was followed by junior Marissa Farago (Salisbury, Mass.), who ran the race in 19:42. They were followed by juniors Marisa Carbone (Scarborough, Maine) and Lauren Stankiewicz (Naugatuck, Conn.).

In the relays, the Ravens posted a pair of second-place finishes. The 4x200-meter squad took second with a time of 1:55. They were composed of senior Kenisha Brannon (Owings Mills, Md.), Harris, freshman Julieth Nwosu (Brockton, Mass.) and Hill-Edwards. Franklin Pierce also took third in the 4x200, with a time of 2:02 from a lineup of sophomore Stephanie Phoenix (Wallingford, Conn.), senior Olivia Mabbett (Milford, N.H.), Joyce, and sophomore Paola Brena (Queretaro, Mexico). In the 4x400-meter relay, the Ravens took second with a time of 4:39. Their group consisted of Masterson, Cathcart, Van Houten, and sophomore Alana Thompson (Westampton, N.J.).

Franklin Pierce's success continued in the jumping events. Brena cleared 1.71 meters in the high jump and took first place. The mark allowed her to meet both the NCAA Championships provisional qualifying mark and the NEICAAA Championships qualifying mark on the season's opening weekend, while establishing a new program record in the process. Mabbett took second by getting up and over 1.50 meters. In the pole vault, Phoenix took first for her 2.65-meter mark.  Brena snagged another win, as she took first place in the triple jump as well, with her jump of 10.79 meters.

The throwers dominated the shot put, as the Ravens swept the top three spots. In first was Nwosu, whose 13.68-meter throw allowed her to qualify for the NEICAA Championships and set a new school record in her collegiate debut.  Senior Katey Comstock (Windsor, Vt.) took second for her 11.89-meter throw. She was followed by sophomore Samantha DeSouza (Sebago, Maine), whose 10.97-meter throw allowed her to land in third place.

It all added up to 176 points for the Ravens, who scored a nine-point victory over host Plymouth State.

Franklin Pierce also had select runners in action at Boston University on Saturday, at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Freshman Nyjah Young-Bey (Montclair, N.J.) put together a strong showing, with a fifth-place finish in the 400 meters, with a time of 58.41 seconds.

The Ravens are back in action on Saturday, Dec. 14, when they travel to Northeastern for the James Donahue Games in Boston.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (https://www.fpuravens.com). 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 & field apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (https://www.shopfpuravens.com).