SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 11, 2021) -- The Franklin Pierce University women's track & field program was in action on both Saturday and Sunday over the weekend. On Saturday, the team was in Springfield, Mass., for the AIC Invitational II, hosted by American International. On Sunday, the Ravens were in New Haven, Conn., on the campus of Southern Connecticut State, for the James Barber Invitational.

On Saturday at AIC, in the 100-meter sprint, sophomore Stephanie Manu (Boston, Mass.) finished in 13.75 seconds, which landed her in fourth. She was followed by freshman Grace Silva (Warren, R.I.), who ran the race in 15.05 seconds and claimed fifth. Manu returned for the 200 meters to take fifth after a 28.99-second finish.

The Ravens were in action in the distance events at AIC as well. Sophomore Alexis Collins (Monroe, N.H.) took fourth in the 1500 meters after she ran the event in 5:48.45. Senior Amanda Pale (Plainville, Conn.) took fifth in the same event at 5:53.67.

Where Franklin Pierce really went to work in Springfield was in the field events. In the shot put, sophomore Julieth Nwosu (Brockton, Mass.) took first for her 13.06-meter throw. Her sister, freshman Nkechi Nwosu (Brockton, Mass.), took third for her 11.76-meter throw. The sisters Nwosu went one-two in the discus, with Nkechi winning (38.74m) and Julieth in second (37.38m). In the javelin, junior Jessica Brewster (Castleton, Vt.) took first after a 29.55-meter throw.

At SCSU, Franklin Pierce runners chalked up six top-five finishes on Sunday. It was a one-two for the Ravens in the 100-meter dash, as sophomore Nyjah Young-Bey (Montclair, N.J.) won in 12.87 seconds and was followed by fellow sophomore Destini Hill-Edwards (Paget, Bermuda) in second (12.94). Graduate student Bethaney Donnelly (Manchester, United Kingdom) won the 5000 meters (18:12.45).

In the 800 meters, freshman Meghan Sheline (Southington, Conn.) finished second (2:32.20), while junior Alena Masterson (Pelham, N.H.) finished in fifth (2:37.61). In the 1500 meters, it was a fourth-place finish for junior Alana Thompson (Westampton, N.J.) in 5:11.70.

In field events at SCSU, junior Paola Brena (Queretaro, Mexico) got up and over 1.60 meters to win the high jump. Julieth Nwosu made it a two-win weekend as she claimed the shot put for the second straight day, with a throw of 13.03 meters, and was followed by junior Samantha DeSouza (Sebago, Maine) in second at 11.35 meters.

The Ravens are scheduled to return to action on Thursday, April 15, when they travel to Eastern Connecticut State.