PLYMOUTH, N.H. (December 7, 2019) -- The Franklin Pierce University men's track & field team got its season started on Saturday at the PSU Winter Classic, hosted by Plymouth State University. The Ravens opened the season with a win in the six-team meet. Combined with the women's victory at the same meet, head coach Zach Emerson now has 20 career meet wins to his name.

The sprinting events fared well for the Ravens, including a sweep of the top three spots in the 60-meter dash. Sophomore Ethan Pezzullo (Bristol, R.I.) took first with a time of 7.23 seconds. He was followed by sophomore Devin Jones (Manchester, N.H.) with a time of 7.28 seconds and junior Lo Jackson (Columbia, S.C.), who took third for his time of 7.40 seconds. Jones also performed well in the 200-meter dash, where he took first for his 23.68-second finish. Sophomore Sekou Veillard (Davie, Fla.) took first in the 60-meter hurdles, with a time of 9.05 seconds.

Franklin Pierce thrived in the distance events as well. Sophomore Will Aylward (Peabody, Mass.) took first in the 800, with a 2:07 finish. Senior Tyler Hayes (Kings Park, N.Y.) ran the 1000 meters in 2:43, taking first place as well. He was followed by junior Antonio Rua (Burrillville, R.I.), whose 2:44 time landed him second. Aylward took home first again in the mile, with a time of 4:46. Rua competed in the 3000 and took home a third-place finish for his 9:42 time. He was followed by Hayes, who finished fourth with his 9:44 time. In the 5000, juniors Cody Tallent (Bellows Falls, Vt.) and Ryan Ducrow (Amesbury, Mass.) took over the field. Tallent took first with his 16:20 time, followed by Ducrow, who was only a second later at 16:21.

Franklin Pierce squads combined to post three top-three finishes over a pair of relay races. In the 4x200-meter relay, one Ravens team took first with a time of 1:35. It consisted of senior Gerald Leith (Dorchester, Mass.), Jackson, Pezzullo and Jones. Franklin Pierce also took third with a time of 1:40, with a lineup of freshman Lance Abella (St. Johnsbury, Vt.), Veillard, sophomore Aaron Young (Colchester, Conn.) and sophomore Harchdy Souffrance (Port-au-Prince, Haiti). In the 4x400, the Ravens took third with a time of 3:48. The relay consisted of Rua, senior Walker John (Boscawen, N.H.), sophomore Jack Lang (Shelter Island, N.Y.) and Hayes.

The Ravens took all five spots in the high jump. With a 1.80-meter mark, freshman Brett Kush (Northborough, Mass.) took first place. Abella took second after clearing 1.80 meters as well. Jackson took third for his 1.77-meter mark. He was followed by Young in fourth and sophomore Ishmael Johnson (Lynn, Mass.) in fifth. Young showed up well again in the pole vault. The sophomore took second for his 3.85-meter mark. Abella also performed well, as he cleared 2.80 meters to land in third place. In the long jump, Souffrance took first after a 6.44-meter leap. He was followed by Pezzullo in third with a 6.01-meter mark.

Elsewhere, sophomore Armani Mette (Randolph, Mass.) took first place in the shot put, with a heave of 13.56 meters.

It all added up to 243 points for the Ravens, who rolled to a 49-point victory over host Plymouth State.

Franklin Pierce also had select runners in action at Boston University on Saturday, where they partook in BU's Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Junior Hugo Arlabosse (Marseille, France) turned in a top-five double, as he placed second in the 800 meters (1:53.36) and fifth in the mile (4:14.95). Senior Trevor Guay (Londonderry, N.H.) added a fifth-place finish in the 400 meters (49.67).

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).