RALEIGH, N.C. – Bentley University junior Ashley Nichols (Kenmore, Wash./Inglemoor HS) moved to number two on the program's all-time list in the 10,000 meters and four of her teammates recorded the second best 4x800 time in Falcon history as the Bentley women's outdoor track team completed action at the Raleigh Relays Saturday at North Carolina State's Paul Herr track.

Nichols finished the 10K in 38:44.61, setting a new personal best by nearly two minutes. She was 10th of 38 in her section and 48th of 80 overall in the predominantly Division I meet.

The 4x800 team posted a 9:36.13, Bentley's best since the school record of 9:27.23 was set back in 2002. Senior All-America Amy Varsell (Burlington, Conn./Lewis S. Mills HS) led off in 2:18.8, and classmate Caitlin Fahey (Bridgewater, Mass./Coyle-Cassidy HS) followed in 2:15.9. Freshman Dusty Rose Sacco (Pompton Lakes, N.J./Pompton Lakes HS) and sophomore Alix Pettinella (Wingdale, N.Y./Arlington HS) followed, in 2:31.6 and 2:30.5 respectively.

While those five were at one of the nation's premier meets, other members of the team were competing in the Tufts University Snowflake Classic, with the top performers including senior Keisha Johnson (Randolph, Mass./Randolph HS) and freshman Kendal Pratt (Topsfield, Mass./Masconomet Reg. HS).

Johnson was second among 21 athletes in the triple jump with a distance of 36 feet, one-quarter inch, and was also seventh of 32 in the long jump, clearing 16 feet, one-half inch. Pratt placed seventh of 41 in the 400 meters, with her time of 59.72 seconds elevating her to number seven on Bentley's all-time list.

Bentley, which was 16th of 23 in the team standings, also received a pair of 11th-place finishes in the throws. Junior Aubrey Batzinger (Wallingford, Conn./Lyman Hall) threw the discus 108 feet, eight inches, and sophomore Jackie Carlson (Kensington, Conn./Berlin HS) had a distance of 100 feet, one inch in the javelin.

Next Saturday, the complete Bentley team will be at UMass-Lowell for the George Davis Invitational.