RALEIGH, N.C.  – The Bentley University record for the women's 10,000 meters had stood for 29 years until Friday evening when senior Ashley Nichols (Kenmore, Wash./Inglemoor HS) broke it by more than 50 seconds while competing in the Raleigh Relays at North Carolina State University.

Nichols finished in 36:36.38, an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying time that bettered the 37:30.68 recorded by Jennifer Brining in 1985. She was 25th of 34 overall in the predominantly Division I meet and sixth among Division II runners. It was an improvement on her own personal best by more than two minutes.

Sophomore Edy-Elliot Uthman-Olukokun (West Warwick, R.I./West Warwick HS) also had a strong showing in the massive meet. He finished ninth of 69 in the college long jump, clearing 21 feet, 11.75 inches, and he also ran the 100 meters in 11.02 seconds, placing 38th of 122.

In the college 1500, senior Conor Higgins (Randolph, N.J./Randolph HS) was 28th of 116 with a time of 4:00.30. Three of his teammates set or established personal bests in the event with freshman Nik Haas (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey HS) 44th in 4:04.8, freshman Anthony Lacey (Ogdensburg, N.J./Pope John XXIII HS) 59th in 4:07.33 and junior Christian Connolly (Kingston, Mass./Silver Lake Reg. HS) 73rd in 4:11.26.

Junior Steve Maffiolini (Southington, Conn./Southington HS) finished 83rd of 170 in the 400 (50.61) and set a new PR in the 100, 11.65.