WALTHAM, Mass. – Four members of the Bentley University outdoor track and field team, including recent graduate Ashley Nichols (Kenmore, Wash./Inglemoor HS), have been named to the 2014 Academic All-Northeast-10 Conference team, which was announced today.

Joining Nichols were rising seniors Jackie Carlson (Kensington, Conn./Berlin HS), Chris Ricci (Coventry, R.I./Bishop Hendricken HS) and Steve Maffiolini (Southington, Conn./Southington HS). Each received the honor for the first time while Nichols was saluted for the third time, her previous nods coming in cross country (2011, 2013).

Nichols, who just missed out on a trip to the NCAA Division II outdoor championships, broke the school record in the 10,000 meters twice this spring, posting times of 36:36.38 at the Raleigh Relays and 36:08.64 at the Penn Relays. A USTFCCCA Division II All-East Region performer in both the 5K and the 10K, she finished third in the 5,000 at the conference championships and was 11th in the same event at the New Englands.

Nichols, who earned a 3.64 GPA as a computer information systems major, was recognized for her academic achievements following all eight semesters (Dean's List seven times, President's List once).

Carlson, a finance major with a 3.78 GPA, finished fourth in the javelin at the Northeast-10 Championships, with her throw of 116'10" fourth best in program history. She improved on her 2013 best by more than 11 feet and was ranked eighth in the Division II East Region in the javelin by the USTFCCCA.

Ricci, also a javelin thrower, finished his junior year with a 3.54 GPA. The corporate finance and accounting major earned Division II All-East Region honors and placed fifth in the javelin at the Northeast-10 Championships for the second straight year. He ranks ninth on Bentley's all-time list in the event and extended his PR by more than five feet during the 2014 season. Last fall, Ricci spent the semester studying in Spain.

Maffiolini achieved new personal bests in the 100 meters (11.65 seconds), 200 (22.82) and 400 (49.84) this past spring, with the latter time ranking eighth in the East. At the NE-10 outdoor championships, he finished sixth in the 400 and helped Bentley to seventh in two relays. A double major (accountancy, liberal studies), Maffiolini has a 3.62 GPA.