BOSTON, MA (Jan. 26, 2008) – Sophomore Haley Catarius (Marshfield, MA) and freshman Lyra Clark (Nashua, NH) each provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championship to lead the UMass Lowell women’s track and field team at the Boston University Terrier Invitational Friday at the BU Track and Tennis Center.

Catarius and Clark become the first members of the River Hawk women’s team to meet NCAA provisional standards this season. The Invitational drew schools from all three NCAA divisions as well as many athletes representing postgraduate clubs throughout the country.

Catarius placed 10th overall in the 800 meters, fourth among collegiate runners and first among Division II and III entries with a time of 2:16.05, the third-fastest time in the country this season and fifth in UML history.

Clark placed 13th overall in the mile and tops in the Division II-III contingent with a school-record time of 5:05.30. Clark, whose result pitted her fifth in the country thus far, was flanked by junior Christina DaLomba (Marstons Mills, MA), who placed 18th overall (second) in 5:10.02.

Clark’s milestone eclipsed the previous mark of 5:07.04 set by current UML senior Amanda Sousa (Peabody, MA) on Feb. 3, 2006 at the Trinity College Last Chance Invitational.

Another freshman who made good was Patricia Brice (Chelmsford, MA) who topped the Division II-III field and placed eighth overall in the 500 meters in 1:17.13. Freshman Jayson-Ann Wright (Bronx, NY) placed 22nd overall (second among II-III athletes) in 1:20.22.

Brice was also a member of UML’s 4X400 meter relay team which placed ninth overall (second) in 3:57.85. Brice ran a 58.8-second leg while junior Tristin Johnson (Pittsfield, MA) ran a 58.8-second split. Freshman Jenna Lapachiski (Turners Falls, MA) followed in 59.6 while sophomore Heather McCarthy(Burlington, MA) ran a 59.8 split.

Johnson also placed 16th overall (second) in the 200 meter dash in 26.02. Lapachiski and McCarthy also placed 15th and 18th in the 400 meter dash, Lapachinski in 59.88 seconds (fifth among II-III athletes) and McCarthy in 60.01 (seventh). Senior Erin Doherty (Lawrence, MA) placed 22nd (ninth) in 60.51.

Sophomores Olivia Thibou (Boston, MA) and Jacqui Barrett (Woburn, MA) led UML’s field athletes on the day. Thibou placed third (first) in the triple jump with a distance of 36 feet, 5.75 inches and 16th (fifth in the long jump with a leap of 15’ 8.25’’.

Barrett took fourth (first) in the shot put with a throw of 41’ 3.75’’. Katie Banfield (Billerica, MA) placed 11th (fourth) with a toss of 36’ 7.75’’ while freshman Bethany Staiti (Barre, MA) took 15th (fifth) with a distance of 35’ 11.5’’.

Senior Gillian Mundry (Methuen, MA) placed sixth overall (second) in the long jump with a leap of 17’ 2.25’’.

Sophomore Courtney Lincoln (Mansfield, MA) placed sixth (second) in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 8.82 seconds. Sophomore Eunice Delice (Methuen, MA) took 15th (third) in 9.26.