HANOVER, NH (Jan. 13, 2008) – Sophomore Olivia Thibou (Boston, MA) captured the long jump and placed third in the triple jump to lead the UMass Lowell women’s track and field team to fourth place at the Dartmouth Relays Sunday afternoon at the Leverone Fieldhouse.

The Relays included 25 NCAA Division I, II and III and Canadian colleges as well as many postgraduate clubs and athletes from the Northeast U.S. and Canada. The meet was UML’s first action since the Harvard Invitational on Dec. 8.

Northeastern captured the meet with 88.5 points while the host Big Green placed second with 49.25 points. The University of Sherbrooke (Canada), with 36.25 points, edged UML (36) for third place while New Balance Boston (32) and Wheaton College (28) followed.

Thibou won the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 6.25 inches and also placed third overall – tops among Division II and III athletes – in the triple jump with a distance of 35’ 5.25’’.

Freshman Lyra Clark (Nashua, NH) enjoyed a stellar effort in the mile, placing sixth overall and second among Division II-III runners in 5:07.18.

Sophomore Haley Catarius (Marshfield, MA) placed fourth in the 800 meters and led two teammates in the top nine places. Catarius ran the course in 2:19.87 while junior Christina DaLomba (Marstons Mills, MA) placed eighth in 2:23.44 and freshman Patricia Brice (Chelmsford, MA) ninth in 2:23.88.

Catarius and Brice were also members of UML’s 4X400 meter relay team which placed fourth in 4:05.79. Sophomore Heather McCarthy (Burlington, MA) ran her leg in 61.8 seconds while Catarius followed in 60.4, Brice in 60.1, and junior Tristin Johnson (Pittsfield, MA) in 63.2.

McCarthy also ran a leg on UML’s 4X200 meter relay team that placed fourth overall (second among Division II-III teams) in 1:49.14. Joining her was freshman Mary Effler (North Attleboro, MA), who ran a 27.1-second split; senior Erin Doherty (Lawrence, MA), who ran a 27.5 leg; and Johnson, who followed in 26.9.

The River Hawk ‘B’ foursome also impressed in the 4X200, led by sophomore Courtney Lincoln (Mansfield, MA), who ran a 27.9-second split; freshman Nerlande Mintor (Roslindale, MA), who followed in 26.7; sophomore Taryn Murphy (New Boston, NH) in 26.7; and sophomore Sharikka Finley-Moise (Lexington, MA) in 27.2.

Lincoln also took fourth overall (first among Division II-III runners) in the 60 meter hurdles (9.56 seconds) and fifth in the long jump (16’ 1.5’’). Senior Gillian Mundry (Methuen, MA) took sixth with a leap of 16’ 0.25’’.

Sophomore Jacqui Barrett (Woburn, MA) led three River Hawks in the top 12 places in the shot put. Barrett placed seventh overall and tops among Division II-III throwers with a toss of 41’ 1.75 ‘’ while senior Katie Banfield (Billerica, MA) placed 10th (second) with a throw of 37’ 5.25’’; and freshman Bethany Staiti (Barre, MA) 12th (third) with a distance of 36’ 4.25.

UMass Lowell enters the Tufts Jumbo Invitational Saturday.