CAMBRIDGE, MA (Dec. 8, 2007) – Sophomore Jacqui Barrett (Woburn, MA) won the shot put with a distance of 41 feet, 1.0 inch to lead the UMass Lowell women’s track and field team at the Harvard Invitational Sunday at the Gordon Track and Tennis Center.

The non-scoring meet included colleges from all three NCAA Divisions as well as many athletes representing postgraduate track and field clubs.

Barrett was among seven UML athletes who placed first among the Division II and III athletes in eight events. As Barrett topped a field of 29 throwers, freshman Bethany Staiti (Barre, MA) placed second with a throw of 37’ 2.75’’.

Sophomore Olivia Thibou (Boston, MA) placed first among Division II and III athletes in both the triple and long jumps. She placed third overall in the triple with a distance of 36’ 9.0’’ and eighth overall in the long jump with a leap of 17’ 0.75’’.

Senior Gillian Mundry (Methuen, MA) placed in a tie for ninth and second among II-III entries in the long jump with a distance of 16’ 10.75’’.

Sophomore Haley Catarius (Marshfield, MA) placed fourth overall (first among II-III athletes) in the 800 meters with a time of 2:19.19, falling just short of the provisional qualifying mark for the NCAA Championship. Freshman Patricia Brice (Chelmsford, MA) placed sixth overall (second) in 2:21.44.

Junior Tristin Johnson (Pittsfield, MA) took fifth overall (first) in the 200 meter dash in 26.28 seconds and led three River Hawks in the top 11 places. Freshman Christina Silvar (Fitchburg, MA) placed 10th (second) in 26.80 seconds while junior Coreen Edward (Boston, MA) placed 11th (third) in 26.86.

Silvar was also a member of UML’s 4X440 meter relay team which placed fifth overall and second among II-III foursomes with a time of 4:10.78. Joining Silvar were freshmen Jenna Lapachinski (Turners Falls, MA), sophomore Heather McCarthy (Burlington, MA) and senior Erin Doherty (Lawrence, MA).

 Lapachinski, named the Northeast-10 Conference Freshman Athlete of the Week last week, enjoyed another stellar meet as she took seventh (first) in the 500 meters in 1:21.50. Freshman Lauren Raimondi (East Longmeadow, MA) enjoyed a pair of stellar showings, placing fifth (first) in the 55 meter hurdles in 9.61 seconds; and 11th (third) in the  high jump, clearing 5’ 1.0’’.

Sophomore Courtney Lincoln (Mansfield, MA) also fared well in the 60 meter hurdles, placing sixth (second) in 9.62.

Sophomore Katrina Lutkus (Lowell, MA) placed 15th (third) in the 60 meter dash in 8.14.

The River Hawks return to action on Sunday, Jan. 13 at the Dartmouth Indoor Relays.