PRINCETON, NJ (Apr. 20, 2008) – Sophomore Haley Catarius (Marshfield, MA) placed eighth overall in the 800 meters and virtually locked her place in the NCAA Championship Friday to lead the UMass Lowell women’s track and field team at the Princeton Larry Ellis Invitational.

UML was one of few Division II and III schools in the meet, which also included many athletes representing postgraduate track and field clubs throughout the country.

Catarius, who entered the weekend ranked 16th in the country in the 800, posted a time of 2:12.92, which catapults her to ninth on the Division II list.

On Saturday, Catarius placed 12th overall and tops among Division II-III athletes in the unseeded 400 meter dash with a time of 59.19 seconds. Sophomore Heather McCarthy (Burlington, MA) took 21st overall (second) in 61.49 seconds.

Freshman Lyra Clark (Nashua, NH) placed 21st overall and topped the Division II-III field in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:36.94, pitting her 17th on the Division II list.

Also impressing was sophomore Jacqui Barrett (Woburn, MA), who placed fourth (first) in the shot put with a throw of 43 feet, 3.0 inches; and senior Tristin Johnson (Pittsfield, MA) placed 10th overall (first) in the 100 meter dash in 12.61 and 15th (first) in the 200 meter dash (25.32).

Johnson and McCarthy also led UML’s 4X100 meter relay team to ninth place (first) in 48.62 seconds. Joining them were sophomores Sharikka Finley-Moise (Lexington, MA) and Prisna Doriscat (Boston, MA).

In the unseeded 800 meters, junior Christina DaLomba (Marstons Mills, MA) and freshman Jayson-Ann Wright (Bronx, NY) placed first and second among II-III runners and 13th and 12th overall. DaLomba ran the course in 2:20.12 and Wright in 2:24.10.