CONWAY, SC (Mar. 23, 2008) – Sophomore Haley Catarius (Marshfield, MA) placed second in the 800 meters and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championship to lead the UMass Lowell women’s track and field team at the season-opening Shamrock Invitational Saturday at Coastal Carolina University.

The meet attracted some of the top Division I, II and III colleges in the country as well as many athletes representing postgraduate track and field clubs across the country.

Catarius is one of two River Hawks to qualify for the NCAAs in the first meet of the season. Sophomore sprinter Doug Caves (Oxford, MA) also met the provision in the 400 meter dash (47.08).

Catarius ran the 800 meters in 2:13.93 and placed second behind only Rebekah Ricksecker of Liberty University (2:11.83).

Catarius’ effort was one of several stellar showings on the day for UML. Sophomore Jacqui Barrett (Woburn, MA) placed fifth overall and tops among Division II and III throwers in the shot put with a throw of 43 feet, 3.0 inches. Freshman Bethany Staiti (Barre, MA) took 15th (second) with a toss of 38’ 4.25’’.

Sophomore Olivia Thibou (Boston, MA), fresh off All-American honors at the NCAA indoor championship last week, placed 10th in the triple jump and led the Division II-III field with a distance of 37’ 3.0’’. Junior Christina DaLomba (Marstons Mills, MA) placed 13th overall (third) with a leap of 35’ 3.0’’.

Thibou also ran a leg on UML’s 4X200 meter relay team which placed 10th (second) in 1:46.11. Joining her were sophomores Prisna Doriscat (Boston, MA) and Heather McCarthy (Burlington, MA), and freshman Nerlande Mintor (Roslindale, MA).

McCarthy also placed 20th overall (third) in the 200 meter dash in 26.30.

Other notable results included that of freshman Patricia Brice (Chelmsford, MA) and junior Sarah Brassard (Oxford, MA). Brice placed 14th (second) in the 400 meter dash in 57.89 while Brassard took eighth (second) in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 12:32.56.

Brice, McCarthy, Catarius and senior Erin Doherty (Lawrence, MA) made up UML’s 4X400 meter relay team which placed 11th (third) in 4:03.65.

UML enters the Trinity College Bantam Invitational next Saturday in Hartford, CT.