SOMERVILLE, MA (Jan. 19, 2008) – The UMass Lowell women’s track and field team captured seven events to win the Tufts University Indoor Invitational Saturday afternoon at the Gantcher Sports and Convocation Center.

The River Hawks compiled 236 points while the host Jumbos placed second with 186 points. Rensselaer (112), Saint Francis (65) and Keene State (65) rounded out the top fiver teams.

Freshman Lyra Clark (Nashua, NH) was a dual winner on the day, capturing the 1,000 meters in 3:03.61 and leading the UML 4X400 meter relay team to first place in 4:08.37.

Clark led three River Hawks in the top three places in the 1,000 as junior Christina DaLomba (Marstons Mills, MA) placed second in 3:08.09 and freshman Elizabeth Carr (Randolph, MA) in 3:17.27.

Clark ran a 62.02-second leg and DaLomba 63.20 to guide UML to the 4X400 title. Freshman Mary Effler (North Attleboro, MA) ran a 62.82 split while junior Tristin Johnson (Pittsfield, MA) ran a 59.92 leg.

Effler also ran a 27.77-second leg on UML’s 4X200 team, which also placed first in 1:48.43. Joining her was sophomore Heather McCarthy (Burlington, MA), who ran a 27.05 split; freshman Nerlande Mintor (Roslindale, MA), who ran a 26.53 split and senior Erin Doherty (Lawrence, MA), who anchored in 26.72.

Johnson led three teammates who secured places 3-6 in the 200 meter dash with a time of 26.71 seconds. Sophomore Prisna Doriscat (Boston, MA) placed fourth in 27.36 while Doherty took fifth (27.52) and McCarthy sixth (27.53).

Sophomore Haley Catarius (Marshfield, MA) led four runners in the top four places in the 600 meters with a time of 1:38.29, edging out freshman Patricia Brice (Chelmsford, MA), who took second in 1:39.08.

Freshman Jayson-Ann Wright (Bronx, NY) placed third in 1:40.73 and freshman Jenna Lapachinski (Turners Falls, MA) fourth in 1:42.48.

Freshman Lauren Raimondi (East Longmeadow, MA) and sophomore Courtney Lincoln (Mansfield, MA) placed first and second in the 55 meter hurdles. Raimondi posted a time of 8.71 seconds while Lincoln was right behind in 8.83. Sophomore Eunice Delice (Methuen, MA) took fourth in 9.26 seconds.

Senior Gillian Mundry (Methuen, MA) and sophomore Olivia Thibou (Boston, MA) each enjoyed top finishes. Mundry captured the long jump with a with a distance of 16 feet, 9.25 inches and also placed sixth in the 55 meter dash (7.66 seconds) and sixth in the high jump (4’ 11.0’’)

Thibou captured the triple jump with a distance of 36’ 8.25’’ and took third in the long jump (16’ 6.0’’).

Sophomore Jacqui Barrett (Woburn, MA) won the shot put with a distance of 41’ 10.75’’ as the River Hawks owned the top three places. Freshman Bethany Staiti (Barre, MA) placed second with a throw of 38’ 10.5’’ and senior Katie Banfield (Billerica, MA) third with a toss of 36’ 9.0’’.

Other results included that of senior Amanda Sousa (Peabody, MA), who placed second in the 800 meters (2:31.65); sophomore Sharikka Finley-Moise (Lexington, MA), who placed second in the 55 meter dash (7.55 seconds); and senior Katie Brodeur (Lowell, MA), who placed third in the weight throw (40’ 11.5’’).

UML enters the Boston University Terrier Classic Friday.