LOWELL, MA (Jan. 14, 2008) – Sophomores Olivia Thibou (Boston, MA) and Justin Oliver (Lowell, MA) were each named the Northeast-10 Conference male and female athletes of the week and led five UMass Lowell track and field athletes to earn similar honors, the Conference announced Monday.

Thibou was named the NE-10 field athlete of the week while Oliver was named the men’s track athlete of the week. Additionally, Jeff Brighenti (Westminster, MA) and Lyra Clark (Nashua, NH) were named the track freshmen of the week while Cory Murray (Methuen, MA) was named the men’s field freshman of the week.

The UML women and men each placed fourth among 25 NCAA Division I, II and III schools, postgraduate clubs and Canadian Colleges.

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

Oliver helped guide UML to the 4X200 meter relay title (1:34.45) by running a 23.4-second split. He also ran a 51.3-second leg on UML’s 4X400 meter relay team which placed second (first among Division II-III schools) in 3:21.24.

Brighenti was equally integral as he ran a 23.6-second leg in the 4X200 and a 51.4 split in the 4X400.

Clark took sixth overall in the mile – second among Division II-III runners – with a time of 5:07.18.

Murray, who nearly qualified for the NCAA Championship, topped all collegiate thrower and placed third overall in the shot put with a distance of 51’ 6.25’’.