LOWELL, MA (Jan. 28, 2008) – UMass Lowell’s Stephen DeWitt, a graduate student from Ellsworth, ME, was named the Northeast-10 Conference Men’s Track Athlete of the Week and led three teammates to similar honors following a host of stellar efforts at the Boston University Terrier Invitational.

Freshman Lyra Clark (Nashua, NH) was named the NE-10 Women’s Track Freshman of the Week for the third straight week while Johan Rafael (Lawrence, MA) earned Men’s Track Freshman of the Week and Cory Murray (Methuen, MA) Field Freshman Athlete of the Week honors.

DeWitt and Clark each eclipsed school records in the mile at the Invitational. DeWitt placed sixth overall in the mile – second among collegiate runners – in 4:06.53, the fastest time in Division II this season.

DeWitt, who automatically earns a spot at the NCAA Championship, edged the previous school record of 4:06.54 set by former standout Patrick Morasse in 2005.

Clark placed 13th overall and tops among Division II-III runners with a time of 5:05.30, pitting her fifth in the country and a provisional qualifier for the NCAAs. Clark bested the former school record of 5:07.04 set by senior Amanda Sousa in 2006.

Rafael shined in two events, placing 10th overall and third among Division II-III entries in the 200 meter dash with a time of 22.18 seconds. He also ran a 49.6-second leg on UML’s 4X400 meter relay team which took ninth overall and tops among Division II-III foursomes in 3:19.71.

Murray placed second overall in the shot put with a throw of 50’ 5.25’’, placing behind only Jan Bicanic of the host Terriers (50’ 11.5’’)

UML enters the New Balance College Invitational Friday and Saturday at the New York City Armory.