March 8, 2010

Jacqui Barrett, a senior shotputter from Woburn, MA, was named the East Region Female Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The honor is the latest in what has been a special season for Barrett, who is one of six individuals and three relay teams to compete at the NCAA Championship next Friday and Saturday, Mar. 12-13, in Albuquerque, NM.

Barrett is fresh off earning All-New England honors for the fifth time last week at the New England Championship, where she placed second in the shot put with a career-best throw of 48 feet, 11.5 inches. The throw, the fourth-longest distance in the country this season, catapulted her to the fourth seed for the NCAA Championship.

“Barbara (Smith, UMass Lowell’s throws coach) has done a great job with Jacqui over the last four years,” said UML Head Coach Gary Gardner. “This year, everything has really come together. Jacqui is throwing as far and as consistent as anyone in the country. This has been a spectacular season for her.”

Barrett’s throw also marked the sixth time this season she exceeded her personal-best distance. She opened the season at the Northeastern Husky Carnival with a career-best toss of 45’ 3.75 and steadily increased each week to 48’ 11.5’’, hitting the automatic qualifying mark four times.

Earlier this season, Barrett won her second straight Northeast-10 Conference indoor shot put title (fourth including the outdoor championships) with a throw of 47’ 7.25’’.

A former standout at Woburn H.S., Barrett is the daughter of Edward Barrett of Woburn, MA, and Carlene Strangeways of Woburn, MA.