May 19, 2009

Sophomore Lauren Raimondi (East Longmeadow, MA), in the midst of a magnificent year, was named the East Region Field Athlete of the Year Monday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The honor was one of several bestowed upon the UMass Lowell program as Head Coach Gary Gardner was named the USTFCCCA Women's Coach of the Year while sprints coach Mike Ekstrand was named the East Region Assistant Coach of the Year.

Additionally, both the UMass Lowell women's and men's programs ranked 11th and 12th respectively in the USTFCCCA's Program of the Year Standings, based upon each team's finish at the NCAA cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field championships.

UMass Lowell is sending 10 athletes - eight individuals and one relay team - to the NCAA Championship Thursday through Saturday at Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX.

Highlighting UMass Lowell's women's contingent is Raimondi, who enters the high jump ranked sixth by virtue of the sixth-best leap in the country this season - 5 feet, 8.0 inches - achieved at Princeton's Larry Ellis Invitational on Apr. 18.

Raimondi's leap also falls two inches short of the school record of 5' 10.0'' - set by former standouts Jane Servi (1988) and Jill Croft (2001). It is also two inches shy of 2009 NCAA leaders Aisha Adams of Angelo State and Whitney Hendershot of Slippery Rock.

Raimondi also highlighted the season by winning the New England Championship in the high jump (5' 4.5'') and placing second in the 100 meter hurdles (14.37 seconds).

She also captured the high jump for the second straight year at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship and was named the NE-10 Athlete of the Meet.

"We are thrilled with what Lauren has done this year", said Gardner. "She is only a sophomore, and we feel that she is just now tapping into her potential. She has worked diligently in training everyday and it is paying off."

Ekstrand, in his 14th year coaching UMass Lowell's women's and men's sprinters, earned USTFCCCA Assistant Coach of the Year honors for second time in three years, earning the award for the first time in 2007.

During his time, Ekstrand has guided 18 men and women as well as 14 relay teams to All-America status, including standouts Doug Caves (Oxford, MA) and Andrew Grange (Methuen, MA), currently seeded eighth and 11th in the 400 meter dash.

Additionally, Caves and Grange lead UMass Lowell's sixth-seeded 4X400 meter relay team in the NCAAs, following a fifth-place showing in the NCAA indoors in March.

"You look at the number of All-American sprinters and relay teams we've had here since Mike came aboard and it speaks for itself," Gardner said. "He has been a full-time presence in our program. Our kids really respond to him."

Ekstrand is a resident of Chelmsford, MA.

Gardner's coaching honor is the latest in a long list over his seven years, and fourth major honor this season. In the cross country season, he was named the NE-10 and NCAA East Region Coach of the Year on the women's side after leading the UMass Lowell women and men to the team titles at both meets.

Additionally, he led the River Hawk men to the New England Championship - which consists of Division I, II and III schools - for the second time in three years.

Gardner was also named the NE-10 Women's Coach of the Year both for the indoor and outdoor seasons after leading the River Hawks to both titles.

"It is an honor to receive this from the USTFCCCA, but I receive it on behalf of our staff of Mike, Barbara Smith (throws coach) and Dayo Ibraheem (jumps/hurdles)," Gardner said. "They are equally responsible for the success we've had. I could not ask for a better staff."

A native of North Attleboro, MA, Gardner lives in Auburn, MA.