DURHAM, NH (May 9, 2008) – Junior Rex Radloff (Dedham, MA) placed second overall and captured All-New England honors in the 5,000 meters to highlight the UMass Lowell men and women’s track and field teams on the first day of the New England Championship Friday at the University of New Hampshire’s Atkins Track.

Radloff, who placed first among Division II and III athletes, posted a time of 14:23.31 and placed second by under a second to Nicolai Naranjo of UMass Amherst (14:22.57).

Radloff’s time also improved his standing on the NCAA Division II Championship qualifying list from 21st to 17th, likely sealing his place in the NCAA Championship.

Additionally, sophomore Robert Liekweg (Salem, NH) won the preliminary of the 400 meter hurdles in 53.43 seconds and was one of four River Hawks to qualify for the finals Saturday.

Radloff was one of four River Hawk men and women to earn All-New England honors as senior Terry Young (Mansfield, MA) placed fifth in the long jump with a distance of 22 feet, 9.25 inches. The effort marked the second time in as many years he earned All-New England status.

Juniors Jason DeDonato (Nashua, NH) and Ruben Sanca (Boston, MA) also earned All-New England honors. DeDonato placed seventh in the 10,000 meters in 31:19.23 while Sanca took seventh in the 5,000 meters in 14:51.13.

On the women’s side, freshman Shanika Pitts (Easton, MA) placed third in the 100 meter dash preliminary in 12.22 seconds, just behind Symone Wong of Southern Connecticut (12.14) and Tiffany Reid of Holy Cross (12.20), to earn a berth in Saturday’s final.

Senior Tristin Johnson (Pittsfield, MA) will move on in the 200 meter dash as she placed eighth in the preliminary race in 25.30.

Freshman Sam Bastien (Canton, MA) took fifth in the men’s 200 meter dash in 21.86 seconds to secure a place in Saturday’s final.