July 8, 2009
Juniors Haley Catarius (Marshfield, MA) and Jacqui Barrett (Woburn, MA) were among four UMass Lowell student-athletes were named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II All-Academic Team, released Wednesday.
Catarius and Barrett both repeated the honor from last year and joined senior Sarah Brassard (Oxford, MA), a two-time recipient who was last honored in 2007, and sophomore Lauren Raimondi (East Longmeadow, MA), who is making her first appearance.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, student-athletes must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met the NCAA Division II Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.
Additionally, UMass Lowell was one of five Northeast-10 Conference and NCAA East Region institutions named among the USTFCCCA’s Division II All-Academic Track & Field Teams. Collectively, the River Hawks have compiled a team grade point average of 3.112.
The USTFCCCA honors are the latest of a handful for UMass Lowell’s foursome, as each recently earned a spot on the NE-10 All-Academic Track & Field Teams, announced on June 25.
Catarius, who maintains a 3.39 grade point average in exercise physiology, earned All-American honors twice this year, placing seventh in the outdoor 800 meters (2:15.70); and sixth in the indoor distance medley relay (11:57.90).
She also earned All-New England honors in the 800 (eighth, 2:16.27) and the 4X400 meter relay (fifth, 3:52.63), and was named the NE-10 Indoor Championship Most Valuable Athlete after she captured the 500 meters and 4X400 meter relay.
A shot putter, Barrett also enjoyed a special year highlighted by her qualification in the NCAA championship at which she placed 15th with a throw of 43’ 5.0’’.
Previously, Barrett won the NE-10 outdoor title with a throw of 47’ 4.25’’ and copped All-New England honors twice by placing fourth indoors (45’ 2.5’’) and third outdoors (44’ 10.75’’).
A liberal arts major, Barrett has maintained a 3.51 average.
Brassard, UMass Lowell’s 2009 recipient of the Laurie Mann Award for Female Student-Athlete of the Year, has won several academic plaudits this season. An exercise physiology major, she graduated with a 3.79 average and also earned USTFCCCA Academic honors following a splendid cross country season.
Brassard highlighted the outdoor track and field season by qualifying for the NCAA Championship in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, placing 11th in 11:37.75. She also earned All-American honors at the NCAA indoors, helping the distance medley relay team to sixth place in 11:57.90.
Raimondi enjoyed a breakout sophomore year as she captured the New England Championship in the high jump (5’ 4.5’’) and earned All-New England honors in the 100 meter hurdles (2nd, 14.37) and the indoor 55 meter hurdles (fourth, 8.41).
Raimondi advanced to the NCAA outdoor championship in the high jump, placing in a tie for 13th (5’ 4.5’’). Earlier in the year, she captured four NE-10 titles: the indoor and outdoor high jump, outdoor 100 meter hurdles and 4X400 meter relay.
Majoring in fine arts/graphic design, Raimondi has maintained a 3.69 average.
