PROVIDENCE, R.I.  –  Several strong performances highlighted the UMass Lowell Women's Track and Field team's season opener at the Alden Invitational at Brown University, Saturday afternoon, in Providence, R.I.

"This is like pre-season so we are very very pleased," said UMass Lowell Track and Field Head Coach Gary Gardner.  "We were just trying to get the kids acclimated to competition.  Those were very good performances but, there is still a lot to do, there is still a long way to go, but it was a good start."

The season opener also allows for the opportunity for surprises and freshman Celeste Pipia (Elmont, N.Y.) provided that surprise.  She finished third overall, second among collegiate competitors, in the shot put with a throw of 43-feet 7-inches.  That topped her previous personal best by more than three-feet.

"That's a pretty darn good start," said Gardner.  "Our expectations were for her to get to this point, but now?  You don't expect that and she was angry she didn't throw further."

Pipia is looking to fill the void left with the graduation of former America East Champion Candace Greene.

"That's a big hole to fill," said Gardner,  but that throw would have put her in the top four a year ago."

Senior Taelour Murphy (Salisbury, Mass.) finished third in the 60 meter dash crossing the finish line in a time of 7.86-seconds.

River Hawk freshmen grabbed second and third in the triple jump.  Kerstin Darsney (Rowley, Mass.) earned second with a hop, step and jump of 35-feet 10 3/4-inches.  Mary Lou Ryder was third leaping 35-feet 8 1/2-inches.

Junior Alana Kelley finished second in the high jump clearing the bar 5-feet 3 3/4-inches.

The River Hawks are back in action Saturday, December 13, at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston for the Jay Carisella Invitational before taking a couple of weeks off for finals and the winter break.