River Hawks Make a Strong Showing at Tufts Winter Invitational

Saturday, January 17

Medford, Mass.

All Day

University of Massachusetts Lowell

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Full Results

Taelour Murphy wins at the Carisella Invitational

River Hawks Make a Strong Showing at Tufts Winter Invitational

1/18/2015 12:27:00 AM | Women's Cross Country/Track & Field

Medford, Mass. – River Hawk women grabbed two firsts on the track and one in the field as the UMass Lowell women's track and field team finished second overall, Saturday afternoon, at the Tufts Winter Invitational at the Gantcher Center in Medford.

"It was our last opportunity to get our younger kids involved and build their confidence before reality hits with the meat of the season," said Head Coach Gary Gardner. "It was a work out day for our more experienced athletes."

UMass Lowell women finished second in the 15 team field with 108 points. Stonehill took the top spot, Tufts finished third.

"We accomplished just about everything we set out to accomplish," said Gardner. "We hit just about everything on our check list, it sets us up well for the heart of the season."

Senior Taelour Murphy (Salisbury, Mass.) put together another solid performance winning the 60 meter dash in a time of 7.86-seconds. It was the second consecutive week that Murphy has been a winner at the distance. Senior teammate Shaniece Cola (Lowell, Mass.) finished third crossing the finish line in a time of 8.07.

Freshman Kathryn Loughnane (North Attleboro, Mass.) won the 800 meters in a time of two-minutes 24.32-seconds. Loughnane was one of three middle distance freshmen who impressed the coaches.

Freshman Alli Wood (Chelmsford, Mass.) finished second in the 1,000 meters in a time of 3:03.59 and freshman Marissa Richards (Lowell, Mass.) was fifth in the mile crossing the finish line in a time of 5:19.24.

"We were really pleased with all three," said Gardner. "They set personal bests. They are feeding off one another. When one sees the other compete well they step it up."

Junior Alana Kelley (Bellingham, Mass.) won the high jump clearing the bar at 5-foot, 3 3/4-inches.

"She's been really consistent," said Gardner. "She's been right around her personal best all year."

Freshman Celeste Pipia (Elmont, N.Y.) grabbed a couple of second place finishes. She earned a second place in the weight throw with a toss of 45-feet 1/4-inch. It was a personal best by three feet. She followed that with a throw of 39-feet 8 1/2-inches in the shot put, again good enough for a second place.

Freshman Kerstin Darsney (Rowley, Mass.) was not with her teammates at Tufts. She competed in the pentathlon, Friday, at the Harvard Multi Meet and Beantown Challenge and she turned in an eye opening performance.

Darsney finished fourth, in a field of 25, in the five event competition with 3,471 points. The score is the third best in UMass Lowell history. In putting those numbers together, Darsney won the high jump clearing the bar at five-feet, 6 1/2-inches and the long jump with a leap of 17-feet 9 1/2-inches.

She turned in solid performances in the 60 meter hurdles, the 800 meters and the shot put.

"She's going to be unbelievable," said Gardner. "She's the real deal and she's a real hard worker."

The River Hawks return to competition Thursday evening at the Boston University Multi Team Meet.