ECAC/IC4A Results | New England Championships

PRINCETON, N.J. – UMass Lowell sophomore Kaley Richards (Lowell, Mass.) grabbed the spotlight as she ran away from the pack on the Weaver Stadium track, Saturday afternoon, and won the 3,000-meters at the ECAC/IC4A Championships.

"Before the race I told to forget about times and run to win," said UMass Lowell Head Coach Gary Gardner.  "She's a strong runner, doesn't have a weakness, and got the job done."

Richards won the nearly two mile long race with a personal best time of nine-minutes, 51.05-seconds.  She was one of just five runners to complete the seven and a half laps in under ten-minutes and was more than three-seconds ahead of her nearest challenger.

"She's a very versatile runner," according to Gardner.  "She can run anything from middle distance on up.  She can do anything."

Richards has competed in everything from the 800 to 3,000-meters and run cross country in her first two years as a River Hawk.

"She's an excellent competitor," said Gardner.

That competitiveness shown brightly as she ran with the lead pack through the middle stages of the race before taking the lead with about 500-meters to go.  After that she widened the gap between her and the rest of the field.

It's a split squad weekend for the River Hawks.  Some competed at the ECAC/IC4A championships in Princeton, N.J. while others were on the track 315-miles to the north at the New England Championships in Hanover, N.H.

Sophomore distance runner Harry Maloy (Pepperell, Mass.) turned in a solid 1,500-meters.  He clocked in at 3:52.08.  It was good for fourth place.

"It's been an up and down season for him," according to Gardner.  "This was a nice way to finish out the year.  He finished on a high note."

Senior Timothy Poitras (Dracut, Mass.) turned in a personal best in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.  He posted a time of 9:31.64.  It earned him a fourth place finish in his section and 19th position overall.

"He's always been the kid that works the hardest," said Gardner.  "I'll hate to see him go; he's worked really hard."

It was the fourth consecutive steeplechase in which Poitras has set a personal record.  In the process he has shaved some 19-seconds off his personal best during the outdoor season.  Acknowledging the hard work, his teammates presented him with an ice cream cake during practice last week.

Saturday's competition wrapped up the New England Championships.  The ECAC/IC4A championships will conclude on Sunday.