LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell distance runner Kaley Richards (Lowell, Mass.) was named the America East Female Track Performer of the Week after as strong showing in the 3,000-meters at the Beantown Challenge at Harvard on Saturday.

Richards finished third in the 3,000-meters and nearly matched her personal best in the event.  She clocked in with a time of nine-minutes, 51.38-seconds.  It was just three-tenths of a second off her personal best at the distance.  It is the fastest time posted this season by an America East athlete at that distance.

"She's really fit," according to UMass Lowell Track and Field Head Coach Garey Gardner.  "She's very talented; she's got a nice mix of speed and endurance.   And her confidence is growing, that had been the only thing that had been holding her back."

The Lowell native won a variety of state championships as a high school runner and has found success in distances ranging from one to five-thousand meters in her college career.  She also earned All-Conference in Cross Country this past fall. 

The River Hawks will compete Saturday January 19th at the Boston University Multi-Team Meet at the Track and Tennis Center.