LOWELL, Mass. – Two UMass Lowell National Champions, distance runner Nicole (Plante) Hunt and thrower Jacqui Barrett, have been selected for induction into the Northeast-10 Conference Hall of Fame.

The Conference made the announcement Monday night during its annual awards banquet.  In all nine inductees, including two teams, were named.  The inductees represented seven different institutions.  UMass Lowell and Bentley each had a pair.  The River Hawks competed as a member of the Northeast-10 Conference from 2000 to 2013 before joining America East and beginning the transition to Division I.  

"Nicole may be the most decorated female athlete in school history and Jacqui was an amazing athlete who could have been very good in just about any sport she chose," according to UMass Lowell Track and Field Head Coach Gary Gardner.  "They are two very deserving individuals of whom we are very proud."

Both Hunt and Barrett won NCAA National Championships in their specialties three years apart.  Hunt won the 10,000-meters in 2007 and Barrett was victorious in the shot put in 2010.

Hunt, a member of the Class of 2008, authored a remarkable career.  A nine-time All American, Hunt's senior year capped off a magnificent career with an exclamation point.  Hunt finished second at the NCAA Championships in cross country, second in the 5,000-meters indoors and outdoors and won the national title in the 10,000-meters outdoors. 

"That may be the best single year for anyone I've ever coached," said Gardner.  "Her work ethic made her great. She was not the most gifted athlete that we ever had. But her biggest gift was the ability to carry a high workload while staying injury-free."

In winning the 10,000-meters Hunt became UMass Lowell's first ever outdoor track and field National Champion.  She had been quoted at the time as saying "I could hear (Stacey Kandas's Grand Valley State coach) saying to her, 'You can still win this, you can still win this.' But I just thought no way am I letting her win."

Hunt was true to her word as she built a large lead during the final laps of the race and finished more than 30-seconds ahead of her nearest challenger.

Hunt still holds the UMass Lowell outdoor records in the 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000-meters.

Barrett, a two-time All American, saved her best performance for her final collegiate competition.  The 2010 graduate won the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Shot Put Championship with a school record toss of fifty-feet, 8.25-inches.  The throw broke the school record established by Heather Oldham at the NCAA Championships in 2003.

"When Heather Oldham graduated I was sure she would be the best shot putter the school would ever have," said Gardner.  "Then along came another Woburn High School product that grew every season until in her last meet senior year when she broke Heather's school record and won a national championship. Jacqui was an amazing athlete." 

"She was very athletic and had a quick release and she just oozed with potential,'' according to throws coach Barbara Smith. "I knew with the technical work I could do with her and with her natural ability, she could do big things. She improved so much from year to year it was only a matter of time. Not only were her throws getting stronger, but so was her confidence level."

Both Barrett and Hunt are members of the UMass Lowell Athletic Hall of Fame.  The thrower was inducted in 2017 and the runner in 2012.  Barrett was also honored in 2010 with the Cushing Award as UMass Lowell's top female athlete.  Hunt was the recipient of the Laurie Mann Award as the university's outstanding Student-Athlete.

The duo will be honored at a later date.