BOSTON, Mass. – The UMass Lowell indoor track and field team traveled to the TRACK at new balance on Saturday, competing in day two of the River Hawk invitational. This day consisted of just the women's squad. 

"The women had a nice day today with a handful of really great performances," said Head Coach Gary Gardner. "It was great to see Grasso have a breakthrough in the hurdles, and Nia herself had two great races, along with many other quality performances. Another successful day at the TRACK at new balance! "

Graduate student Alexandria Grasso (North Reading, Mass.) kicked it off in the 60m hurdles preliminary, finishing in first place to qualify for finals with a time of 8.57, a new personal best. Senior Fleur Balogh De Galantha (Grafton, Mass.) competed in the 60m hurdles preliminary, posting a personal best at a time of 9.36, finishing in 20th place. Another personal best came from freshman Chloe Champagne (Brockton, Mass.) after crossing the line in the 60m hurdles preliminary at 9.85 for 39th. Grasso went on to qualify for the 60m dash finals as well, earning another personal best, when she claimed seventh place with a 7.91 mark. In the finals of the 60m hurdles, Grasso continued to shine, finishing second overall with a time of 8.75. 

In the mile run, six River Hawks competed, as junior Mary-Kate Finn (Nashua, N.H.) led the way, running unattached and taking second place with a 4:50.15 mark. Freshman Georgia Brooks (Groton, Mass.) was next in 37th place with a time of 5:15.49, while junior Miana Caraballo (Methuen, Mass.) was less than a second behind her in 38th with a 5:16.27 mark. Sophomore Emma Eagan (Danvers, Mass.) (63rd, 5:27.93), junior Mia Jones (Blacksburg, Va.) (65th, 5:29.65) and freshman Selena Wood (Abington, Mass.) (75th, 5:33.47) also competed in the mile for the squad.

In the 400m dash invitational, sophomore Bridget Geary (Lowell, Mass.) was the single runner for the River Hawks, crossing the line at 1:05.45 for 41st. 

Freshman Anya Neira (Methuen, Mass.) soared her way to a fourth-place finish in the 400m dash open as the only UMass Lowell runner, clocking in at a time of 1:03.04. 

The 500m run followed, with junior Nia Mainer-Smith (Taunton, Mass.) taking charge and leading the way for the River Hawks, crossing the line for a fifth-place finish with a new personal best, at 1:15.80. Next came graduate student Rachel Thomas (Perry Hall, Md.) cruising on the track, claiming 14th at a time of 1:18.47 and sophomore Emily Burdick (Billerica, Mass.), in the near, claimed a new personal best at 1:20.22 for 17th. Sophomore Katharine Cottone (Little Falls, N.J.) obtained 22nd place after posting a time of 1:21.65. Freshman Brianna Phelan (Billerica, Mass.) and freshman Isabel McIntrye (Dover, N.H) competed in the 500m run as well.

Freshman Brenna Corcoran (Haverhill, Mass.) was one of two runners for UMass Lowell in the 800m run, overall claiming 23rd with a time of 2:20.94, adding a new personal best. Also running in the event was freshman Alyssa Fiorino (Billerica, Mass.).

Another lone River Hawk runner took the track, in the 1000m run, where junior Kylie Maron (Baldwinville, Mass.) broke the finish line at 3:14.43, taking 37th.

Freshman Amelia Stebe (Honolulu, Hawaii) made her presence known in the 200m dash open, when she clocked in at a 25.99 time, finishing in 13th place. Following, junior Danielle Thompson (Groton, Mass.) was next to dash past the line, claiming 39th at 26.55. Freshman Meredith Feener (Walpole, Mass.) also competed in the 200m dash open. 

The 3000m run was preceded by freshman Lauren Long (Lunenburg, Mass.) after obtaining a new personal best when posting a time of 10:29.39, taking 21st. Following behind, senior Kaitlyn Stevens (Oxford, Mass.) (11:09.34) and freshman Haley Evans (Glastonbury, Conn.) (11:20.17) also recorded personal best runs in the event. 

UMass Lowell flew in the 4x400m relay, claiming the top spot for their heat. The River Hawks would end up placing in fourth overall, posting a time of 3:58.94. The relay team consisted of Burdick, Mainer-Smith, Thompson, and Cottone. 

The last running event for the day and the River Hawk Invitational was the 5000m run, where sophomore Lena Takahashi (Holden, Mass.) ran alone, finishing in 29th at a new personal best of 19:57.27. 

Two River Hawks made up the few throwers in the weight throw event, with senior Arlene Davila (Peabody, Mass.) tossing for a 14.45m mark, taking 21st place. Junior Julia Loescher (Peabody, Mass.) threw in the event as well.

The next field event was the long jump, where Balogh De Galantha hopped to a 5.05m mark, claiming 22nd. Senior Olamide Bamgbose (Fitchburg, Mass.) also jumped in the event.

The pole vault event was consumed with several UMass Lowell vaulters as sophomore Úna Brice (Cork, Ireland) led the bunch, raising herself to a 3.25m mark, tying for 19th. Senior Jules Gravier (Bronxville, N.Y.) elevated to a 3.25m mark for 26th place and freshman Jaden Kasule (Tewksbury, Mass.) posted a 3.10m mark for a new personal best, taking 36th. Also competing in the pole vault event was senior Madison Sanchez (Amesbury, Mass.). 

Showing off her acrobatic skills, freshman Avery Pitts (Willington, Conn.)  earned a top six mark in the high jump, after jumping for a 1.60m mark, tying for sixth place. Champagne and junior Paige Murphy (Billerica, Mass.) both rose for 1.40m marks, with Champagne in 45th, while Murphy took 48th place.

The shot put event was led by sophomore Nhyira Nkansah (Chelmsford, Mass.) , after throwing a 10.95m mark for 26th place. Davila also threw in the event

Grasso added to her impressive performance by posting a fourth-place finish in the triple jump event, at a mark of 11.49m. Sophomore Nethica Auguste (Bridgewater, Mass.) leaped for a 10.61m mark, claiming 14th.  

UMass Lowell will look to travel back to the Track and Tennis Center for the Terrier Invitational, hosted by Boston University, on Friday, January 31, and Saturday, February 1.