‘Cats Head to America East Outdoor Championship

Saturday, May 4

Albany, N.Y.

10 AM

University of New Hampshire

America East Championships

Dani Gajewski

5/2/2019 2:41:00 PM | Women's Track & Field

2019 Outdoor Track Championship Central Live Video

New Hampshire looks to continue its outdoor success.

DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire women's track & field team returns to the America East Outdoor Championships this Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, at the University at Albany. The Wildcats return to the championships after finishing second in the team standings for the last three seasons.

In overall team score, the Wildcats find a little more success in the outdoor season with the outdoor-exclusive events. "We've been the runner-up in the outdoor championship three years in a row," says head coach Robert Hoppler. "The outdoor events, the outdoor throws, the 10,000, the steeple, have traditionally been good for us."

Those outdoor throwing events, the javelin and the discus, are two high points of UNH's season thusfar. "Looking at the seeds, certainly our strongest event point-wise is one of those outdoor events, the javelin throw," says Hoppler. "We have three people seeded in the top of the conference. Feeling pretty excited about their consistency and their ability and looking forward to what they'll be able to do this weekend." Those three athletes, junior Alyssa Colbert (Smithfield, R.I.), sophomore Lauren Quann (Pictou, Nova Scotia), and junior Natalie Howes (Londonderry, N.H.), all look to continue their season success this weekend in Albany. Colbert also competes in the discus throw, which she currently holds the school record for, at 148 feet, 4 inches. "Alyssa is ranked second going into the discus, and has an opportunity to score in the hammer as well. She really is a star in this program."

Along with the throws, the other strength for New Hampshire is, and has been, the distance and middle distance runners. "We have a long tradition of our distance and middle distance athletes being successful;" Hoppler says. "Indoors we scored in all the distance and middle distance events, and we feel like that's our goal for the outdoor season as well." Led by senior Shannon Murdock (Exeter, N.H.) and fifth-year Danielle Gajewski (Danville, N.H.), the Wildcats will look for key contributions from an experienced running core, which also includes seniors Jessica Hackett (Dover, N.H.) and Emileigh Glode (Boxborough, Mass.).

New Hampshire also looks to senior Sabrina Anderson (Hopewell, N.J.) to lead the way for the jumpers, as she's had a strong senior season in the pole vault, rounding out a group of upperclassmen looking to make one last impact on America East track and field. "Our upperclassmen who have been a part of those runner up teams now have an opportunity to finish at the top of their individual events." says Hoppler.

MEET INFO:
Date: Saturday, May 4 to Sunday, May 5
Start Times: Saturday – 10 A.M. | Sunday – 9 A.M.
Location: University Track & Field Complex – Albany, N.Y.

FROM THE COACH:
On the experience of the roster…
"Athletes like Gajewski, a fifth year senior, Gilmore another fifth year senior, Sabrina as a senior, Jess Hackett in the 400 and relays, Emiliegh Glode in the 400 hurdles and relays: all of them are returning scorers who have been a part of those runner up teams, and we're certainly looking forward to having them compete at a high level and finish up their UNH careers on a high note."
-Head Coach Robert Hoppler

-- unh --