FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: February 18, 2008

Men’s Track and Field

Track Athlete of the Week:

Curtis Wheeler (Derby, Vt.), Senior, University of Southern Maine

Wheeler won the 1,000 and 3,000 meters titles this past weekend at the Little East Conference/New England Alliance Championships. The Derby, Vt. product crossed the finish line in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:32.41, while also claiming the 3,000 meters championship with a time of 8:50.06. Southern Maine placed second in the 11-team standings with 131.50 points.

Field Athlete of the Week:

Bryan Kolacz (Brentwood, N.H.), Freshman, Keene State College

Kolacz won two individual championships this past weekend at the Little East Conference/New England Alliance Championships. The native of Brentwood, N.H. claimed the shot put title with a throw of 13.45 meters and the weight throw with a toss of 15.40 meters. He was the lone student-athlete in the championships to win two field events. Keene State College won both team championships with 140 team points.

Women’s Track and Field

Track Athlete of the Week:

Hattie Landry (Acton, Maine), Senior, University of Southern Maine

Landry did yeoman duty for Southern Maine at the Little East Conference/New England Alliance Championships, earning a first, second, third, and fourth place finish to score 29 points. The Acton, Maine native took the top spot in the 55-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in first place with a school and meet record time of 8.54 seconds. She broke the school record of 8.60 seconds set by Rebecca Reed in February 1999. Landry placed fourth in the 200 (27.28), third in the long jump (4.93 meters), second in the 55-meter dash (7.55). Southern Maine won the championship with 196.50 points.

Field Athlete of the Week:

Emily Poliquin (Lisbon Falls, Maine), Junior, University of Southern Maine

Poliquin earned one of two first place finishes for Southern Maine in field events. She captured the triple jump with a leap of 10.80 meters (35-5 ¼), while taking second in the long jump with a distance of 4.95 meters (16-2 ¾).