TRACK & FIELD NOTEBOOK
The University of Vermont track & field program returns from Winter Break for the 50th Dartmouth Relays, hosted by the Big Green at Leverone Field House Sunday (Jan. 13) in Hanover, New Hampshire.
 
Fans of the program can watch the Catamounts compete in one of the east coast's biggest indoor meets live on ESPN+ with coverage beginning at 11:50 a.m. To access the stream, viewers can subscribe to a free seven-day trial, followed by a subscription fee of $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, with the ability to cancel at any time.
 
RELATED LINKS
WATCH ($) – ESPN+, 11:50 a.m.
Meet Information | Meet Schedule
2018-19 Roster | 2018-19 Schedule
 
COACH'S QUOTE
"We're excited to head to the Dartmouth Relays to get an early semester test of our fitness and sharpness," said head coach Matt Belfield. "From our few days back, it looks as if our folks did their homework over the break. The indoor season goes quickly now so our attention to detail is critical. I do expect some outstanding marks, including some UVM top-10 all-time performances."

A LOOK AT THE HOSTS
The Dartmouth Big Green enter the annual relay after the women were victorious and the men finished second in the opening meet at Leverone Field House (Dec. 8). Nicole Deblasio won the 60m and 200m to headline the Big Green women while Donavan Spearman took first in the men's 60m and 200m. Last season, the women finished third (96 pts.) and the men placed fourth (71 pts.) in the indoor Ivy League Heptagonal Championship. Cha'Mia Rothwell earned Female Field Performer of the Meet and three All-Ivy League Performances in the championship. Justin Donawa and Benjamin Ose earned All-Ivy League Performances for the men in the triple jump and heptathlon, respectively. The Big Green men are currently ranked 93rd in the country by USTFCCCA while the women are 73rd in the national poll.
 
SEASON OPENER
The Catamounts kicked off the indoor season at Dartmouth (Dec. 8) against the hosts as well America East foes New Hampshire and Maine. The men (135 pts.) finished third while the women (103.5 pts.) placed fourth, but both squads saw strong individual performances. Blake Williams (500m), Taylor Kracher (800m), and John Benner (3000m) were individual winners in their respective men's races. On the women's side, Caroline O'Shea (mile), Lauren Trumble (3000m), and Marina Cannon (pole vault) each won an event.
 
BENNER RECOGNIZED BY AMERICA EAST
Prior to the month-long break, junior distance runner John Benner was named America East Male Track Performer of the Week (Dec. 11) for the first conference track & field award of his career. The Needham, Massachusetts native won the 3000m at Dartmouth (Dec. 8) with a personal-best time of 8:27.02. His converted time of 8:21.19 at Leverone Field House is the eighth fastest 3000m mark in the country.
 
2018-19 CAPTAINS
Seniors Will LaCroix, Justin Liechty, and Will Lynch are joined by juniors Dan DeBlieck and Shane O'Connor as captains for the men's team. Morgan Ferland, Anya Gorodentsev, Maggie Mahoney, and Lauren Trumble are senior captains for the women's track & field team along with junior Alex May Curtis.
 
INDOOR SEASON AT A GLANCE
After completing two meets at Dartmouth, the Cats travel to Middlebury (Jan. 19) and the Penn State National Invite (Jan. 25-26) in consecutive weeks. February brings a stretch of big meets with the New England Championships (Feb. 1-2) and the Valentine Invite (Feb. 8-9).
 
In total, the men and women will compete in nine meets before the America East Championship at the end of February.
 
NORTH COUNTRY ALL-COMERS
Another addition to the indoor season is the North Country All-Comers, hosted by the Catamounts at Gardner-Collins Indoor Track. The only home meet for Vermont takes place Sunday (Feb. 10) at 12 p.m. UVM last hosted an indoor meet in 2016.