The Track and Field season is upon us and UVM’s squad is bright for the year ahead. Coach Matt Belfield believes they have outstanding athletes in all events this year and the team will strive to build on the six athletes they sent to the NCAA’s last season.

Third-year Nika Ouellette enters the season with promise as the Second Team All-American scored the Catamounts first NCAA finals’ points in school history. She climbed the ranks and finished in the top eight nationally for Javelin last season.

This year, Ouellette has already finished fourth in the 86th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays. She managed the third best throw of her career at 48.20 meters, not far off from her career best and America East record 49.98 meters.

In the season first meet against Dartmouth and Umass Lowell senior Ethan McBrien ran away with the 5,000 meter-run. His time of 14:53 was 40 seconds better than any of his competitors. Coach Belfield described McBrien as an athlete to watch after the New Hampshire native received All-New England honors following his 2012 campaign.

The final victors in the meet were seniors Mary Krug and Tess Ehrlich, who both cleared 3.35 meters in the pole vault. They earned the Catamounts eight points in the meet.

The Catamount Open last weekend welcomed Dartmouth, Williams and Plattsburgh State. The UVM’s men team finished first with 78 points while the women finished second with 60. First-year Colby Cunningham set the pace with two victories on the day, one in the high jump and one in the broad jump. Later that day he was even seen jumping with joy.

The Catamounts boasted 12 first place finishers that da as well. In addition to Cunningham, first-year Steve Chevalier nailed the hammer throw, first-year Isaac De La Bruere took the javelin, junior Tyler Parent danced in the discus, junior Varpilah Chase won the triple jump, junior Nika Oulette also in the javelin, junior Yolanda Ngarambe paced the 800-meter, first-year Alicia Clark enured the 5000-meter, junior Valarie Moyer won the 3000-meter steeplechase, senior Ethan McBrien in the 1500-meter, first-year Ben Greenwald took the 400-meter, and first-year Aaron Anderstorm in the 3000-meter steeplechase.

The team travels to the Mason Invitational next weekend and we at the Cynic will keep you updated on the team’s and individual athlete’s accomplishments.