The University of Vermont men’s and women’s track and field teams traveled to Fairfax, Va. April 13, to compete against more than 1,200 student athletes from 37 schools.

The participants converged at George Mason Stadium for the Mason Spring Invitational.

The highlight of the sunny afternoon for the Catamounts came when Junior Nika Ouellette convincingly won the women’s javelin with her throw of 47.71 meters, surpassing the next best distance by nearly three meters.

Ouellette looked to defend her consecutive titles as America East Field Performer of the Week by posting her fourth furthest mark of her career [best was 49.98 meters].

This was also Ouellette’s second best throw of the early season which traveled slightly shy of her 48.20 meter toss at the Texas Relays in Austin, Tx.

In other throwing events, Junior Charlotte Mintzer threw for 46.44 meters, which earned her the sixth overall position for the women’s hammer throw.

Senior Mary Krug placed seventh in pole vault by clearing a total height of 3.60 meters. Cassie Marion finished 11th overall in the triple jump with a distance of 11.12 meters.

For the track events, UVM had one top-5 finisher and two top-10 finishers. Junior Valerie Moyer returned to her home state of Virginia and finished the 3000-meter event with a time of 11:09.44, earning her the fourth best time in her event.

In the 5000-meter event, first-year Abby Hurd recorded the seventh best mark with a time of 17:40.94, while senior Sarah Bryan captured eighth place, finishing slightly behind Hurd with a time of 17:49.75.

Junior Tess Cioffredi placed 13th in the 400-meter dash with her time of 1:03.24.

For the men’s events, first-year Ed Simon cleared 4.45 meters pole vaulting which created a tie for ninth place.

In the high jump, first-year Colby Cunningham and junior Aaron Tenney both managed to clear a height of 1.94 meters, landing both the Vermont natives in a tie of 10th position.

Elsewhere in the men’s jumping events, senior Dan Ciabattoni lept 6.49 meters and finished in a tie for 13th in the long jump.

First-year Isaac de la Bruere threw the javelin 52.42 meters, earning him 11th overall in the competition.

On the track, senior Mitchell Switzer jumped the 400-meter hurdles for the first time in the outdoor season and earned himself a ninth place finish for completing the event in 54.53 seconds.

First-year Ben Greenwald ran the 400-meter dash in 49.01 seconds and placed 14th overall. Junior Aaron Szotka ran his 5000-meter race in 15:07.25 and placed 15th in the event.

The Catamounts are now focusing on their upcoming competitions this weekend.

A number of UVM athletes will prepare to travel to Walnut, Calif for the Mt. San Antonio College relays which will commence on Thursday (April 18), and Friday (April 19), followed by the Beach Invitational on Saturday (April 20).

The remainder of the UVM men’s and women’s track and field team will compete in the Stony Brook and Middlebury Invitationals on Saturday.