WATERVILLE, Maine – The University of Maine at Farmington women's track and field team was picked to finish third at this weekend's North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship, according to the Pre-Championship Poll released this afternoon by the conference office.
At last season's NAC Championship, the Beavers placed second with a total of 157 points. They return a large portion of their key contributors from that runner-up roster, including reigning NAC 400-meter hurdles champion Carrie Burr (Pittsfield, Maine) and junior Erica Johnson (Nobleboro, Maine), who scored 25 individual points at last year's championship.
Burr has been a standout all season and is expected to play a major role in the team's overall performance this weekend. She has qualified for the New England Championship in the heptathlon, showcasing her versatility across multiple events. Burr is currently the program's all-time leader in the 200-meter dash, heptathlon, 400-meter hurdles, and several indoor events.
Johnson will aim to replicate her outstanding performance from last year's NAC Championship, where she scored in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 100-meter hurdles, pole vault, and triple jump. During the indoor season, Johnson became the first UMF track and field athlete to earn USTFCCCA All-Region honors in indoor competition.
Johnson and Burr will be joined in the sprints by senior Cara Perry (Stoughton, Mass.) and junior Kennedy Todd (Scarborough, Maine). Perry placed fifth in the 100 meters and seventh in the long jump last year, while Todd finished fifth in the heptathlon.
Mid-distance and distance runners Lina Martinez Nocito (Mt. Vernon, Maine), Anna MacDonald, and Eve Poteet (Fair Hill, Maryland) will also play key roles in the Beavers' championship pursuit. MacDonald and Poteet have both qualified for the New England Championship this season—MacDonald in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Poteet in the 10,000 meters. MacDonald broke the program record in the steeplechase twice this season. Martinez Nocito has been a consistent contributor, competing in events ranging from the 400 meters to the 5,000 meters.
First-year Emma Syphers (Bangor, Maine) looks to continue her impressive debut season with strong performances in the jumping events. A two-time NAC Rookie of the Week honoree, Syphers holds the team's top marks in both the high jump and long jump.
Senior Kaitlyn Harmon-Bolding (Biddeford, Maine) will be a crucial presence in the throwing events this weekend. Harmon-Bolding leads the Beavers in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw this season. Last year, she scored in both the discus and hammer throw at the NAC Championship.
The event is scheduled to begin Friday afternoon with the pole vault and high jump competitions. The remainder of the events will take place on Saturday at Colby College.
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