Vermont Track & Field Shines at River City Relays
Alexander’s performance marked her second-best throw ever and continues a streak of opening meet victories. The River City Relays saw strong showings from several Catamounts, signaling a promising start to the outdoor season.
Key Performances from the Weekend
- Rachel Barba: Competed in both the women’s 1500m and 800m runs, finishing seventh in the 1500m with a time of 4:43.85 and 18th in the 800m at 2:23.23.
- Eli Lammi: Secured a second-place finish in the men’s discus throw with a 45.91m toss in his 2026 debut.
- Emma Wapshare: Also claimed second place, narrowly edging out third place by just .01m with a javelin throw of 43.99m.
- Adriana Rodriguez: Finished fourth in the women’s discus throw with a 32.28m throw.
Alexander’s Continued Success
This victory builds on Samantha Alexander’s already impressive track and field career. Prior to joining UVM, the Jericho, Vermont native was a two-time state champion in discus and captained her high school track team in 2023. She also holds her high school records for women’s discus.
Coach Belfield’s Perspective
Head Coach Matt Belfield expressed encouragement regarding the team’s initial performances. “We started our outdoor season with some very encouraging performances,” he stated. “Sam’s victory was her second-best ever throw and got her a third consecutive opening meet victory. Eli and Emma were also very quality in the debuts. Rachel had a solid 1500 last night, despite fighting off illness this week.”
Looking Ahead: D’Amour Invitational
The Vermont Track and Field team will next compete at the D’Amour Invitational hosted by UMass Lowell on Friday, March 27. Competition is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.
FAQ
Q: Where did the River City Relays grab place?
A: UNF-Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Q: What was Samantha Alexander’s winning throw distance?
A: 42.23m.
Q: When is the next meet for the Vermont Track and Field team?
A: Friday, March 27 at the D’Amour Invitational hosted by UMass Lowell.
For news and updates about the Vermont Track and Field program, follow @UVMtrackxc on Instagram, X, and Facebook, and visit UVMathletics.com
