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As the culmination of a Hall of Fame career, University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Jackie Barrett competed in the U.S. Collegiate Shot Put Championships in 2010, the crowning achievement for the two-time All-American during her time with the Riverhawks.
On May 29, 2010, Barrett saved his career-best throw for his final collegiate meet at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Johnson C. Smith University’s Irwin Belk Complex. His second throw of the day was 50 feet, 8.25 inches, breaking the school record and marking the first time Barrett had thrown over 50 feet in his career, winning the national title.
“After my first throw, I knew I had what it took to make the finals,” Barrett recalled shortly after winning the NCAA title. “I knew in my mind I was in the finals and I just had to put it together…. I knew how the other girls were throwing, but no one wanted to make the finals more than I did.”
Barrett becomes the third national champion in the history of the University of Massachusetts Lowell women’s track and field program and the third individual champion in NE10 history. Prior to Barrett, the only other NE10 student-athletes to win national titles in track and field were Southern Connecticut’s Katima Rietti and University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Nicole (Plant) Hunt.
During her outstanding senior season, Barrett was named the NCAA Eastern Region Indoor Field Athlete of the Year and finished runner-up in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She was a three-time All-New England selection during her time at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
She finished her career holding four NE10 records in the shot put and being a four-time league champion. Barrett’s throw of 15.21 meters remains the league record in the shot put at the NE10 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Barrett was inducted into the NE10 Hall of Fame in 2019 along with teammate Nicole (Plant) Hunt, who won NCAA titles together during their senior seasons.
Jackie Barrett’s featured links:
