UMass women’s track and field graduates ready for U.S. Olympic qualifiers

EUGENE, Ore. – University of Massachusetts track and field graduates Lisa Wilson (2010 grad) and Heather MacLean (2017 grad, 2019G) are ready for the U.S. Olympic Team Qualifiers, which begin Friday, June 21, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

Wilson, who still holds the UMass hammer throw record, currently remains in the top eight all-time in the indoor shot put (fourth), weight throw (second), outdoor shot put (second) and discus (second). The three-time NCAA Regional qualifier, New England and Atlantic 10 champion was entered into the hammer throw event with a throw of 67.23m.

The qualifying round will take place on Friday, June 21st at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The finals will take place on Sunday, June 23rd at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Action on both days will be broadcast on Peacock.

MacLean, who reached the semifinals of the 1,500 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, will compete again for a spot on Team USA in the event in 2024. Round 1 of the 1,500-meter race will take place on Thursday, June 27 at 8:23 a.m. Eastern Time, while the semifinals are scheduled for Friday, June 28 at 8:58 a.m. Eastern Time and the finals will start on Sunday, June 30 at 8:09 p.m. Eastern Time. Round 1 and the finals will air on NBC, while the semifinal race will be broadcast on USA Network.

MacLean capped her collegiate career in 2018 with her third All-America honor after reaching the NCAA outdoor semifinals in the 800-meter run. A top-30 NCAA Woman of the Year finalist, she won two gold medals and set a meet record by earning Most Outstanding Track and Field Athlete honors at the 2018 A-10 Outdoor Championships. In her final season competing in cross country in 2017, MacLean became the first UMass All-American in cross country after placing 26th at the NCAA Championships. She also won her second consecutive Atlantic 10 individual cross country title and captured an individual title at the 2017 New England Championships.


In addition to being a three-time All-American (2016 mile, 2017 cross country, 2018 outdoor 800m), MacLean has qualified for the NCAA Outdoor East Preliminary four times in a career that spanned five seasons with the Minutewomen. On the track, she was an eight-time New England champion and a 10-time Atlantic 10 champion.