Mariah Claudio: Record-Breaker

The University of Rhode Island’s women’s track and field program has enjoyed success in recent history and a main contributor to the prosperity is senior sprinter and native of Brooklyn, New York, Mariah Claudio, who broke her fourth school record this past weekend.

Claudio received Atlantic 10 Women’s Co-Performer of the week honors on Tuesday, which she shares with the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Heather MacLean for their performances during this past weekend’s Terrier Classic at Boston University. During the meet Claudio accomplished a feat she did not believe was attainable when she broke the previous URI record (1:13.99, Lauren Burke) for the indoor 500-meter sprint in a time of 1:12.91.

Besides setting the record for the indoor 500-meter dash, Claudio also holds URI records for the indoor 300 and 400-meters, and the outdoor 400-meters.

“Among the other records I have set here, the 500-meter record this weekend is definitely near the top of my list, mostly because I did not think I would be capable in setting a school record for anything over 400 meters, as I do not usually sprint more than that,” Claudio said.

With all of the career success Claudio has enjoyed in her four years as a URI student athlete, she believes that she is in the prime of her collegiate career,which follows an illustrious high school track and field career at St. John Villa Academy in Staten Island, where Claudio set an impressive array of high school and local track and field records.

“I feel this is the best I have ever run in my life and I have been running since I was in first grade,” Claudio said. “Never did I believe my ability would peak in college following the successful high school career I had. That is all credit to my coaches and teammates, who push me to work hard every day.”

Even with Claudio’s role as a major component during her time at URI, she remains humbled by those around her. Claudio’s coaching staff and teammates have been the driving force behind the program’s individual and team success, both indoor and outdoor.

“I’ve learned a lot from the coaching staff and teammates I have here,” Claudio said. “So many of us have been exceptional during this indoor season. Seemingly every meet, my fellow teammates and I continue to finish with improved times, even with the amount of injuries we are currently overcoming.”

The URI women’s track and field team hosts the Coaches Tribute Meet this upcoming

Saturday, Feb. 6th at the Mackal Field House indoor track where they will look to continue to progress towards their seasonal achievements.

“We all just want to keep improving and see the level of success we bring to our program in the process,” Claudio said. “Our goal is always to be atop our conference while winning every meet we compete in.”