First-year sprinter Zarah Singleton made history with the University of Rhode Island women’s track and field team by finishing with a program-best time of 8.39 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship.
Singleton’s time was a personal record as well as a meet record, adding 10 points to her team’s tally, which contributed to URI’s highest finish since the 2016 A-10 Indoor Championship.
It was not the ideal high school experience for Singleton, who attended school overseas, leaving her limited options for schools in the United States. She joined the Scholar Champion Athlete recruitment program, where she first connected with head coach Laurie Feit-Melnick and got a taste for the school.
“I really liked what the school had to offer,” Singleton said. “The track team was very appealing to me. Not only that, but academically as well. At the end of the day, it was a no-brainer, and I ended up picking URI.”
A major in international studies and diplomacy and French, Singleton’s relationship with the entire coaching staff has grown beyond a coach-athlete bond.
“ I feel like I’ve been able to connect with Coach as well as the team on the level that I haven’t been able to before in any of those other sports that I played in high school,” Singleton said. “[When] it comes to the coaches, they’re like second parents to me. They really like to take care of me, not just athletically, but also my personal life.”
Additionally, Singleton’s relationships with her teammates were described as a “sisterhood,” with an upperclassmen-dominated roster.
Starting her debut season with a win in the 60-meter hurdles at the URI Tri-Meet with the University of New Hampshire and Stonehill College on Dec. 5, 2025, Singleton continued to build up her resumé until her gold medal finish in the A-10 Indoor Championship.
“ To see that all my hard work, all those indoor competitions, from all the practice, from all the blood, sweat, literal tears that went into this, I really felt a really proud moment,” Singleton said. “To see that time was really a relief and a sense of overwhelming joy for me because I was finally able to achieve what I knew that I was capable of achieving.”
Following the finish, Singleton was named to the A-10 Indoor All-Rookie Team.
“She’s part of a very young group that’s having an impact,” URI assistant coach John Melnick said. “There are no guarantees in our sport: it comes down to the given day, but we’re excited about the [A-10] outdoor championship coming this weekend and I think she’s in good form.”
Looking to put out another successful performance in the A-10 Outdoor Championship, this is still just the beginning of Singleton’s career.
“We’re looking to continue to develop both aspects of her talent,” Melnick said. “One really influences the other. There’s no event in track and field where it could be too fast. Hopefully, we can see her at the NCAA-level competition soon. I think that would be a good performance goal and that kind of exposure early can pay dividends.”
Singleton and the Rams will compete in day one of the A-10 Outdoor Championship on Saturday in Fairfax, Va., at 10 a.m.
