CAMBRIDGE, MASS.: Fall River’s Bridget Deveau is a record-breaker.
The junior at University of Massachusetts broke an almost 20-year-old UMass women’s track-and-field record—which set a new personal record for the Lockview High alumnus—winning the Harvard Multi-Meet on Jan. 13.
Deveau—one of three daughters to Danielle and Kevin Deveau—won the competition with 3,820 points, surpassing the UMass record of 3,658 points set by Andrea Comeau in 1999.
“It’s pretty exciting,” said Deveau from UMass in a FaceTime interview with The Laker on Jan. 17. “It wasn’t expected. My goal wasn’t to break a record. It was just a great meet. All my events felt really good.
“It was just one of those days that went well and came together in the end. I knew it was in sight and attainable, but it was a pleasant surprise at the end of the day to see that happen.”
Deveau began the day’s action by racing to first in 60 metre hurdles with a time of 9.17 seconds for 875 points, improving on her No. 5 all-time mark in the program record book.
She also won shot put with a toss of 40-feet, 11.75 inches for 694 points. Deveau took the top spot in long jump at 17 feet, 9.75 inches for 680 points and capped off the day’s action by landing first in the 800m at 2:15.75.
It’s her fourth year at UMass, although only third year competing. She was injured last year so took it off. She is going back next year for a fourth and final year of competition.
Deveau said to see her name in the record books at no. one reaffirms to her that all the hard work and dedication has been worth it.
“It just feels really good to achieve that and do it for my school, which I love,” Deveau said.
She said the win didn’t come easy.
“There have definitely been some bumps in the road over the years with injuries and things, it’s nice to see something come together and all the work pay off,” she said.
With the taste of a win now in her back pocket, Deveau wants more.
“Right now we’re gearing up for our conference championships which are on Feb. 17, for indoor,” she said. “My goal is to win that because I’ve never gotten a gold medal yet at one of them. That’s where my short-term focus is right now.”