FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DANAHY, HAGSTROM NAMED BATES ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

LEWISTON, Maine -- Junior cross-country runner Mike Danahy of South Windsor, Conn., and sophomore volleyball player Kate Hagstrom of Portola, Calif., have been named the first Bates Athletes of the Week for the 1998-99 academic year.

Danahy helped the Bates men's cross-country team to a third-place finish at Tufts University's Hayseed Classic race in Grafton, Mass. Danahy posted his first collegiate win with a time of 26:52, establishing a new course record in the process. He broke the old record held by All-American Justin Freeman, Bates class of 1998. Danahy defeated three runners who finished in the top 10 at last year's NCAA Division III national championships. The Hayseed Classic field included three teams ranked in the National College Cross Country Coaches' Association (NCCCCA) top 25. No. 2 Brandeis University won the meet with 33 points, while No. 8 Tufts University was second with 52 points. Bates, unranked, placed third with 66 points, while No. 25 Cortland State was fourth with 96 points.

Hagstrom helped the Bates volleyball team to a tournament championship at the Trinity College Invitational in Hartford, Conn. A setter, Hagstrom was named Co-Player of the Week by the New England Small College Athletic Conferencer, averaging 8.2 assists and 1.2 aces per game as the Bobcats went 3-1 in the tournament. They defeated New York University, Trinity College and Wesleyan University three games to none and lost to Rutgers-Newark, 3-1. The Bobcats earned the tournament title by virtue of their 10-3 game record. Hagstrom posted six aces each against NYU and Rutgers-Newark and had 30 assists against Wesleyan. Hagstrom and teammate Carly Dell'Ova of Derry, N.H., were each named to the All-Tournament team. It was the first tournament win for Bates since 1995 and the 394th career match win for coach Marsha Graef, who is within reach of becoming the fourth coach in New England Division III history to win 400 matches.

Danahy is a 1996 graduate of South Windsor High School. He is the son of Peter and Pamela Danahy.

Hagstrom is a 1997 graduate of Portola Jr./Sr. High School She is the daughter of Jerrold and Julia Hagstrom.

Dell'Ova is a 1996 graduate of Pinkerton Academy. She is the daughter of Vincent and Karleen Dell'Ova.