PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Paige Hurst (Pelham, N.H.) earned recognition as the Plymouth State University Female Athlete of the Month for January, sponsored by the New Hampshire Army National Guard, through her stellar efforts on the track.
 
Hurst nabbed five podium finishes through the campaign in the sprints and brought the Panthers to three top-three team finishes.
 
Hurst jumpstarted her month at the Middlebury Snowflake Invitational on Jan. 11 when she finished second in the 60-meter dash in 8.13 seconds. She followed up with her first win of the month by topping the field in the 200-meters in 26.83.
 
Hurst carried her speed into the following weekend at home for the Panther Invitational I. She cruised in the 60-meters once again, taking second in the finals in 8.15 seconds. She also ran the anchor leg of the Panthers' 4x200-meter relay that took second in 1:50.47.
 
Hurst showed off some range as she moved up into the 400-meters at the Husky Invitational at Southern Maine on Jan. 25, winning the event in a time of 1:02.11. Once again, she took the final leg of the 4x200-meter relay, this time finishing sixth in 1:52.97.
 
Hurst ranks among the top 25 in the East Region for all three events and has reached the qualifying standards to compete at the NCAA Division III New England Regional Championships at the end of the month.
 
Hurst is part of a select group of Panthers who will compete in the Showdown at the Heights hosted by Boston College at the TRACK at new balance on Friday (Feb. 7) and Saturday (Feb. 8).