University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Catherine Golden 1988 - Track and Field
Another in a long line of outstanding UVM track and field athletes, Catherine Golden, a 1998 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, was one of the school's most versatile performers and one of the all-time great female athletes of her generation. Also an excellent student, she was the winner of the 1988 Wasson Athletic Prize, given for excellence in academics and athletics.
When she graduated in 1988, Golden held four indoor and outdoor records at UVM: high jump-indoor (5-10), 50-meter indoor high hurdles (8.24 sec.), the indoor pentathlon (3,807 points) and outdoors, the 100-meter high hurdles (14.49 sec.). IN 1988, her 5-10 high jump was the best by a Catamount indoor or outdoor. Most of all, Golden was also one of the top track and field athletes in New England during her four years at Vermont winning five New England individual titles.
As a freshman, she scored points for UVM in three events in each meet and her best finish was second in the long jump in the outdoor championship. As a sophomore (while jumping on a sprained ankle) she won the New England outdoor high jump title at 5-7 to set an A.T. Post Field record and came in third in the long jump as Vermont finished third. In 1987, Golden won two New England indoor championships in which she established UVM records that she would later break: 5-9 in the high jump and 3,561 points in the pentathlon. A week later she won the Eastern Indoor Championship in the pentathlon with 3,653 points to extend her school record.
Golden finished her career with more outstanding performances in both the indoor and outdoor New England's. She once again won the pentathlon as the Cats finished second in the indoor championships and again topped her UVM record with a whopping 3,807 points. Outside in the spring, Golden led Vermont to the 1988 New England Championships with a win in the high jump and a third place finish in the 100-meter high hurdles.
Twice the co-captain of the track and field team at UVM, Golden as a sophomore and senior won the Most Valuable Performer award given to the top women's track and field athlete.
