University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Sara Houghaboom Higgins 1986 - Track and Field
A former track and field standout whose name can still be found in the UVM record books as well as a 1996 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, Sara Houghaboom Higgins was a solid all-around performer for Coach Ed Kusiak. Winner of the Wasson Athletic Prize in 1985, which honors those student-athletes who maintain the highest standard of excellence in athletics and academics, Houghaboom Higgins finished her senior year with seven school records and two team MVP awards.
When she graduated, she was the UVM outdoor record-holder in the 100-meter dash (12.2 seconds) and the 200-meter dash (25.7). She was also part of two record-setting relay teams, in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400. The 4 x 100 record of 48.20, set with Melissa Moran, Chris Boehmer and Cheryl Hurtubise, still stands.
Indoors, she finished her standout career as the UVM record-holder in the 55-meter dash (7.2 seconds), 200-meter dash (26.07 seconds) and was part of the 4 x 400 relay squad that established a new UVM standard in 1982 (4:05.3). A co-captain of the team in 1984 and 1985, Houghaboom Higgins had an outstanding junior season. She won the 100 and 200 at the Vermont State Meet, set the 200 record at the UMass Relays, and won the 100-meters at the New England Championships. She was also on the winning 4 x 100 relay team at New Englands.
The South Burlington, Vermont native set the school record in the 100-meters outdoors at the Boston College Relays, and also finished seventh in the 200 in that same meet. At the New England Championships in 1985, she was third in the 100-meters and fourth in the 200-meters. Her 55-meter dash record was set at the New England Indoor Championships in 1984, when she finished second.
After graduating from UVM, Sara went to work for General Electric, where she was a member of GE's National Corporate Track and Field Championships and was the team's female MVP three of the five years she competed. She also has been active in youth sports in her hometown of South Burlington.
