Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine track & field program has announced the signing of pole vaulter Yasmen Hazem. Hazem will join the program in the fall of 2021.

Hazem, a 19-time national champion, hails from Cairo, Egypt. She's broke numerous records during her career including setting the under-18 and under-20 records in 2018 while also posting a record-breaking under-16 national record in 2016; a mark that had stood for 10 years prior. Hazem's personal best mark currently stands at 12'13" (3.70m).

Hazem captured the under-20 Arab Pole Vault Championship in 2018 and was crowned the 2018 and 2019 African games (U20) champion.

She won the African youth games title in 2018 and captured the Arab junior championship in 2018. Hazem has competed in the national championships in both Slovenia and Croatia. A year ago, Hazem placed second in the African championship in Cote D'ivoire.

Hazem, who graduated high school in 2018 and plans to major in mechanical engineering at UMaine, is currently studying industrial engineering at the Canadian International College in Egypt.

-UMaine-