ORONO, Maine -- Starting college can be a bit unsettling for any freshman student, especially when they're a competitive athlete. But Allyson Howatt Keating never really had to worry.
When she arrived at the University of Maine, the native of Fredericton, New Brunswick, quickly discovered that had everything she needed to excel on the track and in the classroom.
"I think my freshman year was just a learning curve and adjusting to a new training program, new expectations," Howatt said of being away from home, managing classes and traveling to meets.
The talented Howatt flourished in Orono, establishing eight individual and relay records by the time she graduated in 2010 to gain a spot in the UMaine Sports Hall of Fame.
Howatt burst onto the scene as a sophomore. At the America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2008, she won the 100 meters in 11.96 seconds, the 200 meters (school-record 24.17) and anchored UMaine's victory in the 4x400 relay (3:50.19).
The Black Bears finished third in the meet and Howatt was named the Women's Most Outstanding Track Performer.
"That was a special one," Howatt said. "It was a home meet and my parents were able to be there. It just felt really, really good."
Howatt expressed joy at being able to share the podium with teammates Vicki Tolton (a 2017 Hall of Fame inductee), Vanessa Letourneau and Lindsay Burlock.
Former UMaine sprints coach Dave Cusano said Howatt possessed all the important qualities needed to win consistently.
"She was locked in. She was driven, focused," Cusano said. "Her intelligence matched her athleticism and she understood the sport."
Howatt, a three-time All-America East honoree and All-Academic honoree, credits Cusano not only with helping her reach her full potential, but for bringing everyone together.
"He was able to cultivate that culture that really allowed us to be competitive and I think that was something that the sprint side of the program needed," Howatt said. "We were able to respond in a really great way to that."
Howatt was part of four relay teams that hold school records. Outdoors, she teamed with Cearha Miller, Jillian O'Brien and Hall of Famer Jesse Labreck to run the 4x100 in 46.65 in 2010. Howatt also joined forces with Labreck, Tolton and Miller in 2010 for a 3:41.22 in the 4x400.
Howatt, Tolton, Jennifer Pierpont and Kelsey Biliouris went on to establish the school's 4x400 indoor record of 3:49.34 in 2009. Howatt also ran on UMaine's record-setting outdoor 4x200 quartet that included Danielle Hutchins, Shaniqua Burgess and Miller, running a 1:43.15 in 2010.
Howatt still ranks second all-time for the Black Bears outdoors in the 100 and 200 and is third in the 400. Indoors, she stands third in the 55 and 200 meters, respectively, and is fourth in the 60 meters and sixth in the 400.
One of Howatt's fondest memories involves an indoor 4x400 race at Boston University. Although the 400 wasn't one of her preferred events, she unselfishly took on the challenge of running the anchor leg.
Howatt had to come from behind.
"I was able to do that, and we won our heat," she said. "It was that added pressure and responsibility of being part of a team and wanting us to perform well. That felt really great."
There were plenty of individual highlights in Howatt's career, but she seemed to find more satisfaction being part of a team, competing alongside her friends.
Fearing that might unwittingly leave someone out, Howatt spoke glowingly of Burlock, Tolton, Letourneau, Matt Holman and Skip Edwards.
"That was kind of the core group who really supported one another and were training partners," Howatt said. "My family, my coaches and my teammates were the ones that made the difference for me during those four years."
Howatt also was fortunate while at UMaine to meet the love of her life. She and football student-athlete
Conor Keating started dating during her senior year.
"It was kind of the end of my athletic career, but he was obviously in great support and has continued to be a great support for the last 13 years," Howatt said.
This summer, the Keatings relocated to New Hampshire, where Allyson is working in the advancement department at New Hampton School. They have two daughters, Annie, 5, and Nora, 2.
"We're thrilled to be back in New England and somewhat closer to all of our family, which has been a real blessing," Howatt said.
She is grateful to her family members, including her mother, Jocelyn Howatt, and her partner, Lynn Chaplin, and her father, Tim Howatt, and his wife, Suzanne Desrosiers, along with her brother, William Howatt.
"I never would have even made it to UMaine without their support," Howatt said.
The 2024 UMaine Sports Hall of Fame class will be officially inducted at a banquet held at Jeff's Catering on Friday, Oct. 4. For more details on this year's induction class, please click here.
