Meriden Woman is Top New Haven University Athlete

Shannon Gagne has lived in Meriden since she was five years old. By all outward appearances, she seems like the average girl next door, but to those who follow track and field she is anything but ordinary.

 “She is probably the greatest athlete at the University of New Haven,” said UNH head coach Kevin Lasure. “She is motivated, works hard, is committed to her teammates and the university, and is very reliable.”

Gagne has earned a slew of honors while at the University of New Haven. They include being a three time All-American athlete in indoor and outdoor track, several conference titles, and setting virtually every women’s track and field record at UNH in the events she competes in.

Another milestone for Gagne was becoming the first woman from UNH to earn points at the Division II National Championships during the 2008-09 season. Last season she was named the Northeast-10 Conference Women’s Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

This season Gagne has not slowed down at all for the Chargers. At the Northeast-10 Conference Championship held in Boston last week, Gagne set records and won four events. For the last three years, Gagne has set new records for the 55m, 200m, 400m dash, and long jump at the championship, and these were only her college accomplishments. Today she will compete in the New England Championships for New Haven University.

Gagne attended Lyman Hall high school in Wallingford for its agricultural program. While she was there, she was a four-year letter winner. In her senior year, she was named to the All-State, All-New England, and All-Class L teams. To this day, Gagne is still the top career points holder in Lyman Hall history.

In order to earn all of these accomplishments, Gagne has had to work hard every day for years.

“I work out about 3-4 hours a day by doing things like lifting weights, going to the track, doing abdominal crunches, and working on my technique with the coaches,” said Gagne.

Gagne became engaged to her high school sweetheart, Dan Arena, in June of last year. She lists him, her mother, Laura Milewski-Gagne, her father, Richard Gagne, and her brother, Richard Gagne, Jr. as her inspirations.

After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Gagne is now completing her fifth year at the University of New Haven in order to earn her Master’s degree in National Security.

As the final season of Gagne’s college track and field career winds down, she feels it will be tough to part with.

“I’m absolutely going to miss all of this, it has been a part of my life for so long,” said Gagne.

She is still hoping to compete at the US Track and Field Championships this spring.