University of Albany Track Star Joe Green Returns For The Penn Relays

University of Albany track All-American Joe Greene will return to action today after missing 2 1/2 months with a high hamstring strain.

Greene, a junior, will compete on UAlbany's 1,600-meter relay team at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia this afternoon. Then he'll run in the 400 hurdles at the Union College Invitational in Schenectady on Saturday.

Greene finished fourth in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships last June in a time of 49.92 seconds. UAlbany track coach Roberto Vives said Greene still has time to qualify for the NCAAs and a shot to win the school's first Division I national championship.

"That's still not out the window," Vives said. "He comes back quickly (from injury). He's a little behind this year, but he's more experienced, too." This year's championship is June 11-14 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Greene injured his right leg during indoor track season at Boston University's Valentine Invitational on Feb. 9. "It'll take time to get the timing and rhythm," Vives said. "Everything will feel like new again."

Greene simply needs to post a time at Union on Saturday to qualify for the America East Conference championship May 3 and 4. He is the league's defending champion in the 400 hurdles. The ultimate goal, according to Vives, is to have Greene ready for the Olympic trials in Oregon, June 27-July 6.

"Hopefully, he'll be peaking at the right time," Vives said. "In reality, he's probably an Olympics away (2012), if he decides to stay in the sport."