University of Albany's Pole Vaulter Luke Schoen Ties for Second at NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championships

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Tallahassee, Fla. – University at Albany’s Luke Schoen matched his own school record in tying for second place in the men’s pole vault at the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday, May 31 at Florida State University’s Mike Long Track. Schoen advanced to the NCAA Division I Championships on June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa. The top-five finishers in each event automatically qualify for nationals.

Schoen, a sophomore from Bohemia, N.Y., cleared the bar at 17-feet, 5-inches on his second attempt to equal a program mark he established at the UAlbany Spring Classic three weeks ago. Schoen, who finished15th in NCAA regional competition as freshman, won the America East Conference title and placed second at the IC4A meet earlier this month.

Clemson’s Mitch Greeley won the pole vault by clearing 17-feet, 9-inches, a height the senior made on his first approach. Schoen and Virginia Tech’s Yavgeniy Olhovsky tied for the runner-up position after each vaulter missed three times at Greeley’s winning mark.

“It’s a sweet feeling to make nationals” said Schoen, whose father, Ken, played on UAlbany’s first three varsity football teams from 1973-75. “Technically, it was one of my best days. I just got a new pole, and it gave me some extra height. I just missed at 17-9, so I feel there’s more to come.”

Mike McCadney, a junior who was coming off victories at the America East and IC4A championships, was not as fortunate in the men’s triple jump. McCadney went 50-feet, 3.25-inches on his first try, but then fouled on his next two attempts. McCadney, who narrowly missed a trip to NCAA nationals last year, ended up in 12th position.

In the women’s triple jump, Jenn Gurrant placed 17th after posting a distance of 40-feet, 8.75-inches on her second attempt. Gurrant, who was making her second consecutive regional appearance, took third at the ECAC meet on May 19. Arina Gerasimova was 22nd in the same event with a leap of 39-6.50. Laura Cummings, the America East champion in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, finished in 21st place with a time of 11:00.17.

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NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Championships (Tallahassee, Fla.)

Men’s Pole Vault Final

1. Mitch Greeley (Clemson), 17-9, t2. Luke Schoen (UAlbany), 17-5, t2. Yavgeniy Olhovsky (Virginia Tech), 17-5, t4. Gonzalo Barriolhet (Florida State), 16-7.25, t4. Sean Young (South Florida), 16-7.25, t7. Jordan Jodon (Virginia Tech), 16-7.25, t7. Justin Semeyn (Florida), 16-7.25.