University of Albany's Luke Schoen Finishes Fifth in Pole Vault at NCAA National Championships

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Des Moines, Iowa – University at Albany’s Luke Schoen leaped 17-feet, 2.75-inches to finish fifth and earn All-American status in the pole vault finals at the 2008 Division I NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday afternoon at Drake University’s Drake Stadium. Schoen becomes UAlbany’s first-ever All-American in the pole vault.

Schoen, a sophomore from Bohemia, N.Y., cleared the same height on Wednesday to advance to the finals. Schoen, who finished tied for second at the NCAA East Regional Championships on May 31 to advance to the NCAA Championships, won the America East Conference title and finished second at the IC4A meet earlier this season.

“We are very excited to have our first All-American in the pole vault,” said UAlbany head coach Roberto Vives. “The winds were swirling, which affected all of the performances. Luke had two close attempts at 17-6.5, but barely brushed the pole with the winds.”

Maston Wallace of Texas earned the championship title after leaping 17-feet, 6.5-inches. Yavgeniy Olhovsky (Virginia Tech), Nick Frawley (Air Force) and Jared O’Connor (Washington) tied for second with jumps of 17-feet, 2.75-inches, recording fewer misses in the competition than Schoen and sixth-place finisher Robert Caldwell (New Mexico), who also cleared the 17-2.75 height.

“There were many other athletes that had competed at the national meet before, but everyone was affected by the wind,” said UAlbany pole vaulting coach Craig McVey. “Luke stayed very confident and composed, and that consistency helped him stay focused.”

Adverse weather in the Des Moines area, which included severe winds and flooding over the last several days, affected the competition, with competitors finishing at lower-than-normal heights.

“We were all affected by the winds,” said Schoen, who set a school record earlier this season with a leap of 17-feet, 5-inches. “It feels good to compete at this level. I am not intimidated and try not to let anything phase me. I am proud to represent UAlbany at the national level.”

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NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships (Des Moines, Iowa)

Men’s Pole Vault Finals

1. Maston Wallace (Texas), 17-6.5, t2. Yavgeniy Olhovsky (Virginia Tech), Nick Frawley (Air Force), Jared O’Connor (Washington), 17-2.75, 5. Luke Schoen (UAlbany), 17-2.75, 6. Robert Caldwell (New Mexico), 17-2.75, 7. Jeff Coover (Indiana), 17-5.25, t8. Johnny Quinn (UCLA), Brian Hancock (Missouri), 16-8.75, t10. Joseph Berry (Tennessee), Daniel Imlach (Sacramento State), Spencer McCorkel (Arkansas), 16-8.75, 13. Dustin DeLeo (UCLA), 16-8.75.