University of Albany Pole Vaulter Luke Schoen Provisionally Qualifies for NCAA Championship at Yale Invitational

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

New Haven, Conn. – Junior pole vaulter Luke Schoen broke his own school record and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship to highlight a list of stellar performances by the University at Albany men’s and women’s indoor programs at the Yale Collegiate Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 10. In addition to Schoen, five other individuals and three relays met qualifying marks for the IC4A and ECAC meets at the non-scoring meet.

Schoen cleared 17-feet, 1-inch, breaking his old standard of 16-8.75 set at Boston University's Valentine Invitational last season. Michael Dempsey’s mark of 14-9 placed him seventh in the same event.

“This was a very good start for Luke," said associate head coach Craig McVey, who oversees the pole vaulters. "He was using a brand new pole which he never had for a meet. It looks like he is going to have the indoor and outdoor seasons we are all expecting him to have.”

Joe Greene and Alie Beauvais each qualified for the IC4A Championship in the 400-meter dash. Greene, who holds the school record in the event, recorded a winning time of 48.72 seconds. Beauvais, a transfer from Lincoln University in Missouri where he was an NCAA Division II All-American, placed third in 49.07.

Pat Weider and Fey Adaramola both qualified for the IC4A and ECAC competitions, respectively, in the 60-meter dash. Adaramola, a junior transfer from Central Florida where she holds several of the school’s sprinting records, finished sixth overall with a time of 7.76 seconds. Her qualifying time came in the preliminary round, where she clocked in at 7.72. Weider placed third overall in the event in 6.98. He recorded the fastest time in the preliminary round, crossing the finish line in 6.93. Mike McCadney placed fourth in the finals with a time of 7.04.

Jean Juste, who placed third in the 60-meter high hurdles with a time of 8.24 seconds, rounded out the list of individuals to qualify for the IC4As. Garrett Askew placed fourth overall in 8.26 seconds, which narrowly missed the IC4A qualifying standard. On the women’s side, Christen Griffin finished fourth in 9.13.

In addition, all three men’s relay teams met the standards for March's IC4A meet. Most notably, the 4x400-meter relay team consisting of Weider, Beauvais, Jeffery Barnes and Greene recorded a winning time of 3:14.92, edging out Seton Hall and Connecticut of the Big East Conference. It was also the fastest time the program has ever had in the event at the first meet of the season. Joe Belokopitsky, Nick Santos, Jared Jupin and Aaron Lozier combined for a second-place time of 7:40.80 in the 4x800-meter relay, while the distance medley relay team consisting of John Moore, Peter Rowell, Tyler Fogarty and Ricardo Estremera placed third in 10:13.42.

UAlbany had four individuals post a third-place performance in the jumping events. Nasim Siddeeq and Jenn Gurrant leaped 22-4.25 and 17-6.25, respectively, in the long jump, while Valete Graham and Traequanda Brock recorded triple jump marks of 46-7.5 and 36-0.75, respectively. Making their Great Dane debuts, Tiffany Bennett placed fourth in the high jump (5-3) and Jordan Pollock finished sixth in the triple jump (44-4).

Two freshmen on the women’s side placed in the top five of the pole vault. Celine Cauderlier, a former high school national champion from France, cleared 10 feet to place second. Emily Mino was fifth overall with a mark of 9-6.25.

Zuliana Fontanez, Laine Sefick, Kristin Grab and Jon Juleus paced UAlbany in the middle distance and distance events. Fontanez was second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:15.21, which was one second shy of the ECAC qualifying standard. Sefick (10:52.97) and Grab (10:59.46) placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 3,000-meter run. Juleus was fourth in the mile, clocking in at 4:26.38.

Leading the way for the Great Danes in the throwing events were Michael Lynch and Kadine Johnson. Lynch placed eighth in the weight throw (48-11) and the shot put (46-2.50), while Johnson was fourth in the weight throw (49-7) and fifth in the shot put (42-1.50).

“This was the best start we have ever had for both the men and women,” said head coach Roberto Vives, who is now in his 24th year at the helm of both programs. “We are looking forward to having a tremendous indoor season.”



Jan. 10 - Yale Collegiate Invitational

UAlbany’s Men’s Results – 60-Meter Dash Prelims: 1. Pat Weider 6.93 (IC4A) 12. Mike McCadney 7.23, 23. Kyle Nadler 7.41. 60-Meter Dash Finals: 3. Pat Weider 6.98 (IC4A), 4. Mike McCadney 7.04. 400-Meter Dash: 1. Joe Greene 48.72 (IC4A), 3. Alie Beauvais 49.07 (IC4A), 20. Andrew Overbaugh 51.97. 60-Meter High Hurdles Prelims: 3. Jean Juste 8.31, 4. Garrett Askew 8.35, 14. Alfred Pryor 8.78 60-Meter High Hurdles Finals: 3. Jean Juste 8.24 (IC4A), 4. Garrett Askew 8.26, 8. Alfred Pryor 8.68. Mile: 4. Jon Juleus 4:26.38, 8. Cory Greczyn 4:34.42. 800-Meter Run: 15. Bryan Lasky 2:01, 16. Greg Miniger 2:01.22, 23. Devon Sedgwick 2:03.29. 3,000-Meter Run: 10. R.J. Sniffen 8:49.35, 25. Chris Manico 9:06.77, 28. Ryan Florkiewicz 9:14.37. DNF. Brian Yurkewecz. High Jump: NH. Jordan Pollock. Long Jump: 3. Nasim Siddeeq 22-4.25, 17. Dong Ning Hu 20-4.25. Triple Jump: 3. Valete Graham 46-7.5, 6. Jordan Pollock 44-4. Pole Vault: 1. Luke Schoen 17-1 (NCAA Provisional), 7. Michael Dempsey 14-9. Shot Put: 8. Michael Lynch 46-2.5, 13. Frank Fazzino, 43-8, 14. Jordan Meikle 42-11, 15. Cory Thomas 41-8, 19. Will Anger 38-9.5. Weight Throw: 6. Will Anger 50-2.75, 7. Kevin Lee 50-0, 8. Michael Lynch, 48-11. 4x400-Meter Relay: 1. Pat Weider, Alie Beauvais, Jeffery Barnes, Joe Greene 3:14.92 (IC4A), 5. Andrew Overbaugh, Peter Rowell, Bryan Lasky, Tyler Fogarty 3:22.65. 4x800-Meter Relay: 2. Joe Belokopitsky, Nick Santos, Jared Jupin, Aaron Lozier 7:40.80 (IC4A). Distance Medley Relay: 3. John Moore (1200m), Peter Rowell (400m), Tyler Fogarty (800m), Ricardo Estremera (Mile) 10:13.42 (IC4A).



Jan. 10 - Yale Collegiate Invitational

UAlbany’s Women’s Results – 60-Meter Dash Prelims: 5. Fey Adaramola 7.72 (ECAC) 14. Quante Harris 8.06, 18. Jenn Gurrant 8.14, 26. Arielle Roberts 8.27, 27. Sandy Antenor 8.28. 60-Meter Dash Finals: 6. Fey Adaramola 7.76, 14. Quante Harris 8.06. 400-Meter Dash: 9. Octavia Clarkson 1:00.45, 18. Elia Francis 1:01.55, 23. Tenica Roberts 1:02.73, 27. Jessica Hunter 1:04.08, 28. Jessica Panos 1:04.15, 29. Renee Johnson 1:04.23, 32. Brittany Eveleth 1:04.70, 33.Laura Bolognino 1:04.86, 34. Rashida Charles 1:05.12. 60-Meter High Hurdles Prelims: 4. Christen Griffin 9.23. 60-Meter High Hurdles Finals: 4. Christen Griffin 9.13. 800-Meter Run: 2. Zuliana Fontanez 2:15.21, 12. Melissa Lee 2:26.88, 18. Maureen Nweke 2:33.41, 20. Jessica Barberio 2:36, 23. Jenn Pierson 2:40.96. 3,000-Meter Run: 5. Laine Sefick 10:52.97, 6. Kristin Grab 10:59.46. High Jump: 4. Tiffany Bennett 5-3. NH. Bryanna Hebenstreit, NH. Ashleigh Whitfield. Long Jump: 3. Jenn Gurrant 17-6.25. Triple Jump: 3. Traequanda Brock 36-0.75. Pole Vault: 2. Celine Cauderlier 10-0, 5. Emily Mino 9-6.25. NH. Rebecca Power. Shot Put: 5. Kadine Johnson 42-1.5, 8. Ritshell Verdier 39-7.75, 10. Ashley Lewis, 37-7.25. Weight Throw: 4. Kadine Johnson 49-7, 5. Sinead Corley 44-6. 9. Isabella Katsarelis, 40-10.5, FOUL. Ritshell Verdier. 4x400-Meter Relay: 3. Octavia Clarkson, Melissa Lee, Fey Adaramola, Zuliana Fontanez 3:57.19, 7. Elia Francis, Tenica Roberts, Renee Johnson, Nyree Richardson 4:08.25, 8. Laura Bolognino, Jessica Hunter, Quante Harris, Tierra Chavis 4:08.38, 12. Christen Griffin, Maureen Nweke, Brittany Eveleth, Lesan Mattis 4:13.73. 4x800-Meter Relay: 2. Laura Varble, Allie Carlson, Esperanza Blanco, Laura Cummings 9:55. Distance Medley Relay: 5. Laura Varble (1200m), Allie Carlson (400m), Esperanza Blanco (800m), Laura Cummings (Mile) 12:42.36.