University of Albany's Luke Schoen Becomes Second Great Dane to Qualify for NCAA Track And Field Regional at Raleigh Relays - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Raleigh, N.C. – Junior Luke Schoen won the pole vault and qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championship to lead the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at the first day of the Raleigh Relays hosted by North Carolina State on Friday. It marked the second time in as many meets this spring that a Great Dane qualified for the regional championship.

Schoen, who was making his outdoor debut after most recently garnering All-America honors in the event at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, cleared 17-feet, 0.75-inches to place first among 17 competitors. In addition, Mike Dempsey finished sixth with a mark of 15-1.

The UAlbany men also had two other student-athletes post top-10 performances in the their respective race of the 5,000-meter run, which was divided up into four sections. Running in the third section, R.J. Sniffen (Shaker) placed second in 15:04.85, narrowly missing the USA Junior National Championship qualifying standard of 15:04.50. Brian Yurkewecz (Fonda-Fultonville) placed fourth in the same race, clocking in a time of 15:06.20.

The women’s team also had a pair of student-athletes compete in the 5,000-meter run. Kristin Grab (Tamarac) placed second in the fourth section by registering a personal-best time of 18:48.45, while Ally Panos placed fifth in 18:12.32 in section three.

The UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams will continue competing at the Raleigh Relays on Saturday, March 28 at 10:00 a.m.

PAW PRINTS: Luke Schoen and Joe Greene have each qualified for the 2009 NCAA East Regional Championship in the pole vault and 400-meter intermediate hurdles, respectively ... Both Great Danes have previously garnered All-America laurels outdoors in their premier event ... Schoen finished fifth in the pole vault at the 2008 NCAA Championship, while Greene placed fourth in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the 2007 NCAA meet ... The 2009 NCAA East Regional Championship will be he hosted by North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. from May 29-30.

UAlbany Men’s Results

100-Meter Dash: 61. Kevin O’Riley 11.79. 110-meter high hurdles (prelims): 32. Freddie Wills 15.74, 37. Nicholas Assini 16.38. 400-meter intermediate hurdles: 28. Andrew Overbaugh 55.47, 31. Peter Rowell 55.94, 40. Nicholas Assini 57.78. 5,000-meter run (Section III): 2. R.J. Sniffen 15:04.85, 4. Brian Yurkewecz 15:06.20. Long Jump: 22. Freddie Wills 20-11.75, 40. Kevin O’Riley 19-7. Pole Vault: 1. Luke Schoen 17-00.75 (NCAA Regional), 6. Mike Dempsey 15-1.

UAlbany Women’s Results

5,000-meter run (Section III): 5. Ally Panos 18:21.32. 5,000-meter run (Section IV): 2. Kristin Grab 18:48.45.