University of Albany All-American Luke Schoen Breaks Outdoor Pole Vaulting Record at Duke Asics Invitational - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Durham, N.C. – Luke Schoen won the pole vault and broke his own school record in the event to lead the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at the Duke Asics Invitational on Saturday, April 4. Ricardo Estremera met the standard for the NCAA East Regional Championship for the second straight time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Ritshell Verdier qualified for the ECAC championship in the discus throw at the non-scoring meet.

Schoen cleared 17-feet, 6.5-inches, which surpassed his previous mark of 17-5 that he recorded twice last season. The All-American’s winning height met the regional qualifying standard and was also 5.75 inches better than the second-place finisher from North Carolina. He finished ahead of 10 student-athletes representing Atlantic Coast Conference institutions. Mike Dempsey placed seventh for clearing 15-7. His mark was better than five of six competitors from Duke.

Estremera, who broke the school record last week at the Raleigh Relays, turned in a third-place time of 8:57.87 in the steeplechase. Laura Cummings, who holds the women’s program standard in the event, also finished third overall for clocking in a time of 10:59.17.

Verdier became the first Great Dane to qualify for the ECAC championship in any field event by placing seventh in the discus throw with a mark of 143-5. Making her UAlbany debut, Catie Coxon (Duanesburg) set a personal record in the event with a toss that sailed 127-7.

Other notable performances were made by Rebecca Power and Dong Ning Hu. Power finished sixth in the javelin throw with a mark of 124-11, which moved her up to second on the program’s top-10 list behind Isabella Katsarelis. Hu led a pack of five Great Danes with a leap of 22-3 in the long jump to win his flight and tie for fifth among 29 competitors in the event.

The UAlbany outdoor track and field teams will travel to a pair of meets in two weeks. Select members will head to the UTECH Track and Field Classic in Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday, April 18, while others will go to Princeton’s Larry Ellis Invitational on April 17-18.

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UAlbany Men’s Results

800-Meter Run (Developmental): 5. Bryan Lasky 1:56.75. 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: 3. Ricardo Estremera 8:57.87 (NCAA Regional), 20. Chris Manico 9:47.56 . Long Jump: T-5. Dong Ning Hu 22-3, 7. Kyle Nadler 22-2.50, 8. Fred Casimo 22-2.25, 14. Nasim Siddeeq 21-4, 23. Jordan Pollock 19-9. Pole Vault: 1. Luke Schoen 17-6.50 (NCAA Regional, School Record), 7. Mike Dempsey 15-7. Discus Throw: 9. Michael Lynch 149-1, 10. Stephen Hassard 148-6, 16. Zach Murphy 135-3. Shot Put: 11. Cory Thomas 46-11.50, 17. Jordan Meikle 45-4.50, 24. Frank Fazzino 41-7.75.

UAlbany Women’s Results

400-Meter Dash: 20. Rebecca Kelly 1:04.34. 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: 3. Laura Cummings 10:59.17. High Jump: T-12. Ashleigh Whitfield 5-1. Long Jump: FOUL. Tiffany Sprenkels. Discus Throw: 7. Ritshell Verdier 143-5 (ECAC), 11. Ashley Lewis 129-2, 13. Catie Coxon 127-7, 16. Kadine Johnson 119-4. Javelin Throw: 6. Rebecca Power 124-11, 11. Ashley Lewis 112-9. Shot Put: 10. Kadine Johnson 38-6.75.