University of Albany's Greene, Beauvais & McShine Advance in NCAA East Regional Track & Field Qualifying - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Greensboro, N.C. – University at Albany's Joe Greene, Alie Beauvais and Kamilah McShine each advanced in 400-meter intermediate hurdles qualifying on Friday, May 29 at the NCAA East Regional Track & Field Championships. The two-day competition is behing held at North Carolina A&T State University’s Irwin Belk Track.

The top five finishers in each event automatically qualify for the NCAA Division I Championship, hosted by the University of Arkansas on June 10-13. Other student-athletes who place in the top 12 will be considered for an at-large selection to the national competition.

Greene and Beauvais, who took the top two spots at the America East and IC4A championship meets, reached Saturday’s final of the 400-meter hurdles by placing sixth and seventh, respectively, in the preliminary round. Greene, a NCAA national qualifier in 2007, finished in 50.75 seconds while Beauvais clocked in at 50.81. McShine, who just picked up the event this year, finished seventh and broke her own school record by navigating the track in 58.89.

“We were very excited with the way the 400-meter hurdlers competed,” UAlbany coach Roberto Vives said. “I work with them throughout the year, so I knew they were ready. Joe and Alie look to be in good shape to make it to nationals. Kamilah is just a phenomenal athlete. For her to make it to the regional and advance to the final in just her first year of running the event is unbelievable.”

Valete Graham became the first Great Dane to advance to the final and earn All-East honors in the long jump. He finished seventh with a mark of 24-feet, 2.25-inches. He was just one centimeter shy of finishing in the top five which would have automatically qualified him for the national championship meet.

UAlbany sent a program-high 18 competiors to the regional championship. In addition to the three Great Danes who advanced to the final round of the 400m hurdles, UAlbany will have five athletes in competition on Saturday. Ricardo Estremera and Laura Cummings will run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Jenn Gurrant and Mike McCadney are entered in the triple jump. Luke Schoen, who earned All-America honors as a pole vaulter at the 2009 NCAA indoor championship, and a men’s 4x400-meter relay squad are also in action.

***********

UAlbany Men’s Results

110-Meter High Hurdles (Prelims): 17. Jean Juste 14.27. 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Prelims): 6. Joe Greene 50.75, 7. Alie Beauvais 50.81. 800-Meter Run (Prelims): 35. Tyler Fogarty 1:54.49. 1,500-Meter Run (Prelims): 41. John Moore 4:07.60. Long Jump: 7. Valete Graham 24-2.25, 18. Felipe Reyes 22-10.50.

UAlbany Women’s Results

100-Meter Dash (Prelims): 27. Fey Adaramola 11.93. 200-Meter Dash (Prelims): 25. Fey Adaramola 24.60. 100-Meter High Hurdles (Prelims): 21. Kamilah McShine 13.97. 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Prelims): 7. Kamilah McShine 58.89 (School Record).