University of Albany's Valete Graham Wins Second Consecutive America East Conference Men's Long Jump Title - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Vestal, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Valete Graham won the long jump with a school-record leap and Ricardo Estremera was first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to highlight their team’s performances on the first day of competition at the America East Conference Track & Field Championships. The two-day event is being held at Binghamton University’s East Gym Track Complex.

Graham captured the long jump title for the second straight year and met the NCAA East Regional qualifying standard with a mark of 24-feet, 9.25 inches. He broke Felipe Reyes’ previous school standard of 24-6.25. UAlbany’s Fred Casimo (23-7.50) and Michael McCadney (23-10.25) finished second and third, respectively.

Estremera, who did not compete last year, captured his second conference steeplechase crown in the last three years. He set a facility record with a time of 8:59.45. Freddie Wills, who also sat out the 2008 outdoor season, is in second place after the first five events in the decathlon. Wills scored 3,393 points and won the long jump competition. UMBC’s Dominic Devaud has a 17-point lead going into the second day. Defending conference pole vault champion Luke Schoen did not compete due to a leg injury.

In preliminary races, defending America East champion Jean Juste advanced to Sunday’s 110-meter hurdles final by sprinting 14.57 seconds, the best time of the day. Joe Greene turned in the second-fastest time in the 400-meter dash (48.22) in working his way to the championship race. Alie Beauvais and Greene went one-two in qualifying for the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Beauvais and Greene were clocked in 52.09 and 53.34, respectively.