University of Albany´s Greene, Schoen and Estremera Garner All-America Laurels at NCAA Track and Field Championships - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Fayetteville, Ark. – University at Albany’s Joe Greene broke his own school record and finished fourth overall in the men’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles to earn All-America status at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on Friday, June 12 at the University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field. Luke Schoen also garnered All-America recognition for the second consecutive season outdoors and third time overall for placing eighth in the pole vault and matching his own program standard. Ricardo Estremera earned the same honor for finishing eighth among the Americans in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

In addition to having a program-high three members of the squad achieve All-America status, UAlbany placed 40th among 74 scoring teams with six points. It was the team’s highest finish ever at the national competition.

Greene, who was UAlbany’s first male athlete to qualify for the outdoor championships in a track event three years ago, sprinted 49.67 seconds and broke his own standard of 49.72 set at the IC4A championship earlier this spring in his final collegiate race. Washington State’s Jeshua Anderson crossed the tape first in 48.47 to claim his second straight national title.

“It felt like my best race ever,” said Greene, who became the first Great Dane in school history to be a three-time outdoor All-American in one event. “I was not worried about the time I ran in the semis because the only thing I was focused on was making the finals. I’m very happy to have set the school record and a personal record in my final race.”

Greene, who missed last year’s championship due to an injury, was named an All-American in 2007 for finishing fourth in the 400-meter hurdles. He also garnered the national recognition as a freshman in 2006 for finishing eighth among the American runners at the championship meet.

Schoen equaled his own school record in the pole vault, clearing 17-feet, 6.50-inches on his third attempt. The junior, who was an indoor All-American this winter and earned the distinction in the event at last year’s outdoor meet, also cleared 16-8.75 and 17-2.75 on his final try. Schoen was one of five competitors to reach the 17-6.50 mark, which was only surpassed by three others, but he finished in his position based on number of misses. Jason Colwick of Rice, who was also the indoor national champion this winter, recorded the first-place mark of 18-8.25 on his first attempt.

Estremera, UAlbany’s first national qualifier in the steeplechase since the program upgraded to Division I in 2000, stayed with the pack for most of his final race and crossed the tape 11th in 8:51.50. The senior, who entered the championship meet seeded 17th, broke the school record for the third time this season two days ago in the preliminaries to reach the final. Brigham Young’s Kyle Perry, who ran the fastest time in the semifinal, won the individual title in 8:29.24.

“This was a tremendous season,” said head coach Roberto Vives, who guided the men’s program to a clean sweep of the indoor and outdoor America East Conference and IC4A team titles this past year. “It was absolutely the best ever in school history. These guys ran like champions. They all performed and made the university proud. There is no question about that. We will come back (to Albany) with (several) All-Americans. All four of them finished high in their event, which was unbelievable. I am very proud of these guys.”

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400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Final): 4. Joe Greene 49.67 (All-American, School Record). 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (Final): 11. Ricardo Estremera 8:51.50 (All-American). Pole Vault (Final): 8. Luke Schoen 17-6.50 (All-American, Matches School Record).