University of Albany´s Joe Greene Reaches 400-Meter Hurdles Final at NCAA Track & Field Championships - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Fayetteville, Ark. – University at Albany’s Joe Greene automatically qualified for the men’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles final for the third time in his career at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on Thursday, June 11 at the University of Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field. Ricardo Estremera, one of a program-high four UAlbany athletes competing at nationals, advanced to the 3,000-meter steeplechase championship race earlier in the day after his event was delayed more than three hours due to weather.

Greene navigated the track in 50.14 seconds to finish third in the second heat and sixth overall. The senior’s race, which featured four of the top five seeds going into the championship, was won by Washington State sophomore Jeshua Anderson. The reigning national champion clocked in at 49.27, the fastest time of the day, while second-seeded Justin Gaymon of Georgia was second in the heat ahead of Greene in 49.49. Five of tomorrow’s nine finalists ran at the NCAA East Regional two weeks ago.

“I felt good through the first five hurdles, but I was not as confident going over the sixth and seventh hurdles since my momentum was slowed down,” said Greene, a 2007 All-American in this event. “However, the hard part is over and the slate is clean. I saw several of these guys (who I will run against in the final) at the regional championship, so that meet served as a preview to the nationals. I am going to look to go out there, run my race and give it my all.”

UAlbany’s Alie Beauvais, who earned an at-large selection to the championship, remained in the top three of the the first semifinal heat until he knocked over the final hurdle. A transfer from Lincoln University in Missouri who was competing at the NCAAs for the first time, Beauvais finished his heat fifth overall in 50.45 and missed qualifying for tomorrow’s final by one spot and .21 seconds. South Carolina’s Johnny Dutch, who came into the meet as the top seed, won the race in 49.48.

Estremera, whose race scheduled for 9:15 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday was delayed due to severe thunderstorms in the area, broke his own school record in the steeplechase and earned the final spot in Friday’s final. The two-time America East Conference champion who automatically qualified for the national meet finished in 8:48.72, which placed him eighth in his section and 14th overall. The senior was in the back of the pack for most of the preliminary race before breaking out during the last two laps.

“I was running in the fastest section,” explained Estremera, who passed Wyoming’s Mark Korir just before the water jump with about 500 meters to go and crossed the tape less than a second before Nebraska’s David Adams to make the final field of 14 finalists. “Even though I was not in the front, I stayed focused and positive because I was still running at a pace to set a personal (and school) record. Either everyone was going to set a personal record, or some of the runners would fall back and allow me to catch up. Fortunately, I was able to pass (Korir) before the second to last water jump (and reach the final).”

Luke Schoen, an indoor and outdoor All-American, will be the first of three Great Danes competing in a final on Friday when the men’s pole vault begins at 4:45 p.m. Eastern. Estremera will run his race at 7:40 p.m. Eastern, while Greene will close out the evening at 9:05 p.m. The top-eight finishers will earn All-America recognition.

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3,000-Meter Steeplechase (Semifinal): 14. Ricardo Estremera 8:48.72 (School Record). 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Semifinal): 6. Joe Greene 50.14, 10. Alie Beauvais 50.45.