University of Albany Women's Indoor Track & Field Posts Highest Finish in School History at ECAC Championship - UAlbany Sports 2010

Boston, Mass. - University at Albany's Fey Adaramola, a senior captain, accumulated 14 of her team's 20 points by winning the 60-meter dash and finishing fifth in the 200 at the ECAC Championship on Sunday, March 7 at the Reggie Lewis Center. The Great Danes earned their highest finish in program history at the meet by tying for 12th in the team standings.

Tyler Fogarty won the mile and ran on the victorious 4x800-meter relay squad in leading UAlbany to its second consecutive IC4A indoor track and field championship at Boston University's Track & Tennis Center. The Great Danes, who edged George Mason by 3.5 points to claim the title, became the first program in 10 years to earn back-to-back crowns at the prestigious event.

"I told the women that they could have their best finish ever, and I told the men that they could defend their championship," said head coach Roberto Vives, who had both of his teams sweep the America East Conference titles for the first time in program history two weeks ago. "You really can't ask for more. Both of our teams really stepped up and did what they had to do. It is really difficult to win a championship meet with over 100 schools, and our men were able to do that."

Adaramola won the 60 in 7.55 seconds, which matched Ellakisha Williamson's program standard registered in 1998, and placed fifth in the 200 by circling the track in 24.47 to pace the women's team. Sheena Simpkins, a transfer from Mount Saint Mary's, and Kadine Johnson also scored for the Great Danes. Simpkins placed fifth in the 500 in 1:14.63, while Johnson finished seventh in the weight throw with a toss that sailed 56-feet, 3.75-inches.

Just like last year, the IC4A meet came down to the final three relays with UAlbany, George Mason and Cornell all in the running to capture the title. The Colonials pulled ahead of the Great Danes by 2.5 points after finishing third in the distance medley relay, but UAlbany regained the lead it had for most of the meet by winning the 4x800 in 7:28.18. Fogarty led off the relay with a split time of 1:54, while Sean Halpin ran the second leg in 1:53. Nick Santos finished the third leg in 1:50.7, and John Moore anchored the squad with a mark of 1:49.7. The men's 4x400 consisting of Jonathan Santana, Peter Rowell, Jeffery Barnes and Alie Beauvais iced the team title by finishing fourth in a season-best time of 3:11.31.

"We knew we needed to finish higher than third," explained Fogarty on the group's mentality going into the 4x800. "My split time wasn't great, but Sean and Nick stepped it up (on their legs). I have to give John a lot of credit for getting us over the big hump. We were in third, and he came away with the win for us."

UAlbany, which held a one-point lead in the team standings after the first day of action, got a big boost from the middle distance runners who combined to accumulate 16 points in the mile early in the day. Fogarty became the first Great Dane to win an individual event since 2006 by hitting the tape in 4:09.72. Moore crossed the finish line in 4:10.16 to place third.

"John and I definitely worked together to get first and third," explained Fogarty, who was in the back of the pack entering the last lap before making his move on the final turn and winning the event by passing the leader in the final meters. "We both ran personal bests yesterday to advance, and the finals in an event all become practical. My time was nothing spectacular, but what was most important was finishing for the place (and scoring points)."

Nasim Siddeeq, who was named the 2009 USTFCCCA Northeast Region Field Athlete of the Year, was victorious in the triple jump and became the first Great Dane to win a field event at the meet. Siddeeq leaped 51-0.25, which met the NCAA provisional standard.

Freddie Wills, a team captain, placed second in the heptathlon by scoring a personal-best 5,217 points. He most notably won the high jump, clearing 6-feet, 8-inches, and finished second in the long jump with a mark of 22-1.50. UAlbany also got extra points from Beauvais, who was fifth in the 500-meter dash in 1:03.43.

"This was the best indoor season that we have ever had," added Vives, who is in his 25th season. "Both the men and the women won America East titles, our men earned their second straight IC4A championship and our women had their best finish ever at ECACs. I am really excited about the outdoor season."

Paw Prints: UAlbany posted its highest finish ever at the ECAC Championship, bettering its 13th-place showing in 2007 ... Fey Adaramola became the third Great Dane to place first in an event at the meet ... Jenna Ortman won the 1,000 in 2006, and Jenn Gurrant was the triple jump champion in 2009 ... The Great Dane men, which finished ahead of four conference champions, became the first program to win its second straight IC4A team title since Georgetown accomplished the feat in 2000 ... Tyler Fogarty and Nasim Siddeeq were UAlbany's first event winners at the meet since 2006 ... Gered Burns, who is currently serving as a volunteer middle distance assistant coach, won his third consecutive 800-meter title and was a member of the victorious 4x400-meter relay squad four years ago.

ECAC Team Standings

1. Connecticut 84.50, 2. Seton Hall 65, 3. George Mason 45, 4. Rutgers 33, 5. Cornell 31, 6. Rhode Island 24, 7. Yale 22, T-8. Manhattan 21, T-8. New Hampshire 21, T-8. William & Mary 21, T-8. Syracuse 21, T-12. UAlbany 20, T-12. Boston College 20, T-14. Princeton 19, T-14. Providence 19, T-16. Pennsylvania 17.75, T-16. Harvard 17.75, 18. Temple 16.50, T-19. Boston U. 16, T-19. Villanova 16, 21. Long Island 15, T-22. St. John's 14, T-22. Delaware 14, 24. Pittsburgh 13.50, T-25. Vermont 12, T-25. Navy 12, T-27. Towson 10, T-27. VCU 10, T-27. George Washington 10, T-27. UMES 10, 31. Dartmouth 9, T-32. Saint Francis, Pa. 8, T-32. Brown 8, T-32. West Virginia 8, T-32. Fordham 8, T-32. Northeastern 8, T-32. Liberty 8, 38. Maine 7, T-39. Massachusetts 6, T-39. La Salle 6, T-39. Duquesne 6, 42. Sacred Heart 5, T-43. Colgate 3, T-43. UMBC 3, T-43. Monmouth 3, 46. Bucknell 2.50, T-47. James Madison 2, T-47. Binghamton 2, T-47. St. Joseph's 2, 50. Army 1.50, T-51. St. Francis, N.Y. 1, T-51. Morgan State 1.
UAlbany Women's Results
60-Meter Dash (Finals): 1. Fey Adaramola 7.55 (Matches School Record). 200-Meter Dash (Finals): 5. Fey Adaramola 24.47. 500-Meter Dash (Finals): 5. Sheena Simpkins 1:14.63. 3,000-Meter Run: 10. Jenn Pierson 9:48.02. Triple Jump: 13. Tiffany Sprenkels 38-6, 20. Ashley Mahlmeister 37-9.25. Weight Throw: 7. Kadine Johnson 56-3.75.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information