University of Albany's Leuchanka and Cummings Win Events With IC4A and ECAC Qualifying Times at Duke - UAlbany Sports 2010

Durham, N.C. - Freshman Alex Leuchanka and senior Laura Cummings each won events with IC4A and ECAC qualifying times as the UAlbany outdoor track and field teams wrapped up the weekend at the Duke Invitational on Saturday, April 3 at Wallace Wade Stadium. Craig Weiss also became the third Great Dane to qualify for the USA Junior National Championships this year.

Leuchanka's winning time of 30:44.22 in the men's 10,000-meter run late Friday evening outdistanced the second-place finisher from Pittsburgh by over 11 seconds. The mark was an America East Conference best this season by over two minutes. In addition, the time ranked as one of the top 30 times in the East Region and was among the top 10 marks nationally by a freshman. R.J. Sniffen was also victorious that same evening by winning his section of the men's 5,000 in 15:09.82.

Cummings won the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:38.43 by running one of the fastest times in the nation this spring. Jenn Pierson, who was competing in the event for the first time at any level, also met the ECAC standard by finishing third in 10:44.82. Cummings and Pierson's times were also the top two marks in the America East Conference this season. In addition, Weiss qualified for USA Junior Nationals by finishing the men's steeplechase in a 13th-place time of 9:37.76.

Fred Casimo and Candice Mann led the Great Danes in the field events. Casimo placed fifth in the men's long jump by leaping 23-feet, 9.50-inches to qualify for the IC4A Championship, while Mann finished fourth in the shot put with a mark of 40-7.75.

The UAlbany men's and women's outdoor track and field teams will compete at the UMass Invitational on Saturday, Apr. 10 at 11:30 a.m.

Paw Prints: After sending R.J. Sniffen to the national meet in the 5,000-meter run last season, UAlbany already has three student-athletes who have qualified for the USA Junior National Championships this year ... Freshman Craig Weiss, who met the standard of 9:38.00 in the men's steeplechase this afternoon, will join classmates Sean Halpin and Ashley Mahlmeister at the prestigious event which takes place annually at the end of June ... Halpin and Mahlmeister eclipsed qualifying marks during the indoor season and are slated to compete in the men's 1,500-meter run and women's triple jump, respectively.

UAlbany Men's Results
100-Meter Dash (Seeded Prelims): 31. Germain Smith 11.31. 400-Meter Dash (Seeded): 30. Alex Petit-Frere 50.58. 110-Meter High Hurdles (Prelims): 24. Mohamed Kanu 15.58. 800-Meter Run (Developmental): 10. Ian Ellis 1:56.76. 5,000-Meter Run (Section B): 1. R.J. Sniffen 15:09.82. 10,000-Meter Run: 1. Alex Leuchanka 30:44.22 (IC4A). 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: 8. Ethan Clary 9:29.56, 13. Craig Weiss 9:37.76 (USA Junior National), 17. Chris Manico 9:47.04. Long Jump: 5. Fred Casimo 23-9.50 (IC4A). Discus Throw: 19. Stephen Hassard 139-0, 20. Will Anger 138-3.

UAlbany Women's Results
100-Meter Dash (Seeded Prelims): 26. Nyree Richardson 12.78. 200-Meter Dash (Seeded): 18. Nyree Richardson 25.67, 21. Jessica Hunter 25.81, 36. Tierra Chavis 26.21, 38. Elia Francis 26.31. 400-Meter Dash (Seeded): 21. Tierra Chavis 59.36, 22. Brittany Eveleth 59.44, 23. Jessica Hunter 59.45, 29. Elia Francis 59.90. 100-Meter High Hurdles (Prelims): 21. Ashley Mahlmeister 15.13. 800-Meter Run (Developmental): 7. Maureen Nweke 2:21.13, 26. Kendra Adams 2:24.66. 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: 1. Laura Cummings 10:38.43 (ECAC), 3. Jenn Pierson 10:44.82 (ECAC). Long Jump: 9. Pat McNish 18-5.25, 18. Ashley Mahlmeister 17-4. Discus Throw: 17. Ashley Lewis 110-8. Shot Put: 4. Candice Mann 40-7.75, 11. Ashley Lewis 38-8.25, 18. Catie Coxon 35-6. 4x100-Meter Relay: 12. Nyree Richardson, Ashley Mahlmeister, Elia Francis, Jessica Hunter 49.56. 4x400-Meter Relay: 9. Elia Francis, Brittany Eveleth, Tierra Chavis, Jessica Hunter 3:57.66.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information