University of Albany Men's Indoor Takes Seventh Straight AEast Title; Women Finish Second

Boston, Mass. - Winning six of 20 events, the University at Albany men's indoor track and field team won its seventh straight America East Conference title Saturday afternoon at Boston University's Track and Tennis Center. The women's team, finishing just four and a half points behind first place Boston U., fell short of their third straight conference title. Four event titles were given to the women's squad.

The men's squad has won nine of the previous ten conference titles. Alfonso Scannapieco was honored as the Most Outstanding Field Performer, while the UAlbany received the Indoor Coaching Staff of the Year honor.

Scannapieco ended the weekend with two event titles; capturing the heptathlon and pole vault. In the pole vault, he completed a season-best 17 foot and one inch soar. Completing the last three events of the heptathlon today Scannapieco finished with 5, 202 points for the crown.

In addition to Kadeem Howell's 23' 11.50" title winning long jump yesterday, Alexander Bowen picked up another field event title in the high jump. Bowen leaped a 6' 9.75" distance for the top mark on the day.

On the track, the men captured titles in the 1,000 and 5,000 meter events. Chris Burke finished the 1,000 in 2:25.57, while Alex Leuchanka grabbed the 5,000 title yesterday crossing the tape at 14:24.60 to set a new school record.

Both distance medley teams garnered second place finishes with a 9:58.93 time for the men's side and 11:55.03 time for the women's squad. Tyler Fogarty, Alex Petit-Frere, Andrew Pirnie and Chris Buchanan split up the legs for the men's distance medley. On the women's side, Brianne Bellon, Brittany Eveleth, Jonelle White and Miranda McConnell ran in sync for the second place finish.

Pat McNish also finished the weekend with two titles. After a school record setting long jump yesterday, she finished Saturday with a 40 foot and four inch triple jump for the conference title.

On the track, Sherez Mohamed both a school and meet record in the 500 meter as she clocked in at 1:12.29 for the first place finish. The legs of Elia Francis, Kamilah Williams, Tenica Roberts and Alli Rogers finished in 3:46.26 setting a conference meet and school record in the 4x400 meter relay event. The 4x800 and distance medley teams for the Great Danes both placed second.

Rogers set a school record in the 400 meter trials and finished second in the final event in a time of 55.19.

The indoor season continues next weekend for the Armory Collegiate Challenge in New York City.

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports