University of Albany Women’s Track Claims Third Consecutive Indoor Conference Title - UAlbany Sports 2015

NEW YORK – For the third consecutive year, and fifth in their last six, the University at Albany women’s indoor track & field team won the America East Indoor Championships. In victory, the women scored 197.66 points, edging UMBC, who was second with 153 points, and last year’s runner-up Binghamton, who was third with 118 points. The women did not score in their first track event, the mile. Michelle Anthony and Niamani Morrison placed first and second in the 60 hurdles to open up track scoring for the Great Danes. Anthony ran 8.52 and Morrison ran 8.90. Grace Claxton set a new championship meet record in the 400, winning the event in 54.17, a new season best. Halie Snyder placed second in a new season best 55.92. In the 500, Kamilah Williams placed third with a time of 1:14.96. Aderinsola Ajala placed fourth in 1:15.28, a new personal best. Chanel Smith placed fifth in the 60 in 7.81. Kahlia Taylor placed sixth in 7.81. Michelle Anthony placed seventh in 7.84. Dominique Claudio placed second in the 800 in 2:10.58. Claxton, returning from the 400, placed fourth in the 200 in 24.74. Taylor, returning from the 60, placed fifth in 25.20. Anthony, tripling up from the 60 hurdles and 60 dash, placed sixth in 25.21. Smith, also returning from the 60, placed eighth in 25.40. In the field events, Alexx Baum won the triple jump in a season best 40’-7.75”. Solène Bastien was third in 40’-4”. T’Sian Haywood was eighth in 38’ Janice Johnson placed second in the shot put, throwing a new personal best of 45’-7.75”, surpassing her previous best by more than a foot. Chinwe Igwe placed sixth, throwing 41’-1.75”. Zoe Doolittle placed seventh with a mark of 40’-8.75”. Min Pacella placed second in the high jump, clearing a personal best and ECAC qualifying height of 5’-7”. Rochelle Reid was part of a five-way tie for the third best jump of the day, ultimately tying for third with Alisha Beeman from UMBC and Jackie Crunden from Binghamton in 5’-5”. The women won the 4x800 relay in 9:16.29, which also satisfies the ECAC standard. Chinira Lovick led off in 2:19.1, followed by Claudio in 2:16.4, Hannah Smith in 2:21.9, and Schuyler Pruyn in 2:18.7. The women also won the 4x400 relay to close the meet in 3:47.43. Ajala led off in 56.8, followed by Williams in 56.7, Snyder in 58.3, and Claxton in 55.4. The women compiled victories in six events during the championship meet. They share in their team victory with the UAlbany men, who scored 191 points to claim their 10th consecutive victory. They defeated runner-up Binghamton, who scored 133.33 points. The women’s coaching staff won the Coaching Staff of the Year Award, which they shared with the staff from UMBC. With conference championships now concluded, the Great Danes will visit Boston for the next two weeks for the Boston University Last Chance Meet next weekend, followed by the ECAC Championships in two weeks, also at Boston University. Additionally, Briana Cherry-Bronson and Michelle Anthony have qualified for the USA Indoor National Championships in the weight throw and 60 hurdles, respectively, which will take place next week at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.