Eugene 2008 Track and Field Olympic Trials: UAlbany's Joe Greene

Friday, June 27, 2008

1:00 p.m. 100m Hurdles women heptathlon
1:55 High Jump women heptathlon
4:20 Shot Put women heptathlon
5:00 Opening Ceremony
5:30 100m women qualifying
5:40 Triple Jump women qualifying
5:50 Pole Vault men qualifying
6:00 200m women heptathlon
6:30 400m Hurdles women quarterfinal
7:05 400m Hurdles men quarterfinal

Saturday, June 28, 2008

12:45 p.m. Javelin Throw women qualifying
2:00 Long Jump women heptathlon
2:30 100m men qualifying
3:05 Wheelchair 1500m men exhibition
3:20 Javelin Throw women heptathlon
3:25 100m women semifinal
3:45 Paralympics Ambulatory 100m men exhibition
3:55 400m Hurdles men semifinal

Sunday, June 29, 2008

10:00 a.m. 100m men decathlon
10:50 Long Jump men decathlon
12:00 p.m. Shot Put men decathlon
1:15 High Jump men decathlon
2:25 Triple Jump women final
2:30 100m men semifinal
2:40 Pole Vault men final
3:00 400m women quarterfinal
3:15 Discus Throw women final
3:15 Long Jump men final
3:35 400m men decathlon
4:02 400m Hurdles women final
4:17 400m Hurdles men final

UAlbany to Olympics - A Real Possibility

Joe Greene, a UAlbany junior, will compete Friday in the quarterfinals of the 400-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic team trials at the University of Oregon.

Greene, a two-time All-American, becomes the first track athlete to compete in the U.S. trials while enrolled at UAlbany.

"Oh, man, it feels awesome," he said. "This is a Division I program on the rise, and I knew from day one my freshman year that I was going to do something great with this program."

It's a satisfying conclusion to a frustrating season for Greene, who was slowed by a hamstring injury that kept him from reaching the NCAA championships for the third consecutive year.

He only qualified for the U.S. trials because of the school record time of 49.92 seconds he ran in last year's NCAA championships. He finished fourth.

"For me to still have the chance to go to the Olympics is awesome," he said.

But it's unlikely this year. Greene's best time is ranked 30th among those who are entered in the 400 hurdles this weekend.

Only the top three finishers, who also meet the Olympic qualifying standard, will make the U.S. team and travel to the Summer Games in Beijing.

The top seed, two-time Olympian James Carter, has a trials qualifying time of 47.72, more than two seconds faster than Greene.

Even Greene said he's just focused on being one of the 16 finishers to advance to the semifinals on Saturday. The final is on Sunday.

UAlbany track coach Roberto Vives, accompanying Greene to Oregon, said the experience can serve as a building block to win an NCAA title as a senior next year.

"He's been training consistently for the past seven weeks," Vives said. "He's capable of doing some good things."

Greene said he feels his balky hamstring is "close to 100 percent."

"I feel pretty good right now," he said. "I feel I can go out there and do something special."

Greene does have international experience, having run at the junior world championships in China two years ago. Still, his best chance of an Olympic bid could come at the 2012 Games in London. He said he wants to go professional after college.

"He's competing (this week) with some very experienced guys in their 30s and late 20s who have been out of college," Vives said. "The next (Olympics) is really his best shot."

Courtesy: MARK SINGELAIS

University of Albany Track Star Joe Green Returns For The Penn Relays

University of Albany track All-American Joe Greene will return to action today after missing 2 1/2 months with a high hamstring strain.

Greene, a junior, will compete on UAlbany's 1,600-meter relay team at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia this afternoon. Then he'll run in the 400 hurdles at the Union College Invitational in Schenectady on Saturday.

Greene finished fourth in the 400 hurdles at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships last June in a time of 49.92 seconds. UAlbany track coach Roberto Vives said Greene still has time to qualify for the NCAAs and a shot to win the school's first Division I national championship.

"That's still not out the window," Vives said. "He comes back quickly (from injury). He's a little behind this year, but he's more experienced, too." This year's championship is June 11-14 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Greene injured his right leg during indoor track season at Boston University's Valentine Invitational on Feb. 9. "It'll take time to get the timing and rhythm," Vives said. "Everything will feel like new again."

Greene simply needs to post a time at Union on Saturday to qualify for the America East Conference championship May 3 and 4. He is the league's defending champion in the 400 hurdles. The ultimate goal, according to Vives, is to have Greene ready for the Olympic trials in Oregon, June 27-July 6.

"Hopefully, he'll be peaking at the right time," Vives said. "In reality, he's probably an Olympics away (2012), if he decides to stay in the sport."

Pallozzi and Greene Earn All-American Status at NCAA Track & Field Championships

Sacramento, Calif. – University at Albany’s Marc Pallozzi finished eighth in the finals of the javelin throw to earn his second-straight All-American status at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on Friday evening at California State University, Sacramento’s A.G. Spanos Sports Complex. Sophomore Joe Greene finished fourth in the men’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles finals on Saturday afternoon to also earn All-American status. With their finishes, the pair became the first Great Dane track and field athletes in UAlbany history to score points at an NCAA meet.

Greene’s time of 49.92 set a new school record and made him the top UAlbany finisher at an NCAA event. Pallozzi, who finished 10th in the NCAA Championships last year, recorded a throw of 224-feet, 5-inches to finish eighth.

“Joe had a great performance,” said UAlbany head coach Roberto Vives. “He used running in lane 8, which is usually a disadvantage, to his advantage because he wasn’t watching the other runners. He made a step up from last season and defeated guys he hadn’t beaten before.”

Greene, a two-time IC4A champion and the 2007 America East Conference Championship’s most outstanding performer, finished third at NCAA East Regionals to qualify for the national meet. He sprinted a school-record 50.18 to register the best finish by a UAlbany athlete in regional competition.

“To have two All-Americans is great for our program,” offered Vives. “Our goal is to become a top-20 track and field program, and we are on our way.”

NCAA Track & Field Championships

Men’s Javelin

1. Justin Ryncavage (North Carolina), 241-5; 2. Adam Montague (North Carolina), 236-1; 3. Aris Borjas (Cal Poly), 234-4; 4. Cody Fillinich (Northwestern State), 230-5; 5. Chris Hill (McNeese State), 229-4; 6. Chad Rdgowski (LSU), 225-11; 7. Ryan Brandel (Oregon), 225-11; 8. Marc Pallozzi (UAlbany), 224-5; 9. Michael Maloney (Tennessee), 220-11; 10. Preston Chatham (LSU), 212-3; 11. Tanner Evak (Penn State), 207-4; 12. Alex vanderMerwe (Texas-El Paso), 199-6.

400-Meter Hurdles –Finals

1. Isa Phillips (LSU), 48.51; 2. Brandon Johnson (UCLA), 49.02; 3. Justin Gaymon (Georgia), 49.43; 4. Joe Greene (UAlbany), 49.92; 5. Thomas Hilliard (South Carolina), 49.93; 6. Andrew Peresta (Hampton), 50.85; 7. Bryan Scott (Texas Tech), 51.01; 8. Hamza Deyaf (Texas), 51.24.

UAlbany's Joe Greene Reaches 400-Meter Hurdle Finals at NCAA Championships

Sacramento, Calif. – University at Albany’s Joe Greene advanced to the men’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles finals for the second straight year at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on Friday evening at California State University, Sacramento’s A.G. Spanos Sports Complex. Greene finished third in his heat in a time of 50.20. The top three in each of the two heats, along with the next best two times, automatically advanced the next round.

Louisiana State’s Isa Phillips posted the day’s best time in the second heat, crossing the line in 49.31. Brandon Johnson of UCLA finished in 49.41, while Justin Gaymon of Georgia posted a time of 49.85. Along with Greene, Thomas Hillard of South Carolina (50.01), Bryan Scott of Texas Tech (50.13), Andrew Peresta of Hampton (50.21) and Hamza Deyaf of Texas (50.60) advanced to the finals, which will take place on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET.

“I am really proud of him,” said UAlbany head coach Roberto Vives. “It was technically one of his worst races of the year, but he caught all of those guys to finish third. He is a true competitor.”

Greene, a two-time IC4A champion and the 2007 America East Conference Championship’s most outstanding performer, finished third at NCAA East Regionals to qualify for the national meet. He sprinted a school-record 50.18 to register the best finish by a UAlbany athlete in regional competition.

Marc Pallozzi, the UAlbany record holder in the men’s javelin, will compete in the finals on Friday at 10:15 p.m. ET. He placed 10th in last year’s NCAA championship.

NCAA Track & Field Championships

400-Meter Hurdles – Semifinals (Advance to Finals)

1. Isa Phillips (LSU), 49.31, 2. Brandon Johnson (UCLA), 49.41, 3. Justin Gaymon (Georgia), 49.85, 4. Thomas Hilliard (South Carolina), 50.01, 5. Bryan Scott (Texas Tech), 50.13, 6. Joe Greene (UAlbany), 50.20, 7. Andrew Peresta (Hampton), 50.21, 8. Hamza Deyaf (Texas), 50.60