2009 NCAA Indoor Track And Field Championships - UAlbany's Athletes Heading To College Station, TX

Friday and Saturday... March 13-14, 2009


UAlbany Athletes And Events

Men’s 4x400 meter relay - Alie Beauvais, Jeffery Barnes, Peter Rowell, and Joe Greene
Men’s 4x800 meter relay - Joe Belokopitsky, Nick Santos, John Moore and Tyler Fogarty
Triple Jump - Jenn Gurrant
Triple Jump - Mike McCadney
Triple Jump - Nasim Siddeeq
400 meter dash – Joe Greene
800 meter run – Tyler Fogarty
60 meter hurdles – Jean Juste
Pole vault – Luke Schoen

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

Joe Greene Reaches 400-Hurdles Semifinals at NCAA Track & Field Championships

Sacramento, Calif. – University at Albany’s Joe Greene advanced to the men’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles semifinals for the second straight year at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on Thursday, June 7 at California State University, Sacramento’s A.G. Spanos Sports Complex. Greene won his heat in 50.64 seconds, the fourth-fastest time of the day. The top two in each of the five heats automatically advanced the next round.

Texas Tech’s Bryan Scott, who was eighth in this event last year, won his heat in 50.31 seconds. Auburn’s Rueben McCoy had one of the top times in the preliminary round when he hit the tape in the second heat in 50.90. McCoy placed fourth in the 400-hurdles final one year ago. Sixteen competitors will run in Friday’s semifinals at 8:55 p.m. ET. The top three finishers in each race, along with the next best two times, advance to the championship.

"I am satisfied with my result,” said Greene, who represented the United States at the World Junior Championships in China last August. “This is my second time here, so I knew what to expect and the atmosphere. The wind was kind of heavy in the backstretch, but I kept my arms tight and hit the hurdles smooth and even. I am staying focused I what I have to do, so I didn’t even see the other heats."

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.

Marc Pallozzi Advances to Men's Javelin Final at NCAA Track & Field Championships

Sacramento, Calif. -- University at Albany’s Marc Pallozzi advanced to the men’s javelin final at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, June 6 at California State University, Sacramento’s A.G. Spanos Sports Complex. Pallozzi reached the final round for the second straight year with a throw of 216-feet, 2-inches.

Pallozzi finished seventh in his flight and 11th overall against 26 throwers in the preliminary round. He earned a spot in the 12-competitor final on Friday at 10:15 p.m. ET. Defending NCAA champion Justin Ryncavage, of North Carolina, took ninth in the preliminaries (217-10), while McNeese State’s Chris Hill had the best mark of the day (238-10).

“It was a nerve-racking experience,” said Pallozzi, the America East Conference champion whose best throw came on his first attempt. “There is certainly a sense of relief that I made the final. Funny things happen at nationals and there were several top-10 throwers who didn’t make it today. It’s going to take a school record in the 71-meter range to finished in the top three in Friday’s final.”

Pallozzi, the UAlbany record holder in this event, reached the NCAA meet with a fifth-place finish at East Regionals on May 26. He placed 10th at last year’s NCAA championships. Gered Burns (Guilderland) competes later today at 6:40 p.m. ET in the 800-meter run.

NCAA Track & Field Championships

Men’s Javelin – Preliminary Round

1. Chris Hill (McNeese State), 238-10, 2. Chad Rodgowski (LSU), 230-07, 3. Aris Borjas (Cal Poly-SLO), 229-04, 4. Alex vanderMerwe (Texas-El Paso), 227-0, 5. Ryan Brandel (Oregon), 226-05, 6. Cody Fillinich (Northwestern State), 224-07, 7. Tanner Evak (Penn State), 224-02, 8. Adam Montague (North Carolina), 217-11, 9. Justin Ryncavage (North Carolina), 217-10, 10. Matthew Maloney (Tennessee), 216-06, 11. Marc Pallozzi (UAlbany), 216-02, 12. Preston Chatham (LSU), 214-02.