University of Albany's Luke Schoen Becomes Second Great Dane to Qualify for NCAA Track And Field Regional at Raleigh Relays - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Raleigh, N.C. – Junior Luke Schoen won the pole vault and qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championship to lead the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at the first day of the Raleigh Relays hosted by North Carolina State on Friday. It marked the second time in as many meets this spring that a Great Dane qualified for the regional championship.

Schoen, who was making his outdoor debut after most recently garnering All-America honors in the event at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, cleared 17-feet, 0.75-inches to place first among 17 competitors. In addition, Mike Dempsey finished sixth with a mark of 15-1.

The UAlbany men also had two other student-athletes post top-10 performances in the their respective race of the 5,000-meter run, which was divided up into four sections. Running in the third section, R.J. Sniffen (Shaker) placed second in 15:04.85, narrowly missing the USA Junior National Championship qualifying standard of 15:04.50. Brian Yurkewecz (Fonda-Fultonville) placed fourth in the same race, clocking in a time of 15:06.20.

The women’s team also had a pair of student-athletes compete in the 5,000-meter run. Kristin Grab (Tamarac) placed second in the fourth section by registering a personal-best time of 18:48.45, while Ally Panos placed fifth in 18:12.32 in section three.

The UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams will continue competing at the Raleigh Relays on Saturday, March 28 at 10:00 a.m.

PAW PRINTS: Luke Schoen and Joe Greene have each qualified for the 2009 NCAA East Regional Championship in the pole vault and 400-meter intermediate hurdles, respectively ... Both Great Danes have previously garnered All-America laurels outdoors in their premier event ... Schoen finished fifth in the pole vault at the 2008 NCAA Championship, while Greene placed fourth in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles at the 2007 NCAA meet ... The 2009 NCAA East Regional Championship will be he hosted by North Carolina A&T in Greensboro, N.C. from May 29-30.

UAlbany Men’s Results

100-Meter Dash: 61. Kevin O’Riley 11.79. 110-meter high hurdles (prelims): 32. Freddie Wills 15.74, 37. Nicholas Assini 16.38. 400-meter intermediate hurdles: 28. Andrew Overbaugh 55.47, 31. Peter Rowell 55.94, 40. Nicholas Assini 57.78. 5,000-meter run (Section III): 2. R.J. Sniffen 15:04.85, 4. Brian Yurkewecz 15:06.20. Long Jump: 22. Freddie Wills 20-11.75, 40. Kevin O’Riley 19-7. Pole Vault: 1. Luke Schoen 17-00.75 (NCAA Regional), 6. Mike Dempsey 15-1.

UAlbany Women’s Results

5,000-meter run (Section III): 5. Ally Panos 18:21.32. 5,000-meter run (Section IV): 2. Kristin Grab 18:48.45.

University of Albany's Pole Vaulter Luke Schoen Ties for Second at NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championships

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Tallahassee, Fla. – University at Albany’s Luke Schoen matched his own school record in tying for second place in the men’s pole vault at the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday, May 31 at Florida State University’s Mike Long Track. Schoen advanced to the NCAA Division I Championships on June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa. The top-five finishers in each event automatically qualify for nationals.

Schoen, a sophomore from Bohemia, N.Y., cleared the bar at 17-feet, 5-inches on his second attempt to equal a program mark he established at the UAlbany Spring Classic three weeks ago. Schoen, who finished15th in NCAA regional competition as freshman, won the America East Conference title and placed second at the IC4A meet earlier this month.

Clemson’s Mitch Greeley won the pole vault by clearing 17-feet, 9-inches, a height the senior made on his first approach. Schoen and Virginia Tech’s Yavgeniy Olhovsky tied for the runner-up position after each vaulter missed three times at Greeley’s winning mark.

“It’s a sweet feeling to make nationals” said Schoen, whose father, Ken, played on UAlbany’s first three varsity football teams from 1973-75. “Technically, it was one of my best days. I just got a new pole, and it gave me some extra height. I just missed at 17-9, so I feel there’s more to come.”

Mike McCadney, a junior who was coming off victories at the America East and IC4A championships, was not as fortunate in the men’s triple jump. McCadney went 50-feet, 3.25-inches on his first try, but then fouled on his next two attempts. McCadney, who narrowly missed a trip to NCAA nationals last year, ended up in 12th position.

In the women’s triple jump, Jenn Gurrant placed 17th after posting a distance of 40-feet, 8.75-inches on her second attempt. Gurrant, who was making her second consecutive regional appearance, took third at the ECAC meet on May 19. Arina Gerasimova was 22nd in the same event with a leap of 39-6.50. Laura Cummings, the America East champion in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, finished in 21st place with a time of 11:00.17.

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NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Championships (Tallahassee, Fla.)

Men’s Pole Vault Final

1. Mitch Greeley (Clemson), 17-9, t2. Luke Schoen (UAlbany), 17-5, t2. Yavgeniy Olhovsky (Virginia Tech), 17-5, t4. Gonzalo Barriolhet (Florida State), 16-7.25, t4. Sean Young (South Florida), 16-7.25, t7. Jordan Jodon (Virginia Tech), 16-7.25, t7. Justin Semeyn (Florida), 16-7.25.

Valete Graham Places 13th in Men's Long Jump at NCAA East Regional Track and Field Meet

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Tallahassee, Fla. – University at Albany’s Valete Graham finished 13th in the men’s long jump at the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, May 30 at Florida State University’s Mike Long Track. Graham, a sophomore, is one of 12 UAlbany athletes competing in the two-day regional competition.

Graham went 23-feet, 8.75-inches on his first attempt. The reigning America East Conference champion qualified for the regional by topping the 24-foot mark at last month’s Penn Relays. Florida State’s Ngonidzashe Makusha went 26-0.25 to capture the NCAA East Regional crown. The top-five finishers in each event automatically advance to the NCAA Championships on June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa. UAlbany’s Kyle Nadler was 24th in the long jump with a leap of 22-7.

Daniel Avery and Jean Juste did not reach the men’s 110-meter hurdles final after placing third and fourth, respectively in their heat. Avery, a freshman who already holds the program’s top Division I time, was clocked in 14.04 seconds. Juste, who won the America East title in a conference-record performance, sprinted 14.26, just one-hundredth of a second off his personal best. Kamilah McShine, the America East champion in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, was sixth in her heat with a time of 14.21 seconds and failed to advance. Jeffery Barnes, the America East 200-meter winner, took sixth in his preliminary heat in 21.76.

Pole vaulter Luke Schoen, the school record holder, leads a group of six athletes who will compete during Saturday’s schedule. Schoen vaulted 17-feet, 5-inches earlier this month. Michael McCadney, who is coming off victories at the America East and IC4A championships, posted a school-record effort in the triple jump two weeks ago. Laura Cummings established the program’s standard in the 3,000-meter steeplechase when she won the conference crown.