University of Albany Track & Field's Valete Graham & Laura Cummings Voted to All-District I Academic Team - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. – University at Albany’s Valete Graham and Laura Cummings have been named to the ESPN The Magazine District I Academic All-America Track and Field Teams, as announced on Thursday, June 4 by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Graham was selected to the all-district first team and will be placed on the national ballot, while Cummings made the second team.

Graham, a junior psychology major who carries a 3.74 cumulative grade point average, was a member of the America East indoor and outdoor all-academic teams. He was also named to the 2008 USTFCCCCA Division I All-Academic Team. Graham, who has helped the Great Danes win six America East championships and two IC4A titles in his career, broke school records in the long jump this year at the America East championship (24-9.50, outdoors) and Arkansas’ Tyson Invitational (24-5, indoors). The league’s two-time defending outdoor long jump champion was named All-East for placing seventh with a mark of 24-2.25 at the NCAA East Regional last weekend. His effort helped UAlbany finish 10th among 122 schools in the region with 21 points, which are both program highs. A native of Bronx, N.Y., Graham met the IC4A standard in both horizontal jumping events indoors and outdoors. He placed fifth in the long jump at the IC4A indoor meet (23-5.50) and seventh at the outdoor championship (23-10.25). UAlbany became the first school to sweep the IC4A team titles in the same year since Rutgers in 2005.

Cummings, a senior English major with a 3.41 cumulative GPA, is being awarded all-district honors for the second straight season. She was one of two distance runners to garner all-academic team laurels by America East in all three sports, and also earned a spot on the 2008 USTFCCCCA Division I All-Academic Team. Cummings, who holds the school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:33.60), is a two-time all-conference recipient and NCAA East Regional Championship qualifier. Cummings placed 20th at the regional meet last weekend, clocking in at 10:53.90. Her third-place performance at the league championship helped the Great Danes win their third America East crown in the last four years. At ECAC indoors, she most notably ran on the 4x800-meter relay squad which placed third and set a program standard (9:00.07). A native of Bay Shore, N.Y., Cummings anchored the distance medley relay team to a second-place finish (12:16.84) at the America East championship.

University of Albany's Joe Greene & Ricardo Estremera Qualify for NCAAs at East Regional Track & Field Championship - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Greensboro, N.C. – University at Albany’s Joe Greene placed third in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and Ricardo Estremera finished fifth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA East Regional Track & Field Championship on Saturday, May 30. The two-day competition was held at North Carolina A&T State University’s Irwin Belk Track. Each athlete automatically qualified for the NCAA Division I Championship at the University of Arkansas on June 10-13.

Greene, a senior who qualified for NCAA nationals for the third time in the last four years, covered the track in 50.21 seconds. South Carolina’s Johnny Dutch set a facility record in hitting the tape first in 48.77, while Georgia’s Justin Gaymon was second in 49.22.

“My main goal was to make the top five,” said Greene, who did not compete last year due to a leg injury. “This matched my highest finish at the regionals, but I know I need to go back to practice and the drawing board to focus on what I need to work on.”

Estremera, whose right shoe was damaged in the opening meters of the steeplechase, ran a finishing time of 8:52.76. A two-time America East champion in the event, he remained in the top five of the fastest section the entire race and posted the second-fastest mark in school history.

“I was really nervous,” Estremera explained. “I was elbowed in the chest and my stomach, and somebody spiked me in my right foot and sliced open the shoe. I took the lead in the race to avoid the crowd. My foot was coming out of my spike at the water jump, but I knew this was my last chance to make it to NCAAs. I didn’t give up and held on. I was in pain throughout the race, but I stayed optimistic and positive until the end of the race to accomplish my goal.”

Greene’s anchor leg in the 4x400-meter relay helped the Great Danes finish fourth and shatter the school record. His 45-second split caught the Georgia squad in the last five meters, as UAlbany won its section in 3:06.89. The previous standard of 3:08.86 had been previously established twice and was last set in April at the Florida Relays. Jeffrey Barnes, Joe Belokopitsky and Alie Beauvais ran the opening three legs. UAlbany could still make the NCAA field when the at-large selections are announced on Tuesday.

In addition, Beauvais took seventh in 400-hurdles in 51.53. Beauvais’ best mark this season of 49.99 ranked sixth in the nation entering this weekend’s four regional meets, which puts him in a solid position to earn an at-large bid. Kamilah McShine earned All-East recognition in the women’s 400-hurdles by finishing eighth in 1:02.64 in will also be placed in the at-large pool.

Mike McCadney advanced to the finals of the triple jump and placed seventh with a leap of 51-feet, 3.25-inches to garner All-East honors. The performance eclipsed his own school record of 51-3 set at the IC4A championship two weeks ago. Luke Schoen, who tied for ninth in the pole vault by clearing 16-feet, 7.25-inches in his first competition since the Penn Relays, will be an at-large candidate in a bid for his second straight national championship berth. His top mark of 17-6.50 ranked tied for 12th in the nation heading into this weekend’s regional competition.

“This whole year has been very exciting, and we expect to be taking our largest group of athletes to the NCAA championship,” offered UAlbany coach Roberto Vives, whose program ended up 10th in the team standings and scored 21 points, both program bests in the regionals. “All of our student-athletes really stepped up to compete.”

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NCAA East Regional Track & Field Championship

Men’s Standings (51 scoring teams): 1. Florida 84, 2. South Carolina 62, 3. Georgia 59, 4. Florida State 51, 5. Georgia Tech 41, 6. Virginia 29, 7. Virginia Tech 26.50, 8. Cornell 26, 9. Clemson 23, 10. UAlbany 21.


UAlbany Men’s Results

400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Finals): 3. Joe Greene 50.21 (All-East), 7. Alie Beauvais 51.53 (All-East). 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: 5. Ricardo Estremera 8:52.76 (All-East). Triple Jump: 7. Mike McCadney 51-3.25. (All-East, School Record). Pole Vault: T-9. Luke Schoen 16-7.25. 4x400-Meter Relay: 4. UAlbany (Jeffery Barnes, Joe Belokopitsky, Alie Beauvais, Joe Greene), 3:06.89 (All-East, School Record).

UAlbany Women’s Results

400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Finals): 8. Kamilah McShine 1:02.64 (All-East). 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: 20. Laura Cummings 10:53.90. Triple Jump: 16. Jenn Gurrant 40-7.50.

University of Albany's Greene, Beauvais & McShine Advance in NCAA East Regional Track & Field Qualifying - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Greensboro, N.C. – University at Albany's Joe Greene, Alie Beauvais and Kamilah McShine each advanced in 400-meter intermediate hurdles qualifying on Friday, May 29 at the NCAA East Regional Track & Field Championships. The two-day competition is behing held at North Carolina A&T State University’s Irwin Belk Track.

The top five finishers in each event automatically qualify for the NCAA Division I Championship, hosted by the University of Arkansas on June 10-13. Other student-athletes who place in the top 12 will be considered for an at-large selection to the national competition.

Greene and Beauvais, who took the top two spots at the America East and IC4A championship meets, reached Saturday’s final of the 400-meter hurdles by placing sixth and seventh, respectively, in the preliminary round. Greene, a NCAA national qualifier in 2007, finished in 50.75 seconds while Beauvais clocked in at 50.81. McShine, who just picked up the event this year, finished seventh and broke her own school record by navigating the track in 58.89.

“We were very excited with the way the 400-meter hurdlers competed,” UAlbany coach Roberto Vives said. “I work with them throughout the year, so I knew they were ready. Joe and Alie look to be in good shape to make it to nationals. Kamilah is just a phenomenal athlete. For her to make it to the regional and advance to the final in just her first year of running the event is unbelievable.”

Valete Graham became the first Great Dane to advance to the final and earn All-East honors in the long jump. He finished seventh with a mark of 24-feet, 2.25-inches. He was just one centimeter shy of finishing in the top five which would have automatically qualified him for the national championship meet.

UAlbany sent a program-high 18 competiors to the regional championship. In addition to the three Great Danes who advanced to the final round of the 400m hurdles, UAlbany will have five athletes in competition on Saturday. Ricardo Estremera and Laura Cummings will run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Jenn Gurrant and Mike McCadney are entered in the triple jump. Luke Schoen, who earned All-America honors as a pole vaulter at the 2009 NCAA indoor championship, and a men’s 4x400-meter relay squad are also in action.

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UAlbany Men’s Results

110-Meter High Hurdles (Prelims): 17. Jean Juste 14.27. 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Prelims): 6. Joe Greene 50.75, 7. Alie Beauvais 50.81. 800-Meter Run (Prelims): 35. Tyler Fogarty 1:54.49. 1,500-Meter Run (Prelims): 41. John Moore 4:07.60. Long Jump: 7. Valete Graham 24-2.25, 18. Felipe Reyes 22-10.50.

UAlbany Women’s Results

100-Meter Dash (Prelims): 27. Fey Adaramola 11.93. 200-Meter Dash (Prelims): 25. Fey Adaramola 24.60. 100-Meter High Hurdles (Prelims): 21. Kamilah McShine 13.97. 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Prelims): 7. Kamilah McShine 58.89 (School Record).

University of Albany Women Win First America East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship Since 2007 - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Vestal, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Kamilah McShine and Fey Adaramola each won two events in leading their team to its first America East Conference women’s outdoor track & field championship since 2007 on Sunday, May 3. The Great Danes had 176.50 points, while runner-up New Hampshire scored 153 at Binghamton University’s East Gym Track Complex. UAlbany has garnered three America East women’s outdoor titles in its history.

UAlbany’s Joe Greene was a double-winner in the 400-meter dash and 400-meter hurdles to lead his team to its fifth consecutive men’s outdoor track & field championship. The Great Danes were comfortable winners with team total of 243.33 points.

McShine won the conference title in the 100-meter hurdles for third year in a row as she was clocked in 13.90 seconds. She completed the hurdles double for the first time in her career when she was the first to hit the tap in the 400 event. McShine posted a time of 59.74 that automatically qualified her for the NCAA East Regional.

Adaramola, who ran the second-fastest qualifying time in the preliminaries, bettered that mark to win the 100-meter dash final in 11.96. She later came back to take the 200-meters in an ECAC-qualifying time of 24.27. Adaramola, a Central Florida transfer, and McShine were both members of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams that each finished second.

“This has been a magical year for our program,” explained Vives, whose men’s and women’s program also captured outdoor titles in the same year in 2006 and 2007. “The missing piece has been the women winning the conference. Kamilah was composed and confident and Fey was our secret weapon, a real competitor.”

Ritshell Verdier set a school record in the hammer throw to win the conference championship for the second time in her career. Verdier broke her own standard by more than two feet with a toss of 159-feet, 9-inches. She was also third in the shot put with a mark 42-0. Jenn Gurrant, who also competed on both second-place relay squads, was the runner-up in the triple jump. Gurrant shattered the UAlbany record with a leap of 42-0.75. Vives and his assistants were named America East Conference Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.

In the men’s championship, Greene, who suffered a hamstring injury during the 2008 indoor season and never recovered to full strength, pulled off the 400-dash and 400-hurdles double for third time in his career. An NCAA All-America selection in 2007, he was named the championship’s most outstanding track performer for the third time in his career and won the coaches’ award for accumulating the meet’s highest individual point total. He set a school and meet record of 46.49 seconds in the 400-meters and lowered another conference mark in the 400-hurdles in 49.97. Greene also anchored the 4x400-meter relay to a winning time of 3:13.20. He was joined on the relay by Andrew Overbaugh, Jeffery Barnes and Alie Beauvais.

“Last year was very frustrating for Joe and he wanted to go out on top,” UAlbany coach Roberto Vives said. “He is very team-oriented, but today he established himself as one of the top hurdlers in the country.”

Middle-distance runner John Moore was also a key figure as the Great Danes surged from their second-place standing after the first day of competition. Moore won the 800-meter run in an IC4A-qualifying time of 1:51.25 and was second in the 1,500-meter in 3:51.56. He also ran the final leg on the winning 4x800-meter relay that finished in 7:32.37. Nick Santos, Ricardo Estremera and Joe Belokopitsky competed on the first three legs.

Jean Juste successfully defended his 110-meter hurdles crown by setting a conference record with a time of 14.40 seconds. A defensive back on the UAlbany football team, Juste was one of nine individual men’s champions. Freddie Wills came from behind on the second day to win the decathlon with 6,250 points. Wills was a winner in 110-hurdles and long jump in the 10-evert competition. Michael McCadney took first in the triple jump for the second consecutive year with a leap of 49-feet, 8.25-inches.

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America East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships

(Binghamton University’s East Gym Track Complex)

Women’s Team Standings

1. UAlbany 176.50, 2. New Hampshire 153, 3. Boston U. 140.50, 4. Maine 111, 5. Binghamton 80, 6. Vermont 69, 7. Stony Brook 50, 8. Hartford 39, 9. UMBC 34.

University of Albany's Valete Graham Wins Second Consecutive America East Conference Men's Long Jump Title - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Vestal, N.Y. – University at Albany’s Valete Graham won the long jump with a school-record leap and Ricardo Estremera was first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to highlight their team’s performances on the first day of competition at the America East Conference Track & Field Championships. The two-day event is being held at Binghamton University’s East Gym Track Complex.

Graham captured the long jump title for the second straight year and met the NCAA East Regional qualifying standard with a mark of 24-feet, 9.25 inches. He broke Felipe Reyes’ previous school standard of 24-6.25. UAlbany’s Fred Casimo (23-7.50) and Michael McCadney (23-10.25) finished second and third, respectively.

Estremera, who did not compete last year, captured his second conference steeplechase crown in the last three years. He set a facility record with a time of 8:59.45. Freddie Wills, who also sat out the 2008 outdoor season, is in second place after the first five events in the decathlon. Wills scored 3,393 points and won the long jump competition. UMBC’s Dominic Devaud has a 17-point lead going into the second day. Defending conference pole vault champion Luke Schoen did not compete due to a leg injury.

In preliminary races, defending America East champion Jean Juste advanced to Sunday’s 110-meter hurdles final by sprinting 14.57 seconds, the best time of the day. Joe Greene turned in the second-fastest time in the 400-meter dash (48.22) in working his way to the championship race. Alie Beauvais and Greene went one-two in qualifying for the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Beauvais and Greene were clocked in 52.09 and 53.34, respectively.

University of Albany's Kamilah McShine Already Qualifies For 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles @ 2009 NCAA Regionals - UAlbany Sports 2009

McShine overcame anxiety to be star in sometimes painful event. Hurdlers sometimes call them "battle scars."

"You have to fall," University at Albany track coach Roberto Vives explained. "I'm an ex-hurdler and I've still got scars on my knees and ankles and everything else."

It's also a reason why UAlbany senior Kamilah McShine was worried when she began the event as a senior at Ramapo High School in Spring Valley.

"I was scared of hurdles," she said. "I thought I was going to fall. All through high school, teammates would tell me to not be scared … Because it hurts."

McShine overcame her anxiety after her first race. She's blossomed into an elite hurdler for the Great Danes, who compete this weekend in the America East championships at Binghamton University.

She's entered in the 100-meter hurdles, 400 hurdles, 400 relay and long jump as the UAlbany women try to win their third conference outdoor title in four years.

McShine will attempt to defend her league title in the 100-meter hurdles, which she now calls her favorite event.

"It's just action," she said. "You achieve overcoming an obstacle every step of the race."

Her track career began at age 6 under the guidance of her uncle Earl Connell, who founded the Hinds' Feet Track Club and first trained her three older brothers.

Connell said his niece was hooked as soon as she ran the 50 meters in her first meet.

"I looked at her running and she had natural form," Connell said. "With her work ethic, I knew she was going to go far."

She began hurdling as part of the pentathlon before concentrating on the individual event at UAlbany.

McShine made the NCAA East regionals last spring, finishing 21st overall in the 100 hurdles.

She's already qualified in the 100 hurdles (13.90 seconds) and 400 hurdles (1:00.27) for the NCAA regionals at North Carolina A&T on May 29-30.

She took up the 400 hurdles only this year and may have a better chance of reaching the national championships in June in that event.

"I knew she was a great athlete and any great athlete can really transition to any event," Vives said.

That talent could lead her to the Olympics because McShine, born in Trinidad & Tobago, might be able to run for that Caribbean nation in the Games someday. She moved to New York at 2 years old.

"It's difficult to continue running (after college), but it's definitely possible if you have the determination to do it," she said.

But first comes graduate school. McShine, a double major in psychology and sociology, wants to pursue her master's at George Washington.

While McShine will be the first in her immediate family to graduate college, she is skipping commencement in two weeks to compete in the ECAC championships at Princeton.

She got permission from her parents, who now live in North Carolina.

"My family's actually coming to that track meet," she said. "I like track and cannot see myself sitting at a ceremony as opposed to competing."

Mark Singelais

University of Albany Track & Field's Greene, Cummings, de Jesus Elias & Lewis Receive America East Weekly Awards - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – University at Albany’s Joe Greene, Laura Cummings, Wilfredo de Jesus Elias and Ashley Lewis were named America East Conference track and field performers of the week, as announced on Tuesday, April 28 by the league office. All four Great Danes are being recognized for their efforts at this past weekend’s Penn Relays and Capital District Classic.

Greene, who was named the male track performer of the week, met the NCAA East Regional qualifying standard in the 400-meter hurdles and ran the 400-meter leg on the sprint medley relay team which won the IC4A title at the 115th Penn Relays on April 24. Greene placed second among 49 competitors in the championship section of the 400m hurdles in 50.53 seconds, while his split time of 46.8 helped the sprint medley relay placed third among 42 teams in 3:18.89.

Cummings, who earned female track performer of the week laurels, met the regional standard for the first time this spring in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and anchored the 4x800-meter relay team which qualified for the ECAC meet at Penn Relays. She finished fifth in the championship section of the steeplechase in 10:40.64 on April 24. Two days later, she helped the 4x800-meter relay finish eighth among 29 squads in the college race with a final time of 8:59.74.

de Jesus Elias earned male field performer of the week honors for his record-breaking performance in the Penn Relays’ college division of the hammer throw. He set a new school standard by more than a foot and a personal record by over seven feet with a mark of 192-feet, 8-inches, placing him third among 25 competitors. The previous record was 191-5, which was set by Eric Opuana in 2004.

Lewis was awarded female field performer of the week accolades for winning two events at the Capital District Classic hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The junior most notably set a school record in the javelin throw with a winning mark of 136-6, bettering Isabella Katsarelis’ throw of 125-4 set in 2006. She also became the first Great Dane to reach the qualifying standard for the ECAC championship meet. Lewis also won the long jump with a leap of 16-11.25 and placed second in the discus throw with a toss that sailed 128-0.

UAlbany’s track and field teams will compete at the America East Conference Championships, held at Binghamton University on May 2-3. The men’s team will look to win its fifth straight title and sixth in seven years, while the women’s squad is after its third championship overall and first since 2007.

University of Albany Steeplechasers Lead Track and Field on First Day of Penn Relays - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Philadelphia, Pa. – Laura Cummings and Ricardo Estremera each met the NCAA East Regional Championship standard in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to lead the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at the 115th running of the Penn Relays on Thursday, April 23. In addition, Kamilah McShine factored into a pair of ECAC qualifying marks on a blustery afternoon and evening at Franklin Field.

In the first event of the day, McShine placed second in her section and 13th overall among 59 competitors in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles championship. She navigated the track in 1:01.40, which was her second-fastest time ever. The senior captain then teamed up with Jenn Gurrant, Quante Harris and Fey Adaramola on the women’s 4x100-meter relay team which placed fifth in its heat and 43rd overall. Battling against winds which were gusting up to 26 miles per hour, the group crossed the tape in an ECAC qualifying time of 48.33 seconds.

Cummings, who holds the school record in the event, finished fifth in the steeplechase with a season-best mark of 10:40.64 to qualify for the regional meet. Estremera, who was the only member of the men’s team competing on the first day of the national meet, met the regional mark for the third time in as many chances this spring. He placed 10th in 9:01.76. Both student-athletes were competing in the men's and women's championship races.

The UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams will continue competing at the Penn Relays on Friday, April 24.

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UAlbany Men’s Results

3,000-Meter Steeplechase (Championship): 10. Ricardo Estremera 9:01.76 (NCAA Regional).

UAlbany Women’s Results

400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Championship): 13. Kamilah McShine 1:01.40 (ECAC). 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (Championship): 5. Laura Cummings 10:40.64 (NCAA Regional). Long Jump (Eastern): 14. Jenn Gurrant 18-6.50. Pole Vault (College): NH. Celine Cauderlier. Discus Throw: FOUL. Ritshell Verdier. Shot Put (Eastern): 22. Kadine Johnson 39-3, 24. Ritshell Verdier 38-7.50, 32. Ashley Lewis 34-2. 4x100-Meter Relay (Heats): 43. Kamilah McShine, Jenn Gurrant, Quante Harris, Fey Adaramola 48.33 (ECAC). 4x400-Meter Relay (Heats): 41. Melissa Lee, Zuliana Fontanez, Tierra Chavis, Fey Adaramola 3:55.40.

The Penn Relays - University of Albany Track And Field - UAlbany Sports 2009

The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It regularly attracts more than 15,000 participants from high schools, colleges, and track clubs throughout North America and abroad, notably Jamaica, competing in more than 300 events over five days.

Historically, the event has been credited with popularizing the running of relay races. It is held during the last full week in April, ending on the last Saturday in April. Attendance typically tops 100,000 over the final three days, and has been known to surpass 50,000 on Saturday. The Penn Relays also holds a CYO night for Catholic Middle Schools in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Preliminaries are run on the Tuesday during Carnival Week, and the Finals are run on Friday.

The first Penn Relays was held in 1895. Frank B. Ellis, chairman of Penn's track committee, was looking for an event to mark the dedication of the school's then new stadium, Franklin Field. Two years earlier, during his senior year at Penn, Penn and Princeton competed in a one-mile relay race in which four runners from each school each ran a quarter of a mile. That race had been an outgrowth of intramural relay races held at Penn. Ellis and others arranged a series of relay races to take place on Saturday afternoon, April 20, 1895. 64 competitors from eight colleges, six prep schools and two high schools took part. Eight two-team races were run with Harvard beating Penn in the mile-relay feature in 3:34.4.

Courtesy: Wikipedia

Four University of Albany Hurdlers Meet NCAA Regional Marks at UTECH Track and Field Classic in Jamaica - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Kingston, Jamaica – Hurdlers Alie Beauvais, Jean Juste, Joe Greene and Kamilah McShine all met the NCAA East Regional Championship qualifying standard in leading the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at the UTECH Track and Field Classic held at National Stadium on Saturday, April 18. The meet, which showcased several Olympic gold medalists, included over 150 athletes from the United States, Cuba, Sweden, The Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, Liberia, Senegal, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Korea and Norway.

Juste won the 110-meter high hurdles in a personal-best time of 14.14 seconds. It marked the second time this week that he won the individual title in his premier event. McShine, who qualified for the regional meet in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles in Florida two weeks ago, ran her fastest time ever in the 100-meter intermediate hurdles. She finished fourth in 13.90.

Beauvais and Greene placed third and fourth, respectively, in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Beauvais navigated the track in a personal-best time of 51.80, while Greene finished in 51.61.

The men’s team also had four IC4A qualifiers in the long jump and three in the 800-meter run. Valete Graham and Mike McCadney tied for third in the long jump for leaping 23-feet, 10-inches. Fred Casimo (Shaker) finished fifth with a mark of 23-7.25, while Felipe Reyes (Christian Brothers Academy) placed sixth for jumping 23-6.50. Tyler Fogarty (Shenendehowa), Joe Belokopitsky (Shaker) and John Moore (Fonda-Fultonville) placed fifth through seventh in the 800. Fogarty clocked in at 1:50.49, which was just .09 seconds shy of the NCAA Regional mark. Belokopitsky crossed the tape in 1:51.43, while Moore finished in 1:51.50.

Fey Adaramola factored into a pair of ECAC qualifying marks. She won the 100-meter dash in 11.96 seconds, and also teamed up with McShine, Jenn Gurrant and Quante Harris on the 4x100-meter relay team which finished fourth in 46.91. The mark was just 0.5 seconds shy of the school record. The women’s fifth-place 4x100-meter relay consisting of Sarah Lapierre (Lansingburgh), Sandy Antenor, Christen Griffin and Tierra Chavis also had an ECAC qualifying mark of 48.30.

Both relays on the men’s side met the IC4A standard. Juste, McCadney, Reyes and Jeffery Barnes (Albany) turned in a time of 41.06, which was just .28 seconds shy of the school standard. Beauvais, Barnes, Peter Rowell and Greene teamed up to finish the 4x400-meter relay in 3:10.36.

The UAlbany track and field teams will return to action next weekend to compete at two separate meets. Select members will head to the Penn Relays which runs from April 23-25, while others will attend the Capital District Classic hosted by Rensselaer on Saturday, April 25.

UAlbany Men’s Results

100-Meter Dash: 11. Mike McCadney 11.01. 200-Meter Dash: 14. Jeffery Barnes 21.84. 110-Meter High Hurdles: 1. Jean Juste 14.14 (NCAA Regional), 4. Garrett Askew 15.11, 5. Mohamed Kanu 15.43, 6. Freddie Wills 15.69. 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles: 3. Alie Beauvais 51.80 (NCAA Regional), 4. Joe Greene 51.61 (NCAA Regional), 10. Andrew Overbaugh 55.45, 11. Alan Nimblette 55.86, 12. Peter Rowell 55.99. 800-Meter Run: 5. Tyler Fogarty 1:50.49 (IC4A), 6. Joe Belokopitsky 1:51.43 (IC4A), 7. John Moore 1:51.50 (IC4A), 9. Ricardo Estremera 1:52.31, 11. Nick Santos 1:55.29, 12. Bryan Lasky 1:55.97, 16. Paul Lagno 1:58.65, 18. Jared Jupin 1:59.46, 20. Cory Greczyn 2:00.00. Long Jump: T-3. Valete Graham 23-10 (IC4A), T-3. Mike McCadney 23-10 (IC4A), 5. Fred Casimo 23-7.25 (IC4A), 6. Felipe Reyes 23-6.50 (IC4A), 7. Freddie Wills 23-2.25, 8. Nasim Siddeeq 22-0, 9. Kyle Nadler 21-8. 4x100-Meter Relay: 6. Jean Juste, Mike McCadney, Felipe Reyes, Jeffery Barnes 41.06 (IC4A). 4x400-Meter Relay: 3. Alie Beauvais, Jeffery Barnes, Peter Rowell, Joe Greene 3:10.36 (IC4A).

UAlbany Women’s Results

100-Meter Dash: 1. Fey Adaramola 11.96 (ECAC), 5. Quante Harris 12.56, 6. Sandy Antenor 12.79, 7. Sarah Lapierre 13.07. 200-Meter Dash: 7. Christen Griffin 25.93. 400-Meter Dash: 5. Tierra Chavis 59.62, 6. Nyree Richardson 59.72, 7. Octavia Clarkson 59.81, 8. Elia Francis 1:00.72. 100-Meter High Hurdles: 4. Kamilah McShine 13.90 (NCAA Regional), 5. Christen Griffin 14.79. 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles: 5. Rebecca Kelly 1:04.90, 6. Brittany Eveleth 1:06.86. 800-Meter Run: 2. Zuliana Fontanez 2:11.66, 5. Laura Cummings 2:15.10, 6. Melissa Lee 2:15.40, 8. Esperanza Blanco 2:19.51, 9. Allie Carlson 2:19.82. Long Jump: 3. Jenn Gurrant 17-11.25, 5. Kamilah McShine 17-3.75, 6. Sandy Antenor 16-11.75. Shot Put: 5. Ashley Lewis 37-5, 6. Kadine Johnson 37-4.25. 4x100-Meter Relay: 4. Kamilah McShine, Jenn Gurrant, Quante Harris, Fey Adaramola 46.91 (ECAC), 5. Sarah Lapierre, Sandy Antenor, Christen Griffin, Tierra Chavis 48.30 (ECAC). 4x400-Meter Relay: 2. Kamilah McShine, Jenn Gurrant, Zuliana Fontanez, Fey Adaramola 3:53.76; 3. Octavia Clarkson, Melissa Lee, Tierra Chavis, Elia Francis 4:01.05; 4. Rebecca Kelly, Laura Bolognino, Reneé Johnson, Allie Carlson 4:06.78.

University of Albany Track Posts Four Qualifying Marks in Field Events at Princeton's Larry Ellis Invitational - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Princeton, N.J. – Luke Schoen won the pole vault individual title for the third straight meet to lead the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at Princeton’s Larry Ellis Invitational on Saturday, April 18. Wilfredo de jsesus Elias and Ritshell Verdier also earned IC4A and ECAC qualifying marks in their respective field events.

Schoen met the NCAA East Regional Championship standard in his premier event by clearing 17-feet, 0.5-inches. The All-American has won the pole vault at every meet he has competed in so far this spring.

Verdier met the ECAC standard in two throwing events. The senior, who is a three-time all-conference selection in the discus throw, placed second with a toss that sailed 149-3.25. She also placed second in the shot put with a personal-best mark of 45-0. de jesus Elias set a personal record in the hammer throw, placing seventh with a mark of 185-9.50.

Other notable performances were made by Catie Coxon and Rebecca Power. Coxon recorded a personal-best mark of 135-8.50 in the discus throw to place fifth, while Power cleared 10-0 in the pole vault to finish sixth.

The UAlbany track and field teams will return to action next weekend to compete at two separate meets. Select members will head to the Penn Relays which runs from April 23-25, while others will attend the Capital District Classic hosted by Rensselaer on Saturday, April 25.

UAlbany Men’s Results

100-Meter Dash: 32. Kevin O’Riley 11.75. 200-Meter Dash: 42. Kevin O’Riley 23.75, 44. Alfred Pryor 25.58. 110-Meter High Hurdles: 14. Nicholas Assini 15.50, 15. Alfred Pryor 15.56, 17. Jared Nilsson 15.92. 400-Meter High Hurdles: 22. Jared Nilsson 58.59. 800-Meter Run: 39. Ryan Florkiewicz 2:02.08, 42. Devon Sedgwick 2:03.35. 1,500-Meter Run: 23. Ryan Florkiewicz 4:08.30, 24. Paul LaRocca 4:08.95, 32. Jimmy Carroll 4:17.44. Long Jump: 6. Kevin O’Riley 22-9, 10. Dong Ning Hu 21-7. Triple Jump: 4. Jordan Pollock 44-11.75. Pole Vault: 1. Luke Schoen 17-0.5 (NCAA Regional). Discus Throw: Stephen Hassard 144-7.75. Hammer Throw: 7. Wilfredo de jesus Elias 185-9.5 (IC4A), 17. Kevin Lee 138-4.50. Javelin Throw: 15. Erik Anderson 136-1.75. Shot Put: 15. Jordan Meikle 45-9.50, 17. Frank Fazzino 41-6.

UAlbany Women’s Results

100-Meter Dash: 18. Lindsay Hall 13.54, 19. Rashida Charles 13.57, 21. Jessica Antoniades 13.60. 200-Meter Dash: 26. Jessica Hunter 26.41, 37. Tenica Roberts 27.38, 39. Rashida Charles 27.51, 42. Traequanda Brock 27.96, 43. Lindsay Hall 28.28, 44. Emily Curry 29.48. 400-Meter Dash: 12. Tenica Roberts 59.34, 16. Jessica Hunter 1:00.09. 100-Meter High Hurdles: 22. Emily Curry 18.39. 800-Meter Run: 18. Maureen Nweke 2:26.27, 22. Jessica Panos 2:27.17, 25. Jessica Barberio 2:28.13. 3,000-Meter Run: 4. Kristin Grab 10:53.52. High Jump: 12. Bryanna Hebenstreit 5-1, 13. Ashleigh Whitfield 5-1. Long Jump: 16. Emily Curry 14-11.50. Triple Jump: 7. Tiffany Sprenkels 37-7.50, 9. Traequanda Brock 36-5. Pole Vault: 6. Rebecca Power 10-0. Discus Throw: 2. Ritshell Verdier 149-3.25 (ECAC), 5. Catie Coxon 135-8.5. Hammer Throw: 7. Sineaid Corley 145-4.25, 13. Isabella Katsarelis 111-11.25. Javelin Throw: 5. Rebecca Power 119-9.75, 8. Emily Curry 94-4.5. Shot Put: 2. Ritshell Verdier 45-0 (ECAC), 12. Isabella Katsarelis 31-0.25, 14. Catie Coxon 28-11. 4x400-Meter Relay: 7. Jessica Panos, Maureen Nweke, Jessica Barberio, Lindsay Hall 4:11.37.

University of Albany's Ada Lauterbach Qualifies For USA Junior National and ECAC Championships at Princeton - Ualbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Princeton, N.J. – Freshman Ada Lauterbach qualified for the USA Junior National and ECAC championship meets in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to lead the University at Albany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at Princeton’s Larry Ellis Invitational on Friday, April 17. Every student-athlete who competed ran a personal-best time in a Great Dane uniform.

Lauterbach finished 14th in 10:54.50, which moved her up to third on the program’s all-time top-10 list. The mark was also a 25-second improvement from her previous best mark this spring which was recorded at the Raleigh Relays three weeks ago. Sophomore Ally Panos also improved to third on the program’s all-time list in the 5,000-meter run. She clocked in a time of 18:03.82, chipping 18 seconds off her previous personal-best mark set at the Raleigh Relays.

Aaron Lozier and Brian Yurkewecz also ran their best times of the spring in their respective events. Lozier recorded a mark of 3:51.45, barely missing the IC4A mark of 3:51, while Yurkewecz finished the 5,000-meter run in 14:44.20. In addition, Chris Manico (Shaker) took two seconds off his best mark of the season in the steeplechase. He crossed the tape in 9:45.17.

Select members of the UAlbany outdoor track and field teams will finish competing at Princeton’s Larry Ellis Invitational on Saturday afternoon, while others will be competing at the UTECH Track and Field Classic in Kingston, Jamaica in the evening.

PAW PRINTS: UAlbany has over 40 athletes expected to compete at the UTECH Track and Field Classic at National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica tonight ... A sellout crowd of 35,000 people is expected to be in attendance ... 2008 Olympic gold medalists Asafa Powell (men’s 4x100-meter relay), Shelly-Ann Fraser (women’s 100-meter dash) and Melaine Walker (women’s 400-meter intermediate hurdles) of Jamaica are among the athletes who will be competing at the event ... The meet will feature over 150 athletes from the United States, Cuba, Sweden, The Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, Liberia, Senegal, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Korea and Norway.

UAlbany Men’s Results

1,500-Meter Run: 16. Aaron Lozier 3:51.45. 5,000-Meter Run: 19. Brian Yurkewecz 14:44.20. 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: 34. Chris Manico 9:45.17.

UAlbany Women’s Results

5,000-Meter Run: 24. Ally Panos 18:03.82. 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: 14. Ada Lauterbach 10:54.50 (ECAC, Junior National).

University of Albany's Luke Schoen and Kamilah McShine Awarded America East Track and Field Weekly Laurels - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – UAlbany’s Luke Schoen and Kamilah McShine have been selected as the America East Conference male and female outdoor track and field performers of the week, as announced on Tuesday, April 7 by the league office. Both Great Danes met an NCAA East Regional Championship qualifying standard at the Duke Asics Invitational and Pepsi Florida Relays over the weekend.

Schoen, who earned male field athlete of the week honors for the second straight time, broke his own school record in the pole vault at the Duke Asics Invitational on Saturday. His winning height was 17-feet, 6.50-inches, breaking the previous mark of 17-5 that he recorded twice last year. In addition, the junior finished ahead of 10 student-athletes representing Atlantic Coast Conference schools.

McShine, who was named female track athlete of the week, qualified for championship meets in every event she competed in at the Pepsi Florida Relays. On Friday, the team captain met the NCAA East Regional Championship qualifying standard for the first time in her career in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. She finished eighth overall in 1:00.27, setting a new personal record by over four seconds to move from tenth to second on the program’s top-10 list. The 2009 America East Conference Indoor Field Athlete of the Year also met the ECAC standard in the 100-meter high hurdles, clocking in a personal-best time of 13.96. Both marks are America East bests this spring. On Saturday, she led off the 4x100-meter relay which qualified for the ECAC Championship with a time of 47.46. The mark was just over a second shy of the program standard.

UAlbany track and field athletes have received at least one of the four awards announced by the conference every week they have competed dating back to the start of the indoor season. This spring, five Great Danes have combined to win six of the 12 honors handed out through the first three weeks of competition.

Three University of Albany Great Danes Eclipse NCAA Regional Standard in Intermediate Hurdles at Florida Relays - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Gainesville, Fla. – Alie Beauvais, Joe Greene and Kamilah McShine all qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championship in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles to lead the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at the Pepsi Florida Relays on Friday, April 3. The men’s 4x200-meter relay team broke the school record by over one second, while the women’s squad ran the program’s second-fastest time in the same event.

McShine became the first member of the women’s team to qualify for the regional championship in any track or field event with an eighth-place mark of 1:00.27 in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. She set a personal record by over four seconds, and was just 0.7 seconds shy of the school record set by Xiomara Davila Diaz in 1997. The senior co-captain who was named the America East Conference Field Athlete of the Year this past winter indoors also met the ECAC standard in the 100-meter high hurdles, clocking in a personal-best time of 13.96 seconds.

Greene met the regional qualifying mark in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles for the second time this spring in as many chances, while Beauvais eclipsed the standard for the first time of his career. Greene, an All-American in the event, placed third in 50.25, while Beauvais was eighth in 52.14. Four of the top six finishers in one of the most competitive races of the day represented Southeastern Conference schools.

Greene and Beauvais later teamed up with Jeffery Barnes (Albany) and Mike McCadney on the 4x200-meter relay which set a new school record for finishing ninth in 1:25.43, beating last year’s mark of 1:26.47 recorded at the Penn Relays. The women’s 4x200-meter relay squad consisting of Christen Griffin, Nyree Richardson, Tierra Chavis and Fey Adaramola crossed the tape in 1:40.79, which barely fell short of the school standard of 1:40.67 that was also set at the 2008 Penn Relays. In addition, Adaramola’s split time of 23.6 on the anchor leg was the fastest ever recorded by a Great Dane in the event.

UAlbany had four other men meet an IC4A standard at the non-scoring meet. In the long jump, Felipe Reyes (Christian Brothers Academy), the school’s record holder in the event, placed second with a mark of 23-feet, 9-inches. Valete Graham was fourth for leaping 23-4.50. Tyler Fogarty (Shenendehowa) placed fifth in the 800-meter run, crossing the tape in 1:51.09, while Jean Juste finished the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.46.

Select members of the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams will finish competing at the Pepsi Florida Relays on Saturday, April 4 beginning at 11:30 a.m.

PAW PRINTS: A total of five Great Danes have qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championship after today’s events at the Florida Relays ... Alie Beauvais, Joe Greene and Kamilah McShine have eclipsed the standard in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, while Ricardo Estremera and Luke Schoen have met qualifying marks in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and pole vault, respectively ... 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

110-Meter High Hurdles: 26. Jean Juste 14.46 (IC4A). 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles: 3. Joe Greene 50.25 (NCAA Regional), 8. Alie Beauvais 52.14 (NCAA Regional), 31. Peter Rowell 55.08. 800-Meter Run: 5. Tyler Fogarty 1:51.09 (IC4A), 15. Joe Belokopitsky 1:53.02, 19. Nick Santos 1:53.44. 1,500-Meter Run: 22. Aaron Lozier 4:02.04, 28. Paul Lagno 4:06.64. Long Jump: 2. Felipe Reyes 23-9 (IC4A), 4. Valete Graham 23-4.50 (IC4A). 4x200-meter relay: 9. Alie Beauvais, Jeffery Barnes, Mike McCadney and Joe Greene 1:25.43 (School Record); 16. Jean Juste, Lynval Clarke, Garrett Askew and Mohamed Kanu 1:30.75.

UAlbany Women’s Results

100-Meter High Hurdles: 17. Kamilah McShine 13.96 (ECAC). 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles: 8. Kamilah McShine 1:00.27 (NCAA Regional). 800-Meter Run: 36. Melissa Lee 2:18.00. 4x200-meter relay: 21. Christen Griffin, Nyree Richardson, Tierra Chavis and Fey Adaramola 1:40.79.

University of Albany's Celine Cauderlier Matches Program's Pole Vault Record at Duke Asics Invitational - UAlbany Sports

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Durham, N.C. – Celine Cauderlier matched a school record in the pole vault and Traequanda Brock won her flight and placed third in the triple jump to pace the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams at the Duke Asics Invitational on Friday, April 3. The Great Danes had a total of nine student-athletes post a top-10 finish at the non-scoring meet.

Brock recorded a mark of 36-feet, 11.75-inches in the triple jump, which was the highest placement of the day by a Great Dane in any event. Jordan Pollock and Dong Ning Hu led the way in the same event for the men’s team. Pollock finished sixth for leaping 45-0.25, while Hu was eighth with a mark of 44-3.25.

Other notable performances in the field events were made by Cauderlier and Kadine Johnson. Cauderlier finished 10th in the pole vault for clearing 10-10 to match the school record set by Corinna Hengen, while Johnson held the same position in the hammer throw with a toss that sailed 151-2.

Four distance runners posted a top-10 performance in their respective races. Ada Lauterbach (Berne-Knox-Westerlo) placed sixth in the 3,000-meter run for clocking in a time of 10:35.99, and R.J. Sniffen (Shaker) was eighth in his section of the 5,000-meter run for finishing in 15:26.36. Ryan Florkiewicz and Ally Panos each finished 10th in the men’s and women’s 3,000-meter run with marks of 9:24.31 and 10:48.33, respectively.

Select members of the UAlbany men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams will finish competing at the Duke Asics Invitational on Saturday, April 4 beginning at 9 a.m.

UAlbany Men’s Results

3,000-Meter Run: 10. Ryan Florkiewicz 9:24.31. 5,000-Meter Run (Section C): 8. R.J. Sniffen 15:26.36. 10,000-Meter Run: 15. Brian Yurkewecz 32:12.15. Triple Jump: 6. Jordan Pollock 45-0.25, 8. Dong Ning Hu 44-3.25. Javelin Throw: 22. Erik Andersen 144-11.

UAlbany Women’s Results

400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles: 19. Brittany Eveleth 1:07.79, 23. Rebecca Kelly 1:09.02. 3,000-Meter Run: 6. Ada Lauterbach 10:35.99, 10. Ally Panos 10:48.33. 10,000-Meter Run: 13. Kristin Grab 39:32.32. Pole Vault: 10. Celine Cauderlier 10-10 (Ties School Record). NH. Emily Mino, NH. Krystal Myers, NH. Rebecca Power. Triple Jump: 3. Traequanda Brock 36-11.75, FOUL. Tiffany Sprenkels. Hammer Throw: 10. Kadine Johnson 151-2, 23. Sineaid Corley 127-11. FOUL. Isabella Katsarelis, FOUL. Ritshell Verdier.

University of Albany's Joe Greene and Fey Adaramola Earn America East Track and Field Weekly Honors - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. - UAlbany’s Joe Greene and Fey Adaramola have been selected as the America East Conference male and female indoor track and field performers of the week, as announced on Tuesday, March 24 by the conference office. Both Great Danes are being honored for their performances at the Carolina Classic in Puerto Rico this past weekend.

Greene qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championship in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. An All-American in the event, he posted a winning time of 51.69 seconds. Adaramola played a role in two ECAC qualifying marks. She won the 200-meter dash in 24.71 seconds, and also anchored the second-place 4x400-meter relay team which clocked in a time of 3:50.57.

University of Albany Men's Outdoor Track and Field Picked to Win Fifth Straight America East Title; Women Tabbed Third in - UAlbany Sports 2009

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Cambridge, Mass. – The University at Albany men’s outdoor track and field team has been picked to finish first, while the women’s squad was projected to place third, according to the preseason poll conducted by the America East Conference head coaches.

The men’s team, which has won four straight and five of the past six conference championships, was unanimously selected to repeat this winter. The Great Danes received all eight possible first-place votes and accumulated 64 points. New Hampshire was picked second with 54 points and earned the final first-place vote, while Binghamton (51 points) was chosen third.

Boston University, which won its fourth consecutive outdoor crown last spring, received seven of the possible eight first-place votes and garnered 62 points. New Hampshire and UAlbany garnered the remaining two first-place votes, and the Wildcats edged out the Great Danes by one point for the second-place spot.

All-America honorees Joe Greene and Luke Schoen headline the list of 23 returning student-athletes, including 12 league champions, who have garnered all-conference laurels for the two squads. Schoen earned All-America honors at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship by placing fifth in the pole vault, and he followed that up by earning the same national distinction at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship two weeks ago with a sixth-place finish. Greene was an All-American in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles in 2007 when he recorded a fourth-place finish at the NCAA meet.

The Great Danes should continue to be strong in the sprinting and hurdle events. Jean Juste, Garrett Askew and Nicholas Assini all placed first through third in the 110-meter hurdles at last year’s conference championship. Alie Beauvais, who already qualified for the IC4A championship at the Carolina Classic last weekend, will look to challenge Greene for the conference title in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Sprinters Jeffery Barnes and Pat Weider won the 200-meter dash in 2008 and 2007, respectively. On the women’s side, Kamilah McShine has won the 55 and 100-meter high hurdles titles at six of the seven conference championships. Newcomer Fey Adaramola broke the school record in the 200 and won the event at the indoor championship this past winter, while Rebecca Kelly will look to post a top-three finish in the 400 hurdles after placing fourth at the conference meet in 2008.

The middle distance runners have been one of UAlbany’s most improved event groups. Tyler Fogarty and John Moore were USA Junior National All-Americans in the 800-meter run, while Joe Belokopitsky was an all-conference selection last year in the event. Newcomer Aaron Lozier, who set the school record in the mile indoors this winter, and Zuliana Fontanez, an indoor ECAC qualifier in the 800-meter run, should also make strong contributions this winter.

Ricardo Estremera and Laura Cummings, who have each won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the conference championship, are expected to lead the distance runners. Cummings won the event in a meet record time of 10:33.60 while setting a new school record last year, while Estremera, who redshirted this past spring, won the 2007 title. Cummings and Estremera will also bolster the middle distance group.

One of the deepest event groups will be the jumpers. Valete Graham and Mike McCadney won the long and triple jump, respectively, at last year’s conference championship. Jenn Gurrant, who provisionally qualified for the NCAAs in the triple jump indoors this winter, won the outdoor title at the America East meet two years ago. Newcomer Nasim Siddeeq, a transfer from Robert Morris who was named the USTFCCCA Division I Northeast Field Athlete of the Year this winter, set a meet record in the triple jump at the 2008 Northeast Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship. Fred Casimo, Kyle Nadler, Freddie Willls and Tiffany Sprenkels have also met IC4A and ECAC marks in their careers.

The throwers have been among the fastest growing groups, especially on the women’s side. Wilfredo de jesus Elias, Ashley Lewis and Ritshell Verdier are returning all-conference honorees. de jesus Elias placed second in the hammer throw at last year’s America East championship, while Verdier and Lewis finished second and third, respectively, in the discus throw. Verdier, the discus champion in 2006, also holds the school record in the event, while Isabella Katsarelis owns the program standard in the javelin. Kadine Johnson, who accumulated points in three throwing events at the conference championship meet as a freshman last year, will look to earn all-conference honors this spring.

The America East Conference Championships will be hosted by Binghamton University on May 2-3.

AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON POLL

1. UAlbany, 64 points (8); 2. New Hampshire, 54 (1); 3. Binghamton, 51; 4. UMBC, 42; 5. Boston U., 36; 6. Maine, 29; 7. Vermont, 21; 8. Stony Brook, 19; 9. Hartford, 8.

AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD PRESEASON POLL

1. Boston U. (7), 62 points; 2. New Hampshire, 55 (1); 3. UAlbany, 54 (1); 4. Vermont, 37; 5. Maine, 32; 6. Binghamton 31; 7. UMBC, 28; 8. Stony Brook, 17; 9. Hartford, 8.

UAlbany's Palma Named To National Hall of Fame

Bobbi Palma visits the University at Albany each year to fire a starter's pistol and present the awards for a race run in her name.

UAlbany created the Bobbi Palma Women's Championship, a 5-kilometer race, to honor the founder the school's first track and field program for women.

But Palma's decades of commitment to track extend far beyond campus. She's been a fixture at events both local and international, from regional meets to Olympic Games.

For her decades of service as a track and field official and pioneer for women's sports, Palma earned induction Tuesday into the USA Track and Field National Officials Hall of Fame. She formed part of the hall's inaugural class.

Palma, 72, has served as served as an official at the Olympics, Olympic trials, NCAA championships and local USATF events among others. As the first chairman of the USATF national long-distance running committee, she stood at the forefront of the push to get the women's marathon, 5K and 10K into the Olympics.

"I enjoy this because it keeps me close to the sport, close to the athletes and keeps me young," said Palma, a Massachusetts native who lives part of the year in Albany and part in Tucson, Ariz. "Until I can't push a pencil anymore, I'll keep going."

During the 1960s and 1970s, Palma spearheaded track-and-field initiatives for girls and women, giving clinics at local high schools and later starting the track program at UAlbany, where she worked in the athletic department and now is a professor emeritus.

She founded the track program before the NCAA even sponsored women's sports. Without the funding or support the program now receives, Palma relied on help from friends. She'd invite them to use the school's training facilities if they'd agree to help coach.

"I have a very warm spot in my heart for the UAlbany track and field and cross-country programs," she said.

Palma continues to work as an official at some UAlbany track meets, including the race named for her.

"She's an excellent official," said Roberto Vives, director of UAlbany's track and field and cross-country programs. "She's very thorough and fair. Our own kids haven gotten DQ'd from things. But she'll bring them over and use it as a teaching moment."

Several years ago, Palma also took over the officials program for the USATF Adirondack Association, where she turned a loose-knit collection of officials into a well-run and much expanded organization.

"The main thing I can say is she really stepped in at a very critical time when our officials program was kind of floundering and pulled that back together for us," said Chris Rush, the USATF Adirondack Association president.

Though her experience includes dozens of international competitions, Palma cited the 1996 Paralympics as her most memorable event.

"The Paralympics model was, 'No excuses,''' Palma said. "What a wonderful model."

Palma, an avid Red Sox fan, said her only disappointment is having seen performance-enhancing drugs become more prevalent in not just track but across baseball and other sports as well.

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USA Track and Field Hall of Fame


By PETE IORIZZO