Boston University has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the America East Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship, according to a vote of the conference’s head coaches. The Terriers received seven of eight first-place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team), tallying 63 points. The University at Albany took two first-place votes in its second-place standing with 58 points.
University of New Hampshire (47 points) finished in third place, followed by University of Maine (37 points), and a tie for fifth place between UMBC and University of Vermont (32 points). Binghamton University (31 points), Stony Brook University (16 points), and the University of Hartford (8 points) rounded out the coaches’ poll.
Boston looks to repeat as America East Indoor Track & Field Champions this season. The Terriers will look to the upperclassmen for both leadership and points. Senior, Abbey Sadwoski (Voluntown, Conn.) returns having won the one mile and 1000-meter runs. Junior, Tahari James (Branford, Conn.) will lead the Terriers in running and field events. James won both the triple jump and long jump, and finished second in the 55-meter dash.
Albany will try to dethrone the Terriers with help from senior, Adanna Andrews (Yonkers, N.Y./Lincoln), who finished first in the 500-meter dash, and sophomore, Kamilah McShine (Spring Valley, N.Y./Ramapo), who finished first in the 55-meter hurdles. The Great Danes also return their first-place 4x800 meter relay team and second-place distance medley.
New Hampshire is led by senior thrower, Erin Moore (
Nashua, N.H./Nashua). Moore finished first in the weight throw and third in the shot put. For the running events, Junior Kiah Quarles (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) returns after a second-place finish in the 55 meter hurdles.
Maine will be led by seniors Erin Hatch (Saco, Maine/Thorton Academy), second in the high jump, and Hanna Pelletier (Belgrade, Maine/ Messalonskee High School), third in the 800 meter run.
UMBC looks to the senior class for strength. Jennelle Wilson (
Voorhees, N.J./Eastern) returns after finishing first in the 400-meter dash and second in the 200-meter dash. Teammate Francine Ward (Armonk, NY/Byram Hills) finished second in the 500-meter dash.
Vermont has strength in its runners with first-place finishes from Jan Carlson (Vernon, VT /Brattleboro) in the 55-meter dash and Carmen Lagala (Montpelier, VT /Montpelier) in the 800-meter run in last years’ indoor championship.
Binghamton returns the top 200-meter dash runner in Kim Williams (Sprints Buffalo, Leonardo de Vinci), and a third-place pole vault finish from junior Katie Wilmer (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero North Syracuse).
Stony Brook has strength in its distance runners. Junior Dana Hastie (Wellington, New Zealand/Newlands College) finished third in the 3000-meter run and fourth in the 5000-meter run last season.
Hartford returns high jumper Latasha Jarrett (Ellington, CT/Ellington).
The 2007 America East Indoor Track & Field Championships will be held at Boston University Track & Tennis Center on February 16-17.
Complete Poll:
1. Boston U. (8) 63
2. Albany (2) 58
3. New Hampshire 47
4. Maine 37
5. UMBC/Vermont 32
7. Binghamton 31
8. Stony Brook 16
9. Hartford 8