Boston University has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2007 America East Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship, according to a vote of the conference’s head coaches. The Terriers received five votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team), tallying 61 points. University at Albany took four first-place votes in its second-place standing with 59 points.
University of New Hampshire (51 points) finished in third place, followed by Binghamton University (38 points), and University of Vermont (37 points) taking fifth-place. UMBC (27 points) and University of Maine (27 points) tied for sixth, Stony Brook University (15 points), and the University of Hartford (8 points) rounded out the coaches’ poll.
Boston U. looks to repeat its 2007 America East Indoor Track & Field Champion title in the outdoor season. The Terriers will rely on the upperclassmen for both leadership and points. Junior Tahari James (Branford, Conn.) will lead the Terriers in both running and field events. James returns as last year's Most Outstanding Performer, Most Outstanding Field Performer, and earned the Coaches' Award for most point in the meet. The Terriers will also look for points from sophomore Rebecca Marshburn (Dana Point, Calif.), who won the 400-meter run last year, senior Marisa Ryan (Farmington, Conn.) who took third in the 3000-meter Steeplechase, and senior Abbey Sadowski (Voluntown, Conn.), who finished third in the 1500-meter run.
Albany will try to repeat as Outdoor Track and Field Champions. The Great Danes will look for a lot of points from the runners. Sophomore Jessica Ortman (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville South) finished first in the 1500-meter run, third in the 800-, and second in the 3000-meter steeplechase a year ago, while senior Alyssa Lotmore (Albany, N.Y./Bishop Maginn) took second in the 5000 and 1000-meter runs. Sophomore Kamilah McShine (Spring Valley, N.Y./Ramapo) finished first in the 100-meter hurdles and third in the heptathlon.
New Hampshire is led by senior thrower Erin Moore (Nashua, N.H./Nashua). Moore finished first in the shot put, third in the discus and third in the hammer throw a year ago. For the running events, junior Kiah Quarles (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) returns after a third-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles.
Vermont will be led by the 2006 Most Outstanding Rookie Jan Carlson (Vernon, VT/Brattleboro). Carlson won the 100- and 200-meter dash and placed second in the 4x100. Carmen Lagala (Montpelier, VT/Montpelier) took first in the 800-meter run at last year's outdoor championship.
Binghamton sophomore Kim Williams (Buffalo, N.Y./Leonardo de Vinco) will lead the sprinters coming off a second-place 200-meter finish and a third-place 100-meter finish. Junior Keisha Short (Yaphank, N.Y./Deer Park) took second in the 400-meter dash, while sophomore Katie Radzik (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./ Mt. Sinai) finished third in the 10,000-meter run last year.
UMBC's Jenelle Wilson (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern) returns off a strong first-place finish in the 400-meter dash and fourth in the 200. Sophomore Tierra Gregory (Williamsburg, Va./Jamestown) finished second in the 100-meter hurdles and junior Ashley Fauntleroy (Silver Spring, Md./Paint Branch) returns in the field events for the Retrievers.
Maine will be led by seniors Erin Hatch (Saco, Maine/Thorton Academy), third in the high jump, and Hanna Pelletier (Belgrade, Maine/ Messalonskee High School), second in the 800-meter run.
Stony Brook has strength in its distance runners. Junior Dana Hastie (Wellington, New Zealand/Newlands College) finished fourth in the 5000-meter run last season.
Hartford returns senior distance runner Heather Schoonmaker (Schenectedy, N.Y./ Guilderland).