University at Albany has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the 2007 America East Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship, according to a vote of the conference’s head coaches. The Great Danes received seven first-place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own team), tallying 63 points. University of New Hampshire took two first-place votes in its second-place standing with 58 points.
Boston University. (43 points) came in at third, followed closely by Binghamton University (42 points) and UMBC (39 points). University of Maine (34), Stony Brook University (19), University of Vermont (18) and University of Hartford (8) rounded out the nine-team poll.
Albany looks to repeat coming off last year’s championship title. The Great Danes return last year's Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Track Performer Joe Greene (Rochester, N.Y./Edison). Greene captured titles in the 400-meter dash, 400-meter hurdles and 4x4 relay. Sophomore Freddie Wills (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) was named Most Outstanding Field Performer and took home the Coaches' award for scoring a meet-high 24 points in last years championship. Wills will lead Albany in jumping events. Head coach Roberto Vives will also look for points from sophomore Pat Weider (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) in sprinting events and senior Ricardo Estremera (San Juan, Puerto Rico/University) in the distance events.
New Hampshire will be led by its junior class in the 2007 season. Robert Edgerton (Cornish, N.H./Windsor) returns as last year's winner in the 800- and 1500-meter runs. Jordan Horwitz (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township) will look to earn points in the 5000- and 10,000-meter runs. Matt Russell (Ogdensburg, N.Y./Canton) looks to repeat his win in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Matt Begley (Brookeville, Md./Sherwood) and sophomore Spencer Shaw (Hampton, N.H./Winnacunnet) should bring in points in the field events.
UMBC looks to its field athletes for many points this spring. Mike Zyvoloski (Elkridge, Md./Long Reach) finished second in the hammer throw and third in the triple jump in 2006. Senior Charles Devaud (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) finished first in the decathlon, while classmate Geoff Bennett (Columbia, Md./Centennial) finished fourth.
Boston U. will be anchored by its runners with senior Matt Howard (San Antonio, Texas) coming off a second-place finish in last years 400-meter dash and senior Nick Goodman (Watertown, Mass.), who finished second in the 800-meter run.
Binghamton will be led by senior Rory Quiller (West Point, N.Y./ James I. Oneill), the 2007 Indoor Track All-American Pole Vaulter and runner up at the NCAA's. Quiller also finished second in last years 110-meter hurdles. Sophomore Justin Halleck (DePew, N.Y./Lancaster) finished third in last year's hammer throw, while senior Kevin Hall (Glens Falls, N.Y./Glens Falls) finished third in the shot put.
Maine will rely on seniors Kirby Davis (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) and Chris Warren (Woburn, Mass./Woburn). Davis finished third in the 5000-meter run, while Warren took fourth in the high jump.
Stony Brook junior Shawn Krawitz (Auckland, New Zealand/Auckland University) finished second last year in the 3000-meter steeple chase. Junior Justin Miller (Smithtown, N.Y./Hauppauge) returns as the team’s top thrower.
Vermont returns Sean Steinhagen (Portland, Maine /Deering). Steinhagen led last year’s team with a second-place finish in the 1500-meter run.
Hartford has a key jumper in junior Anthony Oluwanifise (Queens Village, N.Y./ St. Francis Prep), who finished second last season in the long jump.
The 2007 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held at UMBC May 5-6.