ORONO, Maine-- The 2008 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championship gets underway this weekend, May 3-4 at the Beckett Family Track & Field Complex on the University of Maine campus. The University at Albany Great Danes will go for a sweep of the men's and women's team titles for the third straight year, while the other eight schools will be in it to snap that streak.
The Albany men set a meet record with 268 points last year, 114 points ahead of second-place New Hampshire. The crown was the third straight outdoor title for the Great Dane men and fourth in the previous five meets. Consequently, the Albany staff earned the top coaching honors of the meet and Joe Greene received the meet's Most Outstanding Track Performer, setting a meet record in the 400 and also winning the 400 hurdles. Despite being sidelined due to injury for most of the 2008 outdoor season, Greene qualified and will be running the 400 meter hurdles again this weekend. Last year's Most Outstanding Rookie, UMBC's Keith Brown, will be competing once again in the 110 meter hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles.
Albany took home the women's title by a much smaller margin of victory as just six points distanced the Great Danes from second-place New Hampshire. The Wildcats garnered the Coaching Staff of the Year award, while Binghamton's Kim Williams was tabbed the Most Outstanding Track Performer. Williams recorded one of the fastest times in the 200 meters during the outdoor season with a time of 24.73, making her one of the favorites to capture that event once again this year. With her dominating performances in the discuss throw and shot put, UMBC's Ashley Fauntleroy was named the Most Outstanding Field Performer. Fauntleroy is expected to be a contender once again after taking both of the shot put and weight throw events at the indoor championship in February. Boston University most recently captured the indoor conference championship team crown putting the Terriers in the mix this weekend, as well.
Results will be posted periodically on both www.AmericaEast.com and www.lancertiming.com. Top individual and team awards will be handed out after competition is complete on Sunday afternoon.