CAMBRIDGE, Mass.- The University at Albany men’s Outdoor Track & Field team has been chosen to earn their fifth consecutive title according the coaches’ preseason poll. The Great Danes were unanimously chosen among the coaches, earning all eight possible first place votes, as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team, and totaling 64 points. University of New Hampshire received the remaining first place nod along with 54 points to earn a second place finish.
Binghamton University was chosen as a close third (51 points), and is trailed by UMBC (42) and Boston University (36) in fourth and fifth, respectively. Rounding out the nine team field is University of Maine in sixth with 29 points, followed by University of Vermont (21), Stony Brook University (19) and University of Hartford (eight points).
Coming off a dominant indoor season during which the Great Danes became the first America East team to win the IC4A championship, Albany will look to carry its momentum into the spring season. Junior Luke Schoen, an All American in the pole vault this winter and last spring, is the defending America East champion in the event and will be a big component of the team’s success. Also returning is senior Joe Greene, an All American in the outdoor 4000-meter hurdles in 2007, who
will be the driving force in the track events for the defending champions.
Last year’s second-place finisher, the Wildcats will look to replace last year’s Most Outstanding Track Performer Jordan Horwitz who also earned the Coaches Award for Most Points Compiled at the 2008 Championship. Junior Wesley Dinnan and senior Brent Powers, who finished in second and third, respectively, behind Horwitz in the 10,000-meter run, are going to be key contributors this season. Sophomore Brice Paey also returns with a year’s experience and a record breaking performance in this year’s indoor championship to defend his title in the shot put event.
Binghamton returns a strong cast led by last year’s Most Outstanding Rookie Cazal Arnett, who won the 400-meter dash in an America East record time of 47.04. The Bearcats also return the entire championship 4x400 relay squad that edged out the Great Danes by .03 seconds.
The Retrievers find themselves up a spot from last year’s fifth-place finish in part due to a fourth place finish at this year’s indoor championship. Junior Adrian Arthur, who placed within the top five in the 100- and 200-meter events last season, will be a catalyst for UMBC in during their outdoor campaign.
The Terriers are down a spot from their fourth-place finish last year, but return a strong cast of veteran competitors. Jan Bicanic, a junior, will be defending his title in the discus throw, and senior David Proctor will defend his in the 800-meter run. With eight seniors finishing up their careers on their roster, Boston will be a dangerous presence at this year’s championship.
The Black Bears have a combination of young legs in rookie Riley Masters, who earned first in this year’s indoor 3000-meter run, and experience in defending 400-meter hurdles champion Matthew Holman, a senior. Maine’s sixth-place projection is where they finished at last year’s outdoor and at this year’s indoor championship.
The Catamounts are up one spot from last year’s eighth place finish and will look to junior Aaron Campbell, this year’s 55-meter dash champion during the indoor season and the reigning champion in the 100-meter dash for outdoor, for points and leadership.
The distance events will be the difference maker for the Seawolves this season, with the dangerous trio of juniors Alex Felce, Tim Hodge and Daire Bermingham all coming off tremendous Cross Country and Indoor Track seasons. The three combined to place within the top four spots of the 1 mile, the 1000- and the 3000-meter runs.
The Hawks have been impressive in the field events this year thanks to seniors Anthony Oluwanifise, who finished eighth in the long jump at this year’s indoor championship, and Ryan Trupin, who earned seventh in the high jump, and will look to improve on last year’s ninth place finish.
The 2009 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championship will be held at Binghamton University on May 2-3.