CAMBRIDGE, Mass.- The Boston University women have been chosen to repeat as the America East Outdoor Track & Field Champions according to the preseason coaches’ poll. The Terriers received seven of the possible eight first-place votes and tallied 62 total points. University of New Hampshire and University at Albany each earned one of the remaining first-place votes, with the Wildcats (55 points) edging out the Great Danes (54) by a single point for sole possession of the second place slot.
University of Vermont earned 37 points and the fourth position, followed by University of Maine (32) and Binghamton University (31) battling it out for the fifth and sixth spot, respectively. Rounding out the nine team field is UMBC (28), Stony Brook University (17) and University of Hartford (eight points).
Boston, which won its fourth consecutive indoor title this year, will be led by senior Andrea Walkonen, who has earned All American status in both cross country and indoor track & field during the 2009 seasons. Also threatening the league will be the return of Tahari James, last year’s recipient of the Coaches’ Award, for her last semester of eligibility. Turning heads for the Terriers is freshman Shelby Walton, recipient of Most Outstanding Rookie at this year’s indoor championship after winning the 55-meter dash.
The Wildcats, who led after the first day of competition during this year’s indoor championship, will need a strong showing from defending champion of the pole vault, junior Rita Ciambra. Coming off a first-place finish in the indoor distance medley relay, the young team of freshman Keely Maguire and sophomores Catherine Perella, Allison Letourneau and Sydney Fitzpatrick will be crucial in holding off the hungry Great Danes.
Albany senior Kamilah McShine earned Most Outstanding Field Performer and the Coaches’ Award at the indoor championship this year after winning the pentathlon, and setting an America East Championship record in the 55-meter hurdles. If McShine can translate her indoor performance into the outdoor season, and classmate Laura Cummings defends her 2008 title in the steeplechase, the Great Danes will be a major threat at this year’s championship.
The Catamounts moved up three spots from a seventh-place finish at last year’s championship just weeks after finishing fourth at this year’s indoor competition. Vital in Vermont’s success will be the performance of senior Jan Carlson, who earned second in the 55- and 200-meter dashes at the indoor championship. Senior Alyson Millet earned second in the indoor mile run, and will be a main contributor this season.
Black Bear senior Vicki Tolton broke a 16-year old America East Championship record in the 400 meter dash at the indoor championship, and could emerge as a difference maker during the outdoor season. Also returning is the 2008 Most Outstanding Track Performer, Allyson Howatt, who won the 200- and 100-meter events and anchored the winning 4x400 relay team.
Binghamton senior Carly Gross, who earned second in last year’s outdoor and this year’s indoor pole vault, will challenge New Hampshire’s Rita Ciambra for her last chance at gold. Senior Kim Williams will look to improve upon her second place finish in last year’s 200-meter dash.
Freshman standout Imani Colbert, who was edged out of first by .07 seconds in the 55-meter indoor hurdles this year, should highlight the UMBC squad.
The Seawolves have been dominant in the distance events all year, and with Lucy Van Dalen earning two first place finishes in the 100-meter and 1 mile runs and during the indoor championship, the Stony Brook could jump a few spots by the time the championship rolls around.
With the graduation of Latasha Jarrett, the Hawks will look to senior Elizabeth Foster as their main point scorer. Foster earned top 5 finishes in the 3000- and 5000-meter runs at this year’s indoor championship.
The 2009 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championship will be held at Binghamton University on May 2-3.