Cambridge, Mass. ? The University at
Albany men's
indoor track and field team has been selected to finish first, while the
women's team was chosen to place second, according to the preseason poll of the
head coaches conducted by the America East Conference.
The Great Danes were selected to win
their third consecutive men's conference championship by receiving all eight
first place votes (coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams),
totaling 64 points. New Hampshire, which
earned one first place vote, and Boston
U. tied for second in the
voting with 52 points each. Binghamton
came in fourth with 38 points and UMBC tallied 33 points to round out the
top-five. Maine was tabbed sixth with 30 points,
followed by Stony Brook (26), Vermont (21) and
Hartford (8) to
complete the nine-team poll.
In the women's poll, Boston U.
was selected as the preseason choice to finish the season first and repeat last
year's championship. The Terriers received six first place votes to garner 61
points. UAlbany was tabbed first on two ballots and received 56 points for
second place, two points ahead of third place New Hampshire, who received the ninth and
final first place vote. Binghamton was picked
fourth with 37 points and Maine
totaled 31 points to round out the top-five preseason picks. Vermont
finished sixth with 29 points, followed by UMBC (26), Stony Brook (22) and Hartford (8).
The UAlbany men will be led this
season by captains Renauld Buck, Drew Harrison, and Michael McCadney. The Great
Danes won six events at last season's conference championship en route to their
second consecutive championship and fourth in the past five years. UAlbany
returns 2007 indoor champions David Parker (heptathlon), Pat Weider (200-meters
and 4x400-meter relay), Jean Juste (55-meter hurdles), McCadney (triple jump),
Freddie Wills (long jump), Andrew Overbaugh (4x400-meter relay), and Nick Lemp
(4x400-meter relay).
The Great Danes' women's team will
be led by captains Jenn Gurrant, Brenna Militello, and Ashley Vives. UAlbany
was edged out by Boston
U. at last season's
conference meet, despite winning eight events. Junior Kamilah McShine
(pentathlon and 55-meter hurdles) and senior Militello (high jump) return this
year for UAlbany to defend their 2007 championships.
UAlbany opens its 2007-08 season on
Saturday, Dec. 1 at Northeastern's Husky Winter Carnival at the Reggie Lewis
Center. Women's events
begin at 10 a.m., while the men start at 2 p.m.