UALBANY PICKED FIRST IN AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
Boston, Mass. - The University at Albany men's track and field team has been picked to finish first in the America East Conference in voting by the league's head coaches, as announced by the conference office on Friday, March 16.
The UAlbany men received seven first-place votes, accumulating 63 points. UAlbany will look to repeat last season's America East championship, after claiming the indoor title this winter. The Great Danes will be led by last year's All-America honorees Joe Greene and Marc Pallozzi.
Greene, the conference's most outstanding rookie and track performer last spring, captured A-East titles in the 400-meter dash and 400-hurdles, becoming the first male athlete to post winning performances in both events at an America East championship. After becoming the first UAlbany track athlete to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Greene placed 11th in the 400m hurdles.
Pallozzi finished 10th overall in the men's javelin throw at the NCAA Championships to become UAlbany's first-ever field athlete to earn Division I All-America honors.
Also at the America East championship, senior Junior Burnett won the 200m dash and turned in a second-place showing in the 100m dash. Greene and Burnett teamed up to lead the men's 4x400m relay to a victory. Sophomore Freddie Wills, the conference's field performer of the year, posted top-three finishes in three jumping events.
The Great Danes open their season on Saturday, March 17 at the Hurricane Invitational, which will be hosted by University of Miami.
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2007 America East Conference Men's Track and Field Poll
1. UAlbany (7), 63; 2. UNH (2), 58; 3. Boston U., 43; 4. Binghamton, 42; 5. UMBC, 39; 6. Maine, 34; 7. Stony Brook, 19; 8. Vermont, 18; 9. Hartford, 8. ( ) - first-place votes
