Eugene, Ore. ? University at Albany's Joe Greene and Alie Beauvais placed sixth and eighth, respectively, in the opening heat of the men's 400-meter intermediate hurdles semifinals at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, June 27, at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. The event was broadcasted live on ESPN.
Fighting intense winds on the backstretch for the second consecutive night, Greene, a three-time All-American in the event, finished his final race as a Great Dane in 49.87 seconds. Running in the faster heat, his time was better than the fourth-place mark of 50.40 in the second section. Beauvais, who placed second behind Greene at the IC4A and America East championship meets, navigated the track in 52.74.
South Carolina's Johnny Dutch, the second-place finisher at the NCAA Championship, edged out two-time Olympic gold medalist Angelo Taylor to win the heat in 49.24. Bershawn Jackson, who won the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, ran the fastest time of the day and won the second heat in 48.80. The top four finishers in each race advanced to Sunday's final.
In addition, Jenn Gurrant competed in the women's triple jump on Friday night. The senior captain who holds UAlbany's outdoor school record in the event ended her career by placing 17th with a mark of 40-feet, 9.75-inches. Shameeka Welsch, the two-time Olympic Trials runner-up, won the event for leaping 46-11.
UAlbany's R.J. Sniffen will compete in the 5,000-meter run at the USA Junior National Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field on Sunday night at 7:50 p.m. Eastern. He will have the opportunity to become the eighth Great Dane to garner junior All-America honors.
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Men's 400-Meter Intermediate Hurdles (Semifinals): 10. Joe Greene 49.87, 16. Alie Beauvais 52.74. Women's Triple Jump: 17. Jenn Gurrant 40-9.75.
Complete Results
