Des Moines, Iowa - University at Albany's Luke Schoen tied for 12th place in the men's pole vault at the 2011 NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships on Wednesday, June 8 at Drake University's Drake Stadium. UAlbany's Alie Beauvais finished fifth in his 400-meter intermediate hurdles semifinal heat and did not advance to the final.
Schoen, a senior from West Islip, N.Y., failed to clear the bar on all three attempts at 17-feet, 6.50-inches, which stands as the existing UAlbany record. The current IC4A and America East Conference champion made 16-10.75 on his first move down the runway and reached 17-2.75 on his third try.
Washington's Scott Roth won the pole vault competition by clearing a height of 17-8.50. Oral Roberts' Jack Whitt and Brigham Young's Chris Little were the only other athletes in the field to make 17-6.50. Schoen, the school record holder in this even, had previously finished fifth in 2008 and eighth in 2009 at the NCAA Championships. He earned outdoor All-America honors for the third time in his career as a second-team selection.
A senior from Hempstead, N.Y., Beauvais placed fifth in his 400-hurdles semifinal heat by sprinting 51.55 seconds from the eighth lane. His time was 17th among the 24 national competitors. Washington State's Jeshua Anderson, who reached the finish line in 49.18, ran the fastest time in qualifying and was one of eight hurdlers to move on to Friday's final.
Beauvais, who suffered a leg injury in early May at the America East Conference meet, returned to the track later in the month to qualify for nationals at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Bloomington, Ind. He had run a season-best time of 51.08 when he took third at Penn Relays in April. Beauvais was making his second appearance at the NCAA Division I championship after reaching the semifinals in 2009 and was named honorable mention All-American.
Schoen and Beauvais are among 13 UAlbany athletes who have competed at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships in the program's history.
Paw Prints: The USTFCAA recently changed the All-America awards system. For places one through eight, the athlete is a member of the first team. Those who place nine through 16, earn second-team recognition. The remaining places are awarded in the honorable mention category.
