Bloomington, Ind. - University at Albany's Alie Beauvais and Luke Schoen advanced to the NCAA Track & Field Championships in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and pole vault, respectively, on Friday, May 27 at the NCAA East Preliminary Round. The three-day regional meet is being held at Indiana University's Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex.
Beauvais, who also qualified for nationals in 2009, will compete at the NCAA meet on June 8-11 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. In the Friday's quarterfinal round, Beauvais placed third in his heat with a time of 51.56 seconds. South Florida's David Aristil, who ran in the same preliminary race with Beauvais, posted the best mark of the qualifying round as he was clocked in 50.09. The top-three finishers in each section and the next best three times punched their ticket to the Division I nationals.
A senior from Hempstead, N.Y., Beauvais had not competed since May 8 due to a leg injury suffered on the final day at the America East Conference championships prior to Thursday's opening round. He ran a time of 51.80 seconds on the first day to reach the quarterfinals.
"My leg was worse than yesterday, but I just tried to zone in on every hurdle," said Beauvais, who iced his hamstring all day before it loosened up just before race time. "When I got to the eighth hurdle, I was in good position and I just wanted to make sure I was in the top three. Not being able to compete at America East or IC4As has made me more appreciative. This solidifies my training and lets me know that I can compete with the best."
A native of West Islip, N.Y., Schoen cleared the bar at 17-feet, 0.75-inches to be among the top-12 finishers in a field of 48 competitors at the NCAA East Preliminary Round. The also advanced to nationals at Drake University.
Schoen has reached the NCAA Championships for the third time in his collegiate career after not competing during the outdoor season one year ago. He made the NCAA field in 2008 and 2009. Schoen tied a meet record in winning the America East title and also captured the IC4A championship two weeks ago.
Wilfredo de Jesus Elias did not make the NCAA meet from the East Preliminary Round, as he placed 19th overall with a distance of 194-feet, 10-inches in the hammer throw. de Jesus Elias, a senior from Arroyo, Puerto Rico, entered the competition as the current IC4A and America East champion.
UAlbany's Paul Lagno will run in Saturday's quarterfinal round of the 1,500-meter run at 6:45 p.m. The IC4A champion and school record-holder in this event moved through Thursday's first round with a time of 3:50.44.
*********
NCAA Division I Track & Field East Preliminary Round
Men's 400-Meter Hurdles Championship Qualifiers - 1. David Aristil (South Florida), 50.09; 2. Leslie Murray (Delaware State), 50.15; 3. Richard Lowe (Memphis), 50.62; 4. Lee Moore (Mississippi), 50.29; 5. Jermaine Lowery (Pittsburgh), 50.66; 6. Ali Arastu (Michigan), 50.90; 7. Trey Charles (Morgan State), 50.92; 8. Aaron Younger (Rutgers), 50.97; 9. Alie Beauvais (Albany), 51.56; 10. Carson Blanks (Mississippi), 51.10; 11. Phillip Adams (Georgia), 51.12; 12. Jibri Victorian (Coppin State), 51.17.
Men's Pole Vault Championship Qualifiers - t1. Koby Shepherd (Liberty), 17-00.75; t1. Marvin Reitze (South Carolina), 17-00.75; t1. Joe Davis (Virginia Tech), 17-00.75; t1. Andrew LaHaye (Florida State), 17-00.75; t1. Parker Smith (North Carolina), 17-00.75; t1. Michael Seaman (Samford), 17-00.75; t1. Kovey Simmons (SE Louisiana), 17-00.75; t1. Codi Mattix (Michigan State), 17-00.75; t1. Jared Jodon (Virginia Tech), 17-00.75; t1. Luke Schoen (Albany), 17-00.75; t1. Hunter Hall (Virginia Tech), 17-00.75; 12. David Slovenski (Princeton), 16-10.75.
