|
America East Releases Indoor Track Preseason Poll
Dec. 4, 2008
ORONO, Maine--The University of Maine women's and men's indoor track teams have been selected to finish fourth and seventh, respectively, in America East this season as released by the conference. The women received 34 points while the men received 23 points. The poll was chosen by the league's nine head coaches and coaches could not vote for their own team. The coaches selected Boston University unanimously to win the women's championship. The Terriers received eight first-place votes and 64 points to take the top spot over New Hampshire which received 56 points and the other first-place vote. Albany was third with 50 points. The Black Bears were fourth, followed by Binghamton with 33 points and Stony Brook with 31 points. UMBC was selected seventh with 30 points, followed by Vermont with 18 points and Hartford with eighth points. The women's team returns the 2008 America East Outstanding Track performer from the outdoor season in junior Allyson Howatt (Fredericton, New Brunswick) who won the 200 meter dash in indoor last season and was also a member of the winning 4x400 meter relay team at the America East Indoor Championships. The lady Black Bears also return seniors Vicki Tolton (Smithers, British Columbia) and Lindsay Burlock (Caribou, Maine) who finished first and third, respectively in the 400 meter run last indoor season at the championships. The women welcome in a talented group of freshmen that includes Jesse Labreck (Winslow, Maine), a New England champion and multi-event standout, Hilary Maxim (Old Town, Maine), a Maine state champion in distance events and Shaniqua Burgess (New Haven, Conn.), the 2007 Gatorade Connecticut Track and Field Athlete of the Year. The men's team returns America East champion high-jumper Jeff Ramos (Turner, Maine) who will look to defend his title this season. The Black Bears also return Matt Holman (Gardiner, Maine) who is the reigning 400 meter hurdle champion in outdoor track.
The Albany men were selected as the favorites to win for the fourth consecutive year as they were unanimously selected with eight first-place votes and 64 points. New Hampshire was selected second with 55 points and the other first-place vote. Binghamton was third with 51 points. UMBC received 39 points for the fourth spot with Boston University following closely with 38 points. Stony Brook was selected sixth with 27 points followed by Maine. Vermont was selected eighth with 19 points and Hartford followed with eight points. The men's newcomers include Riley Masters (Bangor, Maine) who was a Maine state champion in the distance events as well as the Black Bears' top finisher in the America East Cross Country Championships this fall. The track and field teams begin their seasons at New Hampshire on Dec. 13. -U-M- |
