Indoor Track Sends Four to USA Track & Field Indoor National Championships

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 11, 2016) – Four University at Albany track & field student-athletes will be competing this weekend at the USA Track & Field Indoor National Championships in Portland, Oregon. It is the largest number UAlbany has sent to compete in program history.

The meet takes place at the Oregon Convention Center (OCC). The facility’s indoor track stadium is large enough to accommodate more than 7,000 spectators. Next weekend, March 18-20, the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships will be held on the same track.

“This is an exciting opportunity,” said Roberto Vives, UAlbany’s Track & Field and Cross Country director. “We’re sending four athletes, which is the most that have attended this meet in program history. It'll be a great experience and a chance for them to compete some against high-quality athletes.”

Four student-athletes from UAlbany track & field (pictured above) will compete in this weekend’s USA Track & Field Indoor National Championships.

Student-athletes from UAlbany who have qualified include:

Jonathan Eustache: Eustache, a junior, placed second with a mark of 67'6" (20.57) in the weight throw at IC4A Championships. His throw broke the school record. At the America East Conference Championships, Eustache also placed second, with his mark of 64'1".25 (19.54).

Chinwe Igwe: Igwe, a junior, is the sole participant from the women’s track team. At conference championships, she hit the national qualifying standard with a mark of 63'4" (19.30) to win her event. Igwe’s mark also broke the America East Conference record. She placed third in at the ECAC championship with a mark of 58'3.75" (17.77).

Jordan Crump-King: Crump-King, a sophomore, qualified for the men’s triple jump. He hit the required national standard at the Cornell Upstate Challenge with a mark of 50'6" (15.39). At conference championships, he placed fifth with a mark of 45'6.25" (13.87).

Taair Jones: Jones, a senior, was second overall at the IC4A Championships in the 400-meter. His time of 46.79 broke the school record of 47.10 set by Joe Greene back in 2009. Jones also defended his title in the 400-meter for the third consecutive year at the America East Conference Championship, running a 47.25 in the finals and hitting the national standard.

Also of note, senior Grace Claxton will compete for the women’s 400-meter at the Indoor World Championships.

Indoor National Championships are scheduled to start today at 11:30 A.M. with the men’s weight throw, followed by the women’s weight throw at 1:45 P.M. The first round of the men’s 400-meter will begin at 5:10 P.M. On Saturday, the meet will start at 2:30 P.M. with the 60-meter hurdles. Men’s triple jump is set for 5:10 P.M. and the finals for the men’s 400-meter will start at 5:06 P.M.

Follow results from this weekend’s meet by visiting www.ualbanysports.com.

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