Sports Talk
By Brian DePasquale
Women’s 3,200 Relay Sets Record at Raleigh Relays
Jessica Walton led the women’s 4x800-meter relay to a fifth-place finish with a school-record performance at the 2001 Adidas Raleigh Relays on March 30-31 at North Carolina State’s Paul H. Derr Track. In addition, Jamie Rodriguez and Ronald Edmundson posted IC4A-qualifying marks in the men’s 5,000 meters and triple jump, respectively.

Albany’s 4x800 relay was timed in a school-record 9:09.40. The squad of Walton, Jessica Burger, Diane Matthews and Megan Roeder shattered a mark (10:02.48) set in 1999, and in the process qualified for the ECAC championships later this spring.

Rodriguez, a junior, placed 19th among 150 competitors with a personal-best 14:34.60 in the 5,000. His time also qualified him for May’s IC4A championship meet. Edmundson will join Rodriguez at IC4As, as he finished eighth in the triple jump with a leap of 47-feet, 10-inches.

UAlbany assistant track coach Jeffrey York, who competed unattached, won the 110-meter high hurdles event in 13.68 seconds. More than 2,000 athletes, representing nearly 110 collegiate and club teams, were entered in the two-day meet.

Vanderhall Breaks Shot Put Record at West Point Invitational
Cherice’ Vanderhall set a school record in the women’s shot put to highlight her team’s performance at the West Point Invitational. The non-scoring meet, held at Army’s Shea Stadium, featured athletes from 45 schools.

Vanderhall finished fourth in the shot put, and broke her own school standard with a mark of 41-feet, 0.50-inches. Sarah Best tied for sixth in pole vault, while Andrea Sweet took sixth in the long jump. Rosemarie Samuels went 34-0 in the triple jump to place eighth. Stacey Kupcheni was ninth in the hammer throw with a toss of 118-11.

In the men’s competition, Jeffrey Brooks and Robby Harrison were third in the 5,000 meters and triple jump, respectively. Brooks ran 15:15.24, and finished just ahead of teammate Joe Pienta. Harrison, a sophomore, leaped 44-03.50.

Teiko Aryee tied for fourth in the high jump (6-5). Dustin Wilson (23.07) and Brandon Howlett (131-4.50) garnered a pair of eighth-place finishes in the 200-meter dash and discus.

Spring Football Practice
UAlbany head football coach Bob Ford welcomed 41 letterwinners returning, including 17 starters, when the Great Danes began spring football practice on March 31. The 15-session schedule continues through Saturday, May 5.

UAlbany posted a 5-6 record in its second NCAA Division I-AA season last fall, and finished fourth in the Northeast Conference. The Great Danes will have eight starters back on an offense that ranked 14th nationally in rushing at 215.2 yards per game and averaged 31.1 points. Nine starters return on defense, including Josh Bazan, the Football Gazette Division I-AA Mid-Major Linebacker of the Year.

“There are several things we need to address during the spring,” said Ford, who has a 170-108 record in 28 seasons with the UAlbany program. “We need to establish a defensive line, and have already made personnel adjustments at the tackle and end positions. I am concerned about our secondary depth, plus we are going to look at some younger players in the offensive line and receiving positions.”

Brian Manigault, a second-team All-NEC tailback, established the school’s single-season rushing record with 1,041 yards in 2000. He also set school standards with 15 rushing touchdowns and 90 points. All-Conference split end Chris Phillis hauled in 49 passes for 856 yards and eight touchdowns, but will sit out spring drills following off-season surgery. Quarterback Ryan Roeder improved greatly over the final month of the season, and completed 87 of 147 pass attempts for 1,132 yards and nine TDs. Sophomore Alex Argulewicz, who earned All-NEC recognition at left guard, and center Regan Jones, will anchor the offensive line.

Bazan, an inside linebacker, and free safety Samson Brown were first-team all-conference selections as sophomores. Bazan led the Great Danes in total tackles (109), hits for a loss (18), sacks (6.0), fumbles recovered (4) and fumbles forced (4). Brown made 82 tackles and broke up four passes. Jelani Dandles (44 tackles, 2 interceptions) is a two-year starter at cornerback. In their first season as starters, roverback Ryan MacLean (86 tackles) and linebacker Tim Campe (75 tackles) were solid contributors.

The Great Danes open their 2001 schedule at home on Saturday, September 1 against non-conference opponent Towson.

Athletic Staff Hirings
Director of Athletics and Recreation Lee McElroy announced on March 28 that Peter Rossomando has been named offensive line coach on head football coach Bob Ford’s staff. Head equipment manager Kevin Galuski will also take on additional duties as the University’s operations liaison with regard to the New York Giants summer training camp.

Rossomando was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at SUNY-Cortland last year, where he handled weekly game plans, coached the kickoff return and field goal special teams, and recruited in New York City and on Long Island. He previously coached the offensive line at Division I-AA Northeastern University in 1999.

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