Kennedy Joseph | February 26, 2023
Great Danes sprinter Dominique Clarke
Photo Credits: America East Conference
On Feb. 19-20, the University at Albany women’s track and field team highlighted their performance in the America East Indoor Championships at the Track at New Balance with seven event victories and a second place finish. Their total of 196 points was good to come inches away from the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s total of 196.5.
50 of the Great Danes’ points came from their sweep of both the 200m and 60m dashes. Sophomore Dominique Clarke led the way with victories in 24.01 seconds and 7.45 seconds respectively, the latter of which surpassed her 2022 record of 7.55 seconds. Additionally, sophomore Adaliz Hunt placed second with a time of 7.60 seconds, and junior Rori Lowe placed third in 7.64 seconds.
Other Great Danes also had an impressive showing at the track, starting with Amanda Chambers, a graduate student who placed fourth in the mile with a time of 5:01.36 minutes. Alondra Cruz-Delgado, a freshman, put an impressive performance in the 800m, placing second in a personal best of 2:14.95 minutes.
In the 60m hurdles, Toni Galloway placed second in a personal-best time of 8.59 seconds, while Brinesha Derrick-Bain placed third in 8.76 seconds, tying her personal best. Kate Del Gandio placed sixth in 8.87 seconds, and Oliva Nelson Chevry placed seventh in 8.88 seconds.
In the 500m dash, three Great Danes posted their personal best at the meet. Alicia Grady placed fourth with a time of 1:15.58 minutes, with Derrick-Bain placing fifth in 1:15.75 minutes, and Tyler Howard placing sixth in 1:16.43 minutes. Also, with a time of 2:58.10 minutes, Chambers finished fifth in the 1,000m, Cruz-Delgado came in seventh with a time of 3:02.69 minutes, and Skyler Smith came in eighth with a time of 3:03.30 minutes.
In the 200m, Clarke set a new indoor record with a time of 23.69 seconds, Jazmen Newberry came in second with a time of 23.85 seconds, Lowe took third with a time of 24.05 seconds, and Del Gandio finished seventh in 25.37 seconds. And in the 3,000m dash, a sophomore, Tess Fitzmaurice finished eighth in a time of 10:05.57 seconds.
Triple jumper Leann Nicholas won with a distance of 42-01.50 feet. Rebeca Valerie Barrientos Alpha finished sixth in the triple jump with a distance of 38-06.75 feet. With a throw of 47-01.00 feet, Shelby Bigsby won the shot put. Abigale Rhodes finished fourth with a personal-best throw of 44-10.75 feet, and Kiki Nosile finished seventh with a throw of 40-10.50 feet.
The senior Bigsby remains undefeated in the shot put at the America East Indoor Championships, taking up her fourth consecutive event title.
In the end, the women's track and field team finished second overall with a total of seven event championships won as a team at the 2023 America East Indoor Championships.