The UNH outdoor track & field team will host the America East Championships on May 1-2 at the Reggie F. Atkins Track & Field Facility.
The Wildcat men, who finished second at last year’s meet, are hoping to upset the favored University at Albany and capture the outdoor title. In the throwing events, the ‘Cats hope to earn major points with three competitors ranked atop their respective events.
Junior Brice Paey two-time defending outdoor shot put champion, has remained dominant in the event this spring after setting a new America East record on his way to the 2010 indoor title. Paey is ranked 38th in the nation and 24th in the East.
Junior Paul DeTurk, who will challenge defending champion Wilfredo de Jesus Elias of Albany for the hammer throw title, ranked first in the event after posting an IC4A-qualifying mark. DeTurk’s throw ranks him 37th in the country and 20th in the East region. Junior Michael Simon seeks to win his third straight javelin throw title and has led the Wildcats in a sweep of the top three seeds for the championship meet.
Field competitors will also lead the women’s side.
Senior Ashlee Lathrop, who won the indoor weight throw title, has been dominant in the throwing events all season. Lathrop, who garnered five of the six America East Field Performer of the Week awards during the outdoor seasons, seeks to defend her hammer throw title. Lathrop ranked first in the event with an ECAC-qualifying throw of 55.52. She will also challenge for the discus throw title, seeded second after qualifying for the ECAC championship.
Juniors Camille Quarles and Rita Ciambra also have had strong seasons in the field. Quarles is ranked first in the triple jump while Ciambra is seeded first in the pole vault. Both have qualified for the ECAC championship in May. Ciambra is also ranked 25th in the nation and tied for seventh in the East.
Junior Allison Letourneau looks to be a point earner for the squad on the track after winning the 800m title at the indoor championship. Letourneau, who is seeded first in the 800m, placed third at the 2009 outdoor meet and hopes to improve on her finish this year.
Albany hopes to become the first school to win all four AE Conference track and field championships in the same academic year.
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