Ramapo College Indoor Select Meet Preview

By Andrea Prusik for ArmoryTrack.com

NEW YORK (17-Jan) -- The Ramapo College Indoor Select Meet is set to showcase the top NCAA Division II and III talent at the The New Balance Track and Field Center at The Armory. Teams from New England to Virginia and beyond will compete in the meet, which is intended to provide competition for ECAC Div. III qualifying marks. The meet will be held from 10:45 am. to 5 pm. on Saturday, January 18, 2014, and will be webcast live on ArmoryTrack.com.

-On the women’s side, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Grace Tilton will compete in the 3000 meters. Tilton is returning after a strong cross country season, culminating with the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) naming her Atlantic Region Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the year. Additional women competing include McKaela Christenson of the Academy of Art, Stevens Institute’s Amy Regan, and Oneonta’s Danielle Kennedy.

-The men’s 3000 meters also looks to be competitive, with 15 athletes seeded at 9:00 or faster. Those expected to lead the pack include Sean Quinn and Bobby Parker from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Michael Cahill from Stevens Institute, and Lehman’s John Pollina.

-Georgian Court University’s Tiffany Okieme leads the weight throw and shot put entries. She is currently a USTFCCCA Division II National Athlete of the week. All-American shot putter Michael Cameron from Southern Connecticut leads the men’s shot put entries, and teammate Tresley Dupont is seeded first among those in the men’s weight throw.

-Both the men’s and women’s mile have a number of strong entries, with Christopher Newport’s Jessica McClelland and Nicolas Rifflard from the Academy of Art seeded to lead their respective packs. Five women look to run 5:15 or faster and seven men are seeded to run 4:20 or faster.

-In the women’s pole vault, last year’s NCAA Division III Indoor National Champion Michelle Favre will compete unattached. Former NCAA Division III Indoor National Champion Craig Van Leeuwan will also compete unattached in the men’s pole vault.

-In the 60 meter dash, Jordan Edwards and Ronald Spears Jr., both competing for the Academy of Art, have the fastest seed times. Current Empire 8 Track and Field Athlete of the week Rashaad Barrett from Ithaca is also seeking a podium finish.

-New Haven’s Ada Udaya is seeded fastest in the women’s 60 meter dash. Fourteen athletes are entered with times under 8.00 seconds.

A full schedule and meet information for the Ramapo College Indoor Select Meet can be found here. Full entries for Saturday's contest can be found here.

Stay tuned to ArmoryTrack.com, @ArmoryTrack on Twitter, The New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory's Facebook page, and ArmoryNYC on Instagram for the latest news, videos, and photos from the weekend's action.

Photo: Courtesy of Ramapo College Athletics