Jan. 11, 2003
Fairfax, VA ... The George Mason men's and women's indoor track & field teams successfully opened their 2003 seasons Saturday as hosts of the Father Diamond Open at the Fieldhouse. The women had seven athletes qualify for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Indoor Championships in six events, while the men has six athletes qualify for the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) Indoor Championships in four events.
Seniors Henry Harris (Cleveland Heights, OH/Essex CC) and Kevin Nishiyama (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks East) were both dual qualifiers for the IC4A Championships on Saturday. In the 500 meters, Harris placed fifth in 1:04.06, while Nishiyama was ninth in 1:04.80. The men's 4x400-meter relay of Harris, junior Ricardo Cunningham (Clarendon, Jamaica/SW Christian CC), sophomore Dominique Brown (Somerville, NJ/Somerville) and Nishiyama placed third in 3:16.57.
The Patriots' other IC4A qualifiers were senior Serge Bengono (Yaounde, Cameroon/Younde) placing third in the 60 meters with a season-best time of 6.88 seconds in the preliminary round, and junior Wayne Wright (Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring) finishing third in the high jump with a career-best mark of 6 feet, 9? inches.
Freshman Alyce Williams (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast) qualified for the ECAC Championships in a team-high three events, finishing runner-up in both the 200 meters in 24.97 seconds and in the triple jump with a 39-foot, 5?-inch performance. She also ran the second leg of the women's 4x400-meter relay that placed fourth in an ECAC-qualifying 3:47.99. Sophomore Tysha Colon (Washington, DC/HD Woodson), freshman Alycia Williams (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast) and sophomore Sheena Davidson (Rochester, NY/Edison Tech) rounded out the 4x4 lineup.
Colon and senior NamTasha Joyner (Richmond, VA/John F. Kennedy) also qualified for the ECAC Championships in the 200 meters, finishing third in 25.09 seconds and sixth in 25.22 seconds, respectively. Alycia Williams, twin sister of Alyce, was also a dual-qualifier, placing fourth in the 500 meters in 1:14.05.
Two Patriots advanced to the ECACs in the long jump with junior Corri Allen (Sacramento, CA/Laguna Creek) finishing fourth with a 19-foot, ?-inch leap, and junior Kim Morgan (Houston, TX/Alief Hastings) placing sixth with a mark of 18 feet, 9? inches. Morgan also qualified in the 60 meters placing fourth in 7.65 seconds.
Sophomore Ryann Holmes (Largo, MD/Largo Senior) picked up the team's lone win, placing first in the 800 meters in 2:18.99.
George Mason M Results (placement among collegians only)
60 M: Serge Bengono (3) 6.91, 6.88 (p)
200 M: Randel Logan (6) 22.97; Justin Hernandez (21) 24.21
Mile: Dennis Moriarty (11) 4:41.06
500 M: Henry Harris (5) 1:04.06; Kevin Nishiyama (9) 1:04.80
800 M: Dominique Brown (4) 1:56.82
1000 M: Ricardo Cunningham (2) 2:35.21; Alex Gornik (11t) 3:17.38
4x4: Henry Harris, Ricardo Cunningham, Dominique Brown, Kevin Nishiyama (3) 3:16.57
High Jump: Wayne Wright (3) 6-9? ; Jon Martin (4t) 6-8
Triple Jump: Wayne Wright (5) 46-4?; Jon Martin (9) 43-0 ?
Weight Throw: Josh Cole (7) 41-3?
George Mason W Results (placement among collegians only)
60 M: Kim Morgan (4t) 7.65, 7.68 (p); Tysha Colon (7) 7.80, 7.78 (p)
200 M: Alyce Williams (2) 24.97; Tysha Colon (3) 25.09; NamTasha Joyner (6) 25.22; Kim Morgan (9) 25.35; Aisha Williams (26) 27.27; Mamuna Oyofo (29) 27.51
400 M: Paula Bailey (15) 58.95
Mile: Michelle DiPenti (5) 5:12.20
500 M: Alycia Williams (4) 1:14.05; Sheena Goss (15) 1:17.58; Kathy Williams (16) 1:17.63; Zulei Thomas (32) 1:30.12
800 M: Ryann Holmes (1) 2:18.99
1000 M: Sara Hines (5) 3:04.92; Meghan Millar (14) 3:24.13
3000 M: Rose Moeser (16) 12:05.56; Nicole Holifield (19) 12:12.00
60 M H: Ameca Williams (19) 9.42
4x4: "A" Tysha Colon, Alyce Williams, Alycia Williams, Sheena Davidson (4) 3:47.99; "B" Paula Bailey, Kim Morgan, Kathy Williams, NamTasha Joyner (10) 3:57.00
4x8: Michelle DiPenti, Ryann Holmes, Sara Hines, Sheena Goss (2) 9:31.01
Long Jump: Corri Allen (4) 19-0 ?; Kim Morgan (6) 18-9? ; Aisha Williams (12) 17-8?
Triple Jump: Alyce Williams (2) 39-5?; Corri Allen (8t) 37-4?; Aisha Williams (12) 36-7?
Shot Put: Jessica Cross (6) 41-5?
Weight Throw: Jessica Cross (3) 45-3?
