March 23, 2003

TEMPE, AZ ... The George Mason University men's and women's track & field teams successfully opened their outdoor track & field season at Arizona State's Baldy Castillo Invitational at Sun Angel Stadium in Tempe, AZ, over the weekend.

The women's team had athletes qualify in three events for the first-ever NCAA East Regional Championships that will be held at George Mason University from Friday, May 30, through Saturday, May 31.

Freshman Alyce Williams (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast), an NCAA provisional qualifier during the indoor season, qualified for the Regional Championships in the triple jump with a 41-foot, 7?-inch mark to start the season with a win. Williams also led the Patriots in the sprints, finishing runner-up in the 200 meters in 24.25 seconds and fifth in the 100 meters in 12.04 seconds.

Sophomore Sheena Davidson (Rochester, NY/Edison Tech) picked up a win in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:01.11 to qualify for the Regional Championships. Also qualifying was the women's 4x100-meter relay that placed third in 45.74 seconds.

Other Patriots to turn in top-five finishes were junior Kim Morgan (Houston, TX/Alief Hastings) placing second in the long jump (18 feet, 9? inches), junior Sheena Goss (Elk Grove, CA/Laguna Creek) placing fourth in the 800 meters (2:16.33) and senior Michelle DiPenti (Warren, PA/Warren Area) finishing fifth in the 1500 meters (4:38.32).

Senior sprinter Serge Bengono (Yaounde, Cameroon/Younde) led the men's team with a win in the 100 meters in 10.67 seconds. He also placed fourth in the 200 meters in 21.56 seconds. Also winning was the men's 4x400-meter relay in 3:11.70.

Sophomore Richard Phillips (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Ardenne/Abilene Christian) also performed well for the Patriots, finishing runner-up in both the 110-meter hurdles in 14.59 seconds and in the 400-meter hurdles in 54.00 seconds.

The George Mason men's and women's track & field teams return to competition this weekend at NC State's Raleigh Relays from Friday, March 28, through Saturday, March 29.

George Mason W Results (placement among collegians only)
100 M: Alyce Williams (5) 12.04; NamTasha Joyner (6) 12.24
200 M: Alyce Williams (2) 24.25; Sheena Davidson (8) 24.83; NamTasha Joyner (11) 24.92; Alycia Williams (16) 25.15; Kim Morgan (17) 25.24
400 M: Alycia Williams (6) 55.82
400 H: Sheena Davidson (1) 1:01.11
800 M: Sheena Goss (4) 2:16.33; Dana Early (6) 2:18.75
1500 M: Michelle DiPenti (5) 4:38.32
4x1: "A" (1) 45.74
Long Jump: Kim Morgan (2) 18-9?; Corri Allen (6) 18-4?
Triple Jump: Alyce Williams (1) 41-7?
Shot Put: Jessica Cross (13) 41-7

George Mason M Results (placement among collegians only)
100 M: Serge Bengono (1) 10.67; Sammy Sesay (6) 11.08
110 H: Richard Phillips (2) 14.59
200 M: Serge Bengono (4) 21.56; Sammy Sesay (11) 22.16
400 M: Henry Harris (10) 48.15
400 H: Richard Phillips (2) 54.00
800 M: Kevin Nishiyama (10) 1:56.39
1500 M: Ricardo Cunningham (14) 4:04.23
4x4: "A" (1) 3:11.70
High Jump: Jon Martin (11) 6-5?; Quentin Matthews (--) NH