April 18, 2003

RICHMOND, VA ... The George Mason University men's and women's track & field teams will compete in the Colonial Athletic Association Track & Field Championships from Friday, April 18, through Saturday, April 19, at the Sports Backers Stadium in Richmond, VA. Friday's events begin at noon and run until approximately 9:30 p.m., while Saturday's competition opens at 9:30 a.m. and is scheduled to finish around 5 p.m.

The women's team looks for their first conference title since 1998 after winning nine straight. The Patriots have finished runner-up in the last two years to William & Mary, and look to challenge the Tribe for the crown.

The women's team returns two defending CAA champions in sophomores Tysha Colon (Washington, DC/HD Woodson), the league's Rookie of the Year in 2002, and Sheena Davidson (Rochester, NY/Edison Tech). Colon won the 100 and 200 meters last year, while Davidson was the 400-meter champion. The Patriots also return three out of the four members of last year's winning 4x100-meter relay in Colon, senior NamTasha Joyner (Richmond, VA/John F. Kennedy) and junior Kim Morgan (Houston, TX/Alief Hastings).

George Mason's women's team also looks to earn points the 4x400-meter relay and the field events. The team has posted the best 4x4 time in the conference this season, ranking 17th in the east region (3:42.51), while freshman Alyce Williams (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast) leads the conference's triple jumpers, ranking sixth in the region (41 feet, 7? inches). The Patriots will also look to Morgan in the long jump and freshman Jessica Cross (Marathon, NY/Marathon Central) in the throws.

The men's team looks to improve on their fourth place finish from last year and to challenge six-time defending champion UNC Wilmington.

The Patriots will rely heavily on senior sprinter Serge Bengono (Yaounde, Cameroon/Younde), sophomore hurdler Richard Phillips (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Ardenne/Abilene Christian) and defending 800-meter champion senior Kevin Nishiyama (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks East). Bengono has posted the conference's top time this season in the 100 meters, ranking third in the east region (10.42), while Phillips leads the conference in both the 110- (14.04) and 400-meter hurdles (51.36), ranking eighth and fifth, respectively, in the region.

For a complete schedule of events for this weekend's meet, visit the CAA website at http://www.caasports.com/sports/mtrack/champs.asp.