May 14, 2003
FAIRFAX, VA ... The George Mason University men's and women's track & field teams open postseason competition this week at the ECAC/IC4A Championships, being held jointly in Princeton, NJ. The women look to improve on their 20th-place team finish one year ago at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championships, while the men look to place in the top three for the third consecutive year at the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) Championships.
The men's team has eight athletes qualifying for competition in eight events. Sophomore Richard Phillips (St. Catherine, Jamaica/Ardenne/Abilene Christian), the Outstanding Performer of the Meet in April's Colonial Athletic Association Championships, advances to the IC4A Championships in a team-best five events - the 200 meters, 110-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay.
The women's team has qualified eight athletes in nine events, including sophomore Sheena Davidson (Rochester, NY/Edison Tech) in the 400 meters, 400-meter hurdles, 4x100-meter relay, 4x400-meter relay and 4x800-meter relay. Freshmen twins Alyce and Alycia Williams (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast) have also qualified in five events apiece. Alyce Williams advances to postseason competition in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 4x100-meter relay, 4x400-meter relay and triple jump, while Alycia Williams has qualified for the ECACs in the 200 meters, 400 meters, 4x100-meter relay, 4x400-meter relay and 4x800-meter relay.
Both teams have traditionally done very well at the ECAC/IC4A Championships. The women's team won six-straight ECAC outdoor titles between 1994 and 1999, and have finished in the top-two in 13 of 16 outings. The men's team won seven-straight IC4A outdoor titles between 1989 and 1995, and have finished in the top two in 14 of 20 tries, including a runner-up finish in 2001.
The Patriots have a week off following the ECAC/IC4A Championships, with select athletes advancing to the first-ever NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track & Field Championships at George Mason Stadium from Friday, May 30 through Saturday, May 31. The top-five individual winners and top-three relays advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Sacramento State from Wednesday, June 11 through Saturday, June 14.
