March 6, 2005

BOSTON, MASS. - The George Mason men's track and field team had some solid performances at the IC4A Championships this weekend and those performances translated into a second-place finish for the team title at the prestigious meet at Boston University.

The Patriots scored 56 points as a team, finishing second to Rutgers, which scored 74.33 points. Manhattan was third, with 52 points.

Richard Phillips and Marc Kellman each successfully defended the IC4A titles they won in 2004. Phillips won the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.30 seconds. Teammate Ricardo Melbourne was second in the event in 7.32 seconds. A third Patriot, Brian Hay, also scored points for Mason in the event as he finished sixth in 7.49 seconds.

Kellman won the triple jump, leaping 15.55 meters. Last year, he won the event with a jump of 15.44 meters. Teammate Ryan McCoy was second in the event, nearly stealing the title from Kellman. McCoy finished with a mark of 15.53 meters. Kellman was also third in the long jump with a leap of 7.13 meters while McCoy was seventh in that event with a jump of 6.92 meters.

Like Kellman and McCoy, Melbourne also competed in two events. Melbourne ran in the 400-meters, finsihing sixth with a time of 47.83 seconds. Two other individuals competed for Mason as Ricardo Cunningham was fifth in the 800-meters with a time of 1:53.28 and Quentin Matthews was seventh in the high jump cleaing a height of 2.01 meters. The 4X400-meter relay team was 11th with a time of 3:16.79.

The NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships will be held next weekend at Fauetteville, Ark. Phillps and Melbourne are expected to compete in the 55-meter hurdles while Kellman and McCoy could compete in the triple jump.

Athlete-Event-Finish-Time/Distance/Height
Ricardo Melbourne - 400-meters - 6th - 47.83
Ricardo Cunningham - 800-meters - 5th - 1:53.28
Richard Phillips - 55-meter hurdles - 1st - 7.30
Ricardo Melbourne - 55-meter hurdles - 2nd - 7.32
Brian Hay - 55-meter hurdles - 6th - 7.49
4X400-meter relay - 11th - 3:16.79
Quentin Matthews - High Jump - 7th - 2.01m
Marc Kellman - Long Jump - 3rd - 7.13m
Ryan McCoy - Long Jump - 7th - 6.92m
Marc Kellman - Triple Jump - 1st - 15.55m
Ryan McCoy - Triple Jump - 2nd - 15.53m