July 15, 2005

FAIRFAX, Va. - Burke Binning, former cross country head coach and distance assistant coach for the Texas Tech University track and field team, has been named the top women's track and field/cross country assistant coach at George Mason University, head coach Angie Taylor announced Friday. Binning begins his duties at George Mason on July 18.

"I am so thrilled to have him come and be a part of this staff," expressed Taylor, who enters her seventh season as George Mason's Track and Field/Cross Country head coach. "He is an awesome coach and will do great things with our middle distance and distance groups. I'm really looking forward to working with him."

Binning just completed his third year at the helm of the cross country program and the Red Raider distance group, leading the 2004 women's cross country team to a season and program-high national ranking of 24th. Texas Tech's women's unit posted two first-place team finishes and placed in the top 10 five times, while its men's squad recorded three top 10 finishes.

In 2003, Binning led Texas Tech to its most successful cross country season in school history. He guided the women's team to school best finishes at the Big 12 Championships (4th) and the NCAA Mountain Regional (5th) meet. The women's team narrowly missed receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA National Championships. The women also spent much of the 2003 campaign in the national rankings climbing as high as 31st.

Binning stresses more than just running prowess in the fall, as his track athletes broke school records and shattered personal bests under his guidance. His men's distance group accounted for 26 of the Red Raiders' 149.50 points as Texas Tech captured the 2005 Big XII Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The women earned 28 of the team's 95 points in placing second overall.

Binning recently completed his Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology from Texas Tech. Prior to his arrival in Lubbock, he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Social Science/Secondary Education from Black Hills State University (BHSU) in Spearfish, South Dakota.

While attending BHSU, Binning competed in three sports: track, football, and cross-country. The Torrington, Wyoming, native was a two-time NAIA national qualifier in the 400M hurdles and 4x400M relay and earned SDIC all-conference honors in 1998, 1999, and 2000. Binning later went on to coach at his alma mater for two seasons.

Binning took a proactive role at BHSU as he was vice president of the student senate, a student representative, as well as served as the promotions and entertainment liaison for the athletic department.

Prior to attending BHSU, Binning was an accomplished high school athlete, earning all-state track honors nine times. He still holds a state record as a member of the 4x800M meter relay that included his older brother, Brett; he holds five school records, as well. Binning showed more than running ability as he helped lead his football team to the state semifinals from 1993-95, earning all-state as a senior and all-conference four times. He also was a three-time all-conference selection in basketball.

Binning comes from a long line of athletes as his father and uncle ran track at the University of Wyoming, his sister competed in track and volleyball at BHSU, two of his cousins ran track at the University of Miami (Ohio), and another cousin ran at Princeton.