Feb. 19, 2006
Complete Results
FAIRFAX, Va. - Freshman Murielle Ahoure's NCAA provisional qualifying performance in the 55-meter dash highlighted a strong day of performances by Mason's men's and women's track and field athletes at the Collegiate Open, held at the George Mason University Fieldhouse.
Ahoure improved upon her ECAC qualifying performance of 7.06 seconds in the 55-meter dash at last weekend's Valentine's Day Meet in Boston, Mass., finishing in 7.01 seconds in the preliminary heats, and bettering that time in the finals, placing first with a time of 6.90 seconds. The finals time gives Ahoure a provisional qualifier to the NCAA Indoor Championships, set to take place March 10-11 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Ahoure wasn't the only woman to qualify for championships at the meet. The women's 4x400-meter relay team of Ahoure, Ryann Hendricks, Misti Turner and Melissa Ferry qualified for the ECAC Championships with a time of 3:53.42.
Sophomore Melissa Ferry, senior Ashley Ackerley and freshman Brittanie Williams also performed well at the meet. Ferry placed fourth in the 1000 meters with a time of 3:03.07, the best time in the event for the women's team this season. Ackerley finished first in the weight throw with a toss of 14.86 meters and second in the shot put with a personal best of 11.81 meters. Williams finished first in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 8.20 seconds.
Five men placed first in events at the meet. Senior Marc Kellman finished first in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.05 seconds. In the 800 meters, freshman Javan Corniffe placed first with a time of 1:55.49. Sophomore Brian Hay took first place in the 60-meter hurdles, finishing in 8.11 seconds, his second best time of the season. Hay finished in 8.02 seconds at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City on Feb. 4. Senior Quentin Matthews cleared 2.00 meters to win the high jump competition.
Freshman Rick Worthington had a banner day, setting two personal records in the throws. In the shot put, Worthington finished first with a toss of 13.84 meters. He finished second in the weight throw with a mark of 10.61 meters.
Both the men's and women's teams are scheduled to compete at the Mason Last Chance at the Fieldhouse on Sunday, Feb. 26. The meet is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. with the women's long jump, women's pole vault and men's weight throw. The final event of the day is the men's 4x400-meter relay, slated to begin at 4:55 p.m.
