April 16, 2006

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Senior Quentin Matthews finished in first place in the high jump at the Lou Onesty/Milton G. Abramson Invitational at Lannigan Field in Charlottesville, Va. on Saturday. The leap of 2.15 meters is a new personal best for the senior, topping his old outdoor mark of 2.10 meters. Matthews qualified for the IC4A Championships in the event at last weekend's Texas Relays, and his latest mark qualifies the Chesapeake, Va. native for the NCAA East Regional Championships on May 26-27 in Greensboro, N.C.

Mason had an outstanding afternoon in the field events at the meet, as junior Ryan McCoy also finished first in his event, the triple jump. McCoy's jump of 15.81 meters tops his old personal best of 15.53 meters set earlier in the season at Mason's Spring Open Invitational on April 1. The next closest competitor, Hampton's Brandon Jones, recorded a mark of 14.78 meters. McCoy has already qualified for the NCAA East Regional Championships in the event.

Sophomore Brian Hay finished sixth in the 110-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 14.38 seconds, tying the fastest time he has run during the current outdoor season. He also recorded a time of 14.38 seconds at the Texas Relays last weekend.

The women's team entered only one competitor at the meet, senior Ashley Ackerley, and she represented the team well, qualifying for the ECAC Championships, and setting a new personal record in the discus throw with a toss of 43.21 meters, which placed her seventh in the event. The throw topped her old high mark of 41.61 meters.

Both the men's and women's track and field teams will compete at the CAA Championships in Richmond, Va. next weekend.