July 21, 2006

RICHMOND, Va. - The Colonial Athletic Association announced its yearly awards for men's and women's track and field as voted on by the league's head coaches. Two George Mason standouts were honored by the conference as senior Marc Kellman was named the CAA Male Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year and freshman Murielle Ahoure earned CAA Rookie of the Year honors.

Kellman concluded his career at George Mason by advancing to the finals of the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on June 10 and placing fifth with a leap of 15.97 meters (52 ft. 4.75 in.), earning the Coram, N.Y. native All-American honors for the third time in his career. He advanced to the National Championship meet by placing fifth in the triple jump at the NCAA East Regional Championships on May 27 with a jump of 15.85 meters (52 ft.). During the 2006 outdoor season, he set a new personal record for the outdoor season with a mark of 16.05 meters at the Texas Relays on April 8, earning him CAA Co-Field Athlete of the Week honors on April 11. Kellman also finished second in both the long jump and triple jump at the CAA Outdoor Championships, and also finished in second place in the triple jump and in third place in the long jump at the IC4A Championships, helping the Patriots' capture the IC4A team title.

The three-time All-American finished his career at George Mason ranking fourth all-time at the school in the triple jump with a mark of 16.43 meters (53 ft. 11 in.). He registered that mark at the 2006 Indoor Track and Field Championships, where he finished second in the entire nation in the triple jump. In addition to the All-American accolades, Kellman was also a two-time IC4A Champion and two-time CAA Champion.

Kellman wasn't the only member of George Mason's track and field program to receive conference honors as Murielle Ahoure received the CAA Rookie of the Year award for her stellar freshman season.

Ahoure, an at-large selection to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships after placing sixth in the 200-meter dash and eighth in the 100-meter dash at the NCAA East Regional Championships, was one of only three freshman in the entire nation competing at the National Championships in the 100-meter dash and the lone freshman in the 200-meter dash. She was named the Most Outstanding Track Performer at the CAA Championships after winning the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and anchoring the 4x100-meter relay team that captured the CAA title. During the 2006 outdoor season, she won the ECAC Championship in both the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. She also won the ECAC Championship in the 60-meter dash during the indoor season and finished second at the ECAC Indoor Championships in the 200-meter dash.

The Patriots also had a number of men and women named to the CAA All-Conference Team based on their performance at the CAA Outdoor Championships. The top three finishers in each event were named to the All-Conference Team.

Earning All-Conference honors for the men's team were senior Sammy Sesay in the 100-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay; senior Richard Phillips in the 200-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay; sophomore Brian Hay in the 110-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay; Kellman in the long jump, triple jump and 4x100-meter relay; junior Ryan McCoy in the triple jump and freshman David Wellington in the high jump.

The women's team also had a number of All-Conference performers, including Ahoure in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay; senior Sheena Davidson in the 400-meter dash, 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay; freshman Ryann Hendricks in the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay; sophomore Misti Turner in the 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay and freshman Brittanie Williams in the triple jump and heptathlon.

2006 CAA Men's Track and Field Award Winners
Male Athlete of the Year: Marc Kellman (Mason)
Rookie of the Year: Nate Hunter (Northeastern)
Coach of the Year: Julian Spooner (VCU)

2006 CAA All-Conference Team:
100m: James Frierson (VCU), Sammy Sesay (Mason), Jackie DeShazo (VCU).
200m: James Frierson (VCU), Richard Phillips (Mason), Jackie DeShazo (VCU).
400m: James Frierson (VCU), Chris Courson (UNCW), Uri Robinson (UNCW).
800m: Mariusz Mostrag (VCU), Lukasz Matusiewicz (VCU), Ryan Jones (W&M).
1,500m: Jeff Hedley (W&M), Brad Dodson (Delaware), Sam MacKenzie (Delaware).
5,000m: Matt Keally (W&M), Mark Steeds (GSU), Dave Mock (W&M).
10,000m: Keith Bechtol (W&M), Colin Leak (W&M), Jay Wyss (VCU).
110m hurdles: Richard Phillips (Mason), Brian Hay (Mason), Zeickia Ledwell (UNCW).
400m hurdles: Chris Dixon (Delaware), Ernest Asante (UNCW), Paul Cawley (JMU).
3,000m SC: Mike Dominquez (W&M), Sean Anastasia-Murphy (W&M), Spencer Kirk (W&M).
4x100m relay: VCU (Derek Altizer, Jason Gallo, James Frierson, Jackie DeShazo), George Mason (Marc Kellman, Richard Phillips, Sammy Sesay, Brian Hay), UNC Wilmington (Maurice Peacock, John-Tyler Evans, Zeickia Ledwell, John Carr).
4x400m relay: UNC Wilmington (William Mattocks, A.J. Kaschak, Uri Robinson, Chris Courson), VCU (James Frierson, Lukasz Matusiewicz, Sean Lam, Mariusz Mostrag), Delaware (Frank Mancuso, Charlie Williams, Steven Jackson, Chris Dixon).
High Jump: Davion Lambert (VCU), David Wellington (Mason), Travis Midgette (UNCW).
Pole Vault: Jonathan Scott (UNCW), Michael Hulme (UNCW), Michael Couch (Northeastern).
Long Jump: Davion Lambert (VCU), Marc Kellman (Mason), Brandyn Mitchell (UNCW).
Triple Jump: Ryan McCoy (Mason), Marc Kellman (Mason), Davion Lambert (VCU).
Shot Put: Nate Hunter (Northeastern), Aaron Mitchell (W&M), Jared Wasser (Delaware).
Discus: Nate Hunter (Northeastern), Semui Alli (Northeastern), Thomas Mulcahy (W&M).
Hammer: Joe Welliver (UNCW), Bamidele Faboyede (Northeastern), Kyle Casella (Delaware).
Javelin: Andy Smith (W&M), Ricardo Parente (Northeastern), Alex Heacock (W&M).
Decathlon: Jack Sherman (Northeastern), Kyle Miller (VCU), Brian Blumenstein (UNCW).

2006 CAA Women's Track and Field Award Winners
Female Athlete of the Year: Anna Raynor (UNCW)
Rookie of the Year: Murielle Ahoure (Mason)
Coach of the Year: Kathy Newberry (W&M)

2006 CAA All-Conference Team:
100m: Murielle Ahoure (Mason), Jordine Kimbrel (Northeastern), Adaku Ezeonwuka (GSU).
200m: Murielle Ahoure (Mason), Jordine Kimbrel (Northeastern), Ciji Canady (GSU).
400m: Leslie Anderson (JMU), Alison Warren (Northeastern), Sheena Davidson (Mason).
800m: Lydia Malley (W&M), Erin Ballard (Northeastern), Allie Lewis (W&M).
1,500m: Nelly Anderson (JMU), Meghan Bishop (W&M), Shannon Saunders (JMU).
5,000m: Julia Cathcart (W&M), Kristyn Shiring (W&M), Megan Lerch (Towson).
10,000m: Shannon Saunders (JMU), Emily Gousen (W&M), Kristie Ganon (Northeastern).
100m hurdles: Sheriee Willis (GSU), Tramaine Shaw (Northeastern), Anna Raynor (UNCW).
400m hurdles: Sheriee Willis (GSU), Tramaine Shaw (Northeastern), Brenna Blevins (W&M).
3,000m SC: Nelly Anderson (JMU), Karen Pulliam (W&M), Britta Nelson (Towson).
4x100m relay: George Mason (Ryann Hendricks, Misti Turner, Sheena Davidson, Murielle Ahoure), UNCW (Alicia Phillips, Shayne Moore, Anna Raynor, Fatima Shuler), Delaware (Brittany Wright, Michelle Gomes, Paula Green, Rayna Horsey).
4x400m relay: Northeastern (Shanae Henry, Alison Warren, Tramaine Shaw, Jordine Kimbrel), Georgia State (Ladrica Derrico, Natasha O'Connor, Denisha Brayant, Latorya Dopson), George Mason (Murielle Ahoure, Misti Turner, Ryann Hendricks, Sheena Davidson).
High Jump: Tanika Brown (VCU), Anna Raynor (UNCW), Aisha Jones (UNCW).
Pole Vault: Olivia Kalinowska (Northeastern), Casey Bennett (Delaware), Brittany Yates (JMU).
Long Jump: Tramaine Shaw (Northeastern), Anna Raynor (UNCW), Stephanie Rathbauer (Towson).
Triple Jump: Adrienne Mayo (JMU), Brittanie Williams (Mason), Aisha Jones (UNCW).
Shot Put: Zara Northover (Northeastern), Jennifer Shoker (W&M), Rachel Young (Delaware).
Discus: Jennifer Showker (W&M), Megan Young (UNCW), Nikki Arrington (VCU).
Hammer: Ashley McLellan (UNCW), Liz Hager (W&M), Abby Lemon (W&M).
Javelin: Anna Raynor (UNCW), Kelly Robinson (Towson), Brenna Blevins (W&M).
Heptathlon: Brenna Blevins (W&M), Bonnie Meekins (W&M), Brittanie Williams (Mason).