Jan. 9, 2010
Complete Results
FAIRFAX, Va. -
Eight members of the George Mason track and field team qualified for ECAC/IC4A Championship competition at the Father Diamond Invitational on Saturday afternoon at the Field House. The meet was the first competition of the 2010 indoor track and field season for the Patriots.
The men's team qualified five individuals and one relay for the IC4A Championships on Saturday afternoon. The women's team had a similarly successful day, qualifying three athletes for the ECAC Championships.
On the men's side, Hampton, Va. native LaVell Handy advanced to the finals of the 60-meter hurdles by running a time of 8.30 seconds in the preliminary heats. In the finals of the event, Handy finished in third place with a time of 8.14 seconds, which qualified him for the IC4A Championships.
The Patriot men featured individual IC4A qualifiers in three other track events, including sophomore Rachaunn Ruffin in the 60-meter dash (6.92) and Kevin Wilson in the 500-meter dash (1:04.20). Two athletes qualified for IC4As in the 1000-meter run. Sam Horn finished third with a time of 2:29.23 and teammate Anthony LaMastro crossed the finish line on his heels with a time of 2:29.55 to finish fourth.
George Mason's men's team rounded out its IC4A qualifiers with a first-place finish in the 4x800-meter relay (7:45.10). The Patriots featured four relay teams in the top-five in the event.
The women's team featured a pair of freshman among its ECAC qualifiers. Competing in her first collegiate meet, Mandissa Marshall finished second in the pole vault with a mark of 3.60 meters. In the preliminary heats of the 60-meter hurdles, Taylor Wheaton ran an ECAC-qualifying time of 8.78 seconds to advance to the finals of the event. In the finals, Wheaton finished in sixth place with a time of 8.87 seconds.
In the 500-meter dash, senior Tiara Swindell topped the field with a time of 1:15.01 to qualify for the ECAC Championships. Teammate Maia Wise finished fourth with a time of 1:17.99.
Mason will compete again on Jan. 22-23 at the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. The Patriots' next home meet, the Patriot Games, is scheduled for Jan. 30 at the Field House.
