May 16, 2010

Results from the ECAC/IC4A Championships

PRINCETON, N.J. - The George Mason men's track and field team, led by a first-place finish in the 4x400-meter relay, finished in fourth place while the women were 10th overall, their highest team finish in 11 years, as the IC4A and ECAC Championships drew to a close on Sunday at Princeton's Weaver Stadium.

In the 4x400, the squad comprised of George Empty, David Verburg, Nick Vaughn and Ja-Vell Bullard crossed the line in 3:07.12, over half a second faster than second-place Seton Hall. Mason last won the IC4A 4x400 title in 1995. It is the first IC4A relay title for the Patriots since 2003 and the 13th relay crown in school history.

Other strong finishers for the Mason men on Sunday included LaVell Handy's second place mark of 15.27 meters in the triple jump. Dwight Webley placed 10th in the same event with a leap of 14.77 meters. Rachaunn Ruffinclaimed third place with a time of 10.56 in the 100-meter dash and the men's 4x800-meter relay of Tyler Golden, Sam Horn, Chris Carrington, and Michael Pachella was also third as that group crossed the line in 7:24.65. Anthony LaMastro placed eighth in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 3:50.92.

On the women's side, Tiara Swindell was the runner up in the 400-meter dash with her time of 53.55. Cierra McGee placed seventh in the event with her time of 55.02. In relay action, second place in the 4x400 went to the Patriots' squad of Shantel Miles, Marie Fields, Latasha Rivers and Swindell with their time of 3:39.82. The 4x100-meter relay of Crystal Clark, McGee, Fields and Swindell was fourth with a time of 45.58. Finally, Grace Mavugara placed fourth in the triple jump after covering a distance of 12.38 meters.

The Patriots will be return to action in two weeks, when Mason's qualifiers will take part in the NCAA Championships preliminary round at Greensboro, N.C.