May 28, 2010

Results

GREENSBORO, N.C. - George Mason senior Tiara Swindell earned a chance to move on to the NCAA Championships in two weeks as she finished sixth in the 400-meter dash semifinals on Friday, highlighting the Patriots' action on day two of the East Regional Preliminary Round.

Swindell crossed the finish line in 52.79 seconds, improving upon her personal best. Her time was fourth in the third and final heat but represented the fastest time by someone outside the top-three finishers in each heat. Swindell, as one of the top-12 from the region, will move on to the NCAA Championships at Eugene, Ore., in June.

Teammate Cierra McGee narrowly missed a berth in the finals as well, as she clocked in at 53.38 seconds, good for 13th place but seven hundredths off the final qualifier. That is a personal best time for the freshman.

In other semi-final action, sophomore Rachaunn Ruffin placed 19th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.42. Ruffin, though, continued his season later in the day as he qualified for Saturday's semi-final in the 200-meter dash, as the sprinter crossed the line in 21.18, the third-best time in heat two of six for an automatic advancement.

Freshman David Verburg was 22nd in the 400-meter dash semifinals, missing out on a chance to advance to Eugene in his first collegiate season. The same is true of freshman Mandissa Marshall, who did not advance after clearing a height of 3.60 meters in the women's pole vault.

The East Regional of the preliminary round concludes Saturday at Irwin Belk Track, and Mason will have a total of six representatives in action. LaVell Handy and Grace Mavugara will take part in the men's and women's triple jumps. In relays, the men's and women's 4x400-meter relays will compete in the final two events of the weekend. Finally, both Ruffin and Anthony LaMastro will continue to the semi-final round in the 200 and 800, respectively.