PRINCETON, N.J. - The George Mason track and field team had
two event champions while advancing three individuals and four relays to the
finals of the IC4A/ECAC Outdoor Championships in day two of competition on the campus of Princeton University.
Junior Mandissa Marshall won the women's pole vault crown
with a vault of 4.10m, while senior Lavell Handy took home the long jump title
with a distance of 7.76m. It was the first IC4A/ECAC championship title for
both athletes in the respective event.
The women saw one individual and two relays advance to
Sunday's finals, led by senior Cierra McGee, who had the third-best preliminary
time in the 400m after crossing the finish line in 54.02. The 4x100 relay squad
of Crystalyne Clark, Cierra McGee, Katea Jemmott and Aneesha Scott qualified
for the finals with a time of 46.03, while the 4x400 relay of Daianna Barron,
Kristin Bethel, Dominique Graham and Jasmine Robinson advanced after posting a
time of 3:42.39.
Freshman Kelsey Reese finished seventh in the javelin with a
throw of 44.42m, while sophomore Amanda Denger placed second in the heptathlon
with 4,839 points, recording a personal best and eighth best point total in
program history.
Also competing was Barron in the 400m (56.62, 28th)
and Monique McKenzie in the 800m (2:12.58, 28th).
For the men, two individuals and two relays advanced to
compete on Sunday. David Verburg posted the top qualifying time in the 400m, crossing
the finish line in 45.41, while George Empty moved on to the 400m hurdles
finals with the third-best preliminary time, 52.12.
The 4x800 relay of Andrew McGreal, Alex Levine, Robert
Reynolds and David Rushing advanced to the finals with a prelim and
season-best time of 7:34.37, while the 4x400 relay of Adrian Vaughn, Nick Vaughn,
Verburg and Empty posted the top preliminary time en route to advancing to the
finals, crossing the line in 3:07.63.
In two events that held its finals on Saturday, Gustavo
Osorio finished eighth in the decathlon with 6,268 points. Travaughn
Baker-Johnson placed fifth in the long jump with a distance of 7.43m, while
Dwight Webley finished 18th in the event with a jump of 7.18m.
Also competing for the men but not advancing to the finals
were Adrian Vaughn (47.31, 9th), Nick Vaughn (47.52, 13th)
and Ja-Vell Bullard (47.73, 15th) in the 400m, Cody Raphael in the
800m (1:51.98, 14th) and Anthony Williams in the 110m hurdles (14.44).
The Patriots conclude action at the championships tomorrow,
with field events beginning at 10:00 am and track events at 12:15 pm.
