JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- On day one of the 2012 NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championships, the George Mason Patriots were well represented including one national qualifier as the action commenced Thursday at UNF's Hodges Stadium.

Senior Lavell Handy extended his season with a fifth-place finish in the long jump, leaping to a 7.63 meter distance. He will next compete at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, in two weeks. Junior Travaughn Baker-Johnson also competed for the Green and Gold in the long jump, but saw his season come to a close with a jump of 7.01 meters, good for 35^th place.

In the 400-meter dash, junior David Verburg had the fastest overall time in the 400 meter dash of 45.78. He was the lone Patriot of three in the field to advance, as senior Ja-Vell Bullard placed 34^th with a time of 47.31 while senior Nick Vaughn was disqualified. Verburg will return to the track Friday at 6 p.m. for the quarterfinal round.

On the women's side, senior Cierra McGee crossed the line in the 400 meter dash in 53.32, an automatic entry into Friday's quarterfinals after she placed second in the fourth of six heats. Her time was also 13^th in the 48-woman field, with the top 27 moving on in competition.

The men had three other competitors on the opening day in Florida. Junior George Empty finished 35^th in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 53.72, while in the 100-meter dash, senior Rachaunn Ruffin placed 42^nd with a 10.81-second time. Finally for the men, senior Everett Hackett competed in the final event of the night, the 10,000-meter run, but did not advance as he crossed the line in 31:12.02, good for 31^st place.

Freshman Kelsey Reese finished 19^th in the women's javelin with a throw of 42.72m, and did not advance.

In addition to Verburg and McGee, the Patriots will have four entrants on Friday. Junior Mandissa Marshall opens the action for Mason at 11 a.m. in the women's pole vault, while Handy and senior Dwight Webley will represent the Patriots in the triple jump at 4:30 p.m. Finally, sophomore Adrian Vaughn will take part in the 200-meter dash first round at 8 p.m.