FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason track and field team opened the CAA Track & Field Championships on Friday at George Mason Stadium with a strong showing, claiming four event titles while advancing 29 athletes to tomorrow's finals.

The men's team jumped out to an early lead in defending its title, collecting 71 points on the day. William and Mary follow in second with 62 points, while UNCW (41.50), Northeastern (36.50), VCU (13) and Georgia State (4) round out the standings.

On the women's side, Mason resides in sixth place with 24.50 points. JMU leads the way with 45 points, followed by Towson (29), W&M (26.50), Northeastern (26), Georgia State (25), George Mason (24.50), VCU (22), Delaware (19) and UNCW (17).

Mason won four of the eight field titles that were given out on the day, as freshman Kelsey Reese won the javelin with a throw of 44.22m, besting her nearest competitor by almost three meters. The distance also placed her sixth all-time in the Mason record books. Amanda Denger also competed in the event, placing sixth with a throw of 35.84m.

Junior Mandissa Marshall defended her pole vault title with a height of 4.15m, and was joined in the event by Summer Shepherd, who finished in a tie for eighth with a vault of 3.55m.

For the men, Lavell Handy successfully defended his title in the long jump with a distance of 7.85m, which is the eighth-best mark in program history. Travaughn Baker-Johnson finished in third (7.46m) and Dwight Webley placed fourth (7.35m) in the same event.

The final field event champion was Patrick Dietrick, who topped the men's pole vault standings with a height of 7.85m. Also competing in the pole vault were Zachary Lawson (4.50m, 3^rd) and Josh Trikakis (4.50m, 4^th).

Mason also received points from Jason Wellington in the javelin and hammer throw, as he placed second in the javelin with a throw of 58.26m and sixth in the hammer throw with a distsance of 46.67m.

The day also featured two track championship events in the 5000m and 10000m runs. Senior Everett Hackett took home the silver medal in the 5000m run with a time of 14:28.64. Mason received points from three runners in the 10000m run, as John Holt placed third (31:04.61), Phil Blankenship sixth (31:20.21) and Sean Nestor eighth (31.54.50).

On the women's side, eight runners advanced to tomorrow's championships in nine events. Senior Nao Ma remained in contention to defend her 1500m title from a season ago, qualifying for the finals with a time of 4:37.98.

Mason saw two athletes advance in the 100m, 400m and 800m events. In the 100m, Aneesha Scott and Crystalyne Clark both advanced with times of 12.08 and 12.09, respectively. In the 400m it was senior Cierra McGee (54.75) and Daianna Barron (54.96-season-best), while the 800m saw Heather Selheimer (2:13.92) and Monique McKenzie (2:15.18) advance for a chance at the event title tomorrow.

McGee also advanced to the finals in the 200m with a qualifying time of 23.92, while Kristin Bethel advanced in the 400m hurdles after crossing the finish line in a time of 1:05.30.

On the men's side, Mason saw at least two athletes advance to the finals of the 110m hurdles, 100m, 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 800m tomorrow.

Running away with the 200m event, the Patriots claimed six of the eight finals spots, led by Adrian Vaughn who ran a season-best time of 20.96, a time that is also eighth-best all-time at Mason. He was followed by David Verburg (20.97-ninth-best all-time), Rachaunn Ruffin (21.36-season best), Nick Vaughn (21.52), Travaughn Baker-Johnson (21.67-season best) and Ja-Vell Bullard (21.74-season best).

Another large group of athletes will represent Mason in the 400m dash, as five runners advanced to the finals. David Verburg advanced for a chance at his third-consecutive title in the event with a time of 45.62 (fourth all-time), and was followed by Nick Vaughn (46.94-season best), George Empty (47.13-season best), Adrian Vaughn (47.34-season best) and Ja-Vell Bullard (47.78).

In the 100m dash, Ruffin will look to become the first-ever four-time champion in the event after posting the top qualifying time of 10.61. He will be joined by Baker-Johnson who finished in a season-best time of 10.64 and Dwight Webley, who also posted a season-best mark with a time of 10.85.

Cody Raphael and David Rushing will represent Mason in the 800m run, advancing to the finals with times of 1:54.33 and 1:53.32, respectively. Rushing's time was also a season-best.

Finally in the hurdles, Handy posted a season-best time of 14.15 and will be joined in the finals by Anthony Williams, who crossed the finish line in 14.41. Williams also qualified in the 400m hurdles with a season-best time of 54.51, while George Empty also advanced after recording a time of 53.92.

The CAA Championships conclude tomorrow with multi-events starting at 9:00 am, field events at 10:00 am and running events at 12:45 pm.