Verburg, Marshall and Gerard Take Home Top CAA Honors

George Mason Athletics Men's Track & Field 6/28/2012 4:06:00 PM

RICHMOND, Va. - The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) recently handed out its top track and field honors for the year, and George Mason's David Verburg, Mandissa Marshall and Head Coach Andrew Gerard all took home honors.

Verburg was named the 2012 CAA Male Athlete of the Year, while Marshall was recognized as the 2012 Female Athlete of the Year and Head Coach Gerard was voted the CAA Coach of the Year for the third-consecutive season.

Verburg earned first-team All-America honors this season after placing fourth in the 400 meters at the NCAA Championship with a time of 45.22. He also earned All-America honors as a member of Mason's 4X400 relay team that finished seventh at the NCAA Championship with a time of 3:09.93. Verburg continued to impress on the national stage last weekend by reaching the finals of the 400 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials and placing seventh in a time of 45.36. He received Most Outstanding Performer in track events at the CAA Championship after winning the 400 meters with a meet-record time of 45.06. Verburg was also a member of the Patriots' 4X400 relay team that won a CAA title and he finished second in the 200 meters (21.16). He was the IC4A champion in the 400 meters as well and had the fastest time in the 400m at the NCAA East Regional Qualifying meet.

Marshall captured the pole vault title at the CAA Championship for the second year in a row with a meet-record vault of 4.15 meters (13-7.25). The effort earned her Co-Most Outstanding Performer honors in the field events. Marshall went on to tie for first place at the NCAA East Region Qualifying competition with a jump of 4.10 meters (13-5.25), which earned her a berth in the NCAA Championship. Earlier this season, Marshall set a George Mason record in the pole vault by clearing 4.30 meters (14-1). She also captured the pole vault competition at the ECAC Outdoor Championship.

Gerard was honored as the CAA Coach of the Year for the third-consecutive season and the fourth time in his career after guiding George Mason to its third conference championship in a row. The Patriots compiled 267 points in the CAA meet, which was 101 points more than their closest competitor, and had 11 individual event champions. Gerard previously earned the CAA Coach of the Year accolades in 2003 during his tenure as head coach at William and Mary.

In addition to the major award winners, Mason had 18 individuals and two relays on the men's side and six individuals and two relays on the women's side receive All-CAA honors based on their performances at the CAA Championships. Those names are listed below.

Men
100m: Rachaunn Ruffin
200m: Adrian Vaughn, David Verburg
400m: David Verburg, Nick Vaughn, Ja-Vell Bullard
1500m: Alex Levine
5000m: Everett Hackett
10000m: John Holt
110m hurdles: LaVell Handy, Anthony Williams
400m hurdles: George Empty
3000m steeplechase: Daniel Callan
4x100m relay: LaVell Handy, Adrian Vaughn, Travaughn Baker-Johnson, Nick Vaughn
4x400m relay: Ja-Vell Bullard, George Empty, John Jones, David Verburg
Pole Vault: Patrick Dietrick, Zachary Lawson
Long Jump: LaVell Handy, Travaughn Baker-Johnson
Triple Jump: LaVell Handy, Dwight Webley
Javelin: Jason Wellington
Decathlon: Gustavo Osorio