NEW ORLEANS, La. - After breaking into the regional rankings
a week ago, the George Mason men's track and field team now finds itself
ranking among the top programs in the country.
The men jumped 22 spots and currently rank 22nd
in the country in the latest USTFCCCA National Indoor Rankings. It is the first Top-25
indoor national ranking for the Patriots since the USTFCCA started compiling weekly rankings in 2008. The previous best ranking was 31st in the 2012 preseason poll.
The squad also currently stands 15th
in the Southeast Region.
"The portion of our team, (Associate Head) Coach Id-Deen's sprinters, jumpers and hurdlers, that got to compete last weekend (with BU being cancelled due to weather) did an outstanding job and are responsible for the nice jump in our rankings," noted Head Coach Andrew Gerard. "Since our team focus is really on the outdoor season, and we plug back in a number of key people for that season, I'm confident we'll continue to get better but this is outstanding to be recognized at this point in the year."
Highlighting the men's performances this season is senior David
Verburg, who ran the current world's fastest time in the 400m (45.83) last
weekend at the SPIRE Institute Invitational. He also owns the NCAA's top time
in the 500m (1:01.29), and partnered with junior Adrian Vaughn, senior George
Empty and freshman Angel Coburn for the fourth-fastest 4x400m time in the
country (3:07.29).
The women remained in the regional rankings this week,
dropping one spot to 11th in the Southeast Region.
Mason returns to the track on Friday, traveling to
Blacksburg for the Virginia Tech Invitational.
