NEW ORLEANS, La. – The George Mason men's and women's track and field programs broke into the USTFCCCA Top 15 regional rankings for the first time during the 2013 outdoor season, as announced by the organization on Tuesday.

Entering the Top 15 in the Southeast Region for the first time this year, the men jumped six places from 18^th to 12^th, while the women moved up nine spots from 24^th to 15^th.

"We've had a good start to the season on both the men's and women's sides,” said head coach Andrew Gerard. “Last weekend was the first where we competed a relatively full line-up of folks and to jump up in the rankings as we did is a nice reflection of that. Our goal is to keep moving forward each week and we anticipate continuing to see the nice "green arrow" in the rankings!"

On the men's side, senior David Verburg currently has the fastest time in the SE region in the 400m (45.76) and second fastest time in the 200m (20.94), while senior Gustavo Osorio's 5,844 points in the decathlon ranks him eighth in the region.

For the women, senior Cierra McGee stand eighth in the SE region in the 400m (53.98), Bethany Sachtleben is seventh in the 5000m (16:23.12), Taylor Wheaton is sixth in the 400m hurdles (1:00.57) and the 4x400m relay of Daianna Barron, McGee, Wheaton and Dominique Graham is second (3:34.98).

The Patriots have several individuals and relays already qualified for the ECAC/IC4A Outdoor Championships in addition to several marks standing in the Top 48 of the East with the potential to qualify for the NCAA East Region Meet.

ECAC/IC4A qualifiers are available here, while NCAA performances for the men include Verburg (20.94, 12^th) and Adrian Vaughn (21.29, 31^st) in the 200m, Verburg in the 400m (45.76, 2^nd), Parker Boudreau in the 1500m (3:47.75, 27^th), Everett Hackett (30:02.02, 42^nd) and Michael Conway (30:08.28, 47^th) in the 10,000m, Travaughn Baker-Johnson in the long jump (7.27m) and Jimi Tele in the triple jump (14.81m, 42^nd).

NCAA performances for the women include McGee in the 200m (23.84, 24^th) and 400m (53.98, 19^th), Sachtleben in the 5000m (16:23.12, 26^th), Wheaton in the 400m hurdles (1:00.57, 32^nd), Graham in the high jump (1.71m, 48^th), Jasmine Moser in the pole vault (3.96m, 20^th) and the 4x400m relay of Barron, McGee, Wheaton and Graham (3:34.98, 6^th).

The Patriots return to action this weekend, hosting the Mason Spring Invitational on Saturday.