Fairfax, Va. – On Saturday, a trio of George Mason track and field standouts kicked off the new year in exceptional fashion at the season-opening Father Diamond Invitational at the Field House.
On Tuesday, they reaped the benefits of their superb individual performances.
John Seals, Talisha Watts and Sarah Moore hauled in weekly honors from the Atlantic 10 Conference. Seals collected Men's Co-Performers of the Week honors, Watts earned Women's Performer of the Week accolades and Moore was named the Women's Co-Rookie of the Week.
“We're really pleased to have Sarah, John and Talisha recognized this week, but even happier with the job they did last weekend competing,” Head Coach Andrew Gerard said. “It's definitely a reflection of the hard work they put in all through the fall that they were able to get off to such a good start. We are looking for big things this season and I suspect this weekend is just the tip of the iceberg.”
After capturing the A-10 high jump championships in both indoor and outdoor track in 2015, Seals picked up right where he left off. The sophomore from West Springfield, Va., took first in the high jump by tying a personal-best with a leap of 2.09 meters. That mark ranks first in the A-10 and 21st nationally. He also placed fifth in the 60-meter high hurdles and set a personal-best with a time of 8.21 seconds, which is the second-fastest time in the league. Seals, the 2015 A-10 Outdoor Track Rookie of the Year, also ran the leadoff leg for the 4x400-meter relay team that finished third.
Watts, a graduate student from Lynchburg, Va., and the defending A-10 outdoor high jump champ, won the women's high jump with a personal-best mark of 1.75 meters. The leap is the best in the A-10 so far, 15th highest in the NCAA and ranks her fourth all-time in program history.
Moore, a freshman from Silver Spring, Md., made her collegiate debut with a third-place finish in the 500-meter dash. Her time of 1:15.85 is currently the top mark in the A-10. She also ran the leadoff leg of the 4x400-meter relay team, which posted an A-10-best time of 3:51.53.
The Patriots jump back into action this Saturday at the Great Dane Invitational in Staten Island, N.Y.
