Schedule 

FAIRFAX, Va. – For the first time in its history, the George Mason Field House will play host to a conference championship.

The Patriots open their doors to the Atlantic 10 Conference Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend at the Field House. The two-day meet begins Saturday and concludes Sunday, with competition beginning at 9 a.m. each day. A total of 517 athletes are expected to compete, with 13 teams on the women's side and 10 on the men's. For a full schedule, click here.

Cost is $12 for adults for a two-day pass and $8 for a single pass. Tickets for children and senior citizens are $8 for a two-day pass and $5 for a single-day pass. Students of Atlantic 10 member schools are free with a student ID. Tickets will be available on site and only cash will be accepted.

The Patriots joined the Atlantic 10 just three years ago and have hosted the outdoor championships in 2015 and 2016. But they have never hosted the indoor championships. Before they joined the A-10 they competed in the Colonial Athletic Association, which did not hold an indoor championship.

"We're thrilled about hosting," Mason head coach Andrew Gerard said. "It is nice to have it on our campus. The outdoor meet exposed our students in general on campus and our administration and our support staff and families. It is nice to have at home when you're trying to be at your best. Everybody is pointing at it and everybody is firing on all cylinders. This is the major goal."

Mason expects to be a contender for both the men's and women's titles. The Patriots have finished second each of the last three years in the men's team results, coming up short to Rhode Island every time. The Rams have won five of the last six indoor titles and three straight.
The last two years, the Mason men have been narrowly close to grabbing the crown, finishing behind URI by just four points both years.

"We've come close the last two years," Gerard said. "It is has been hard fought all the way through. There is definitely extra motivation. We would love to win one in front of the home crowd. You certainly never discount Rhode Island. They are scrappy. They are well-coached. This is a major priority for them. I think on the men's side, we expect them to come out and fight tooth and nail all the way. It has never been different since we've been in the A-10."

On the women's side, the Patriots finished third last year, behind champion Massachusetts and runner-up Rhode Island. Whereas the men's side has been a two-horse race in recent memory Mason and Rhode Island, Gerard believes the women's meet offers more parity.

UMass, VCU (2015 champion), Richmond, Dayton and Saint Joseph's all could be in the mix. And the Patriots, who still have several competitors who were a part of the 2014 championship team, hope to be in the title conversation as well.

"The women's side is a lot tighter spread so that is really where every point counts, where every place counts, every little bit adds up," Gerard said. "I think we're in a very good position on the women's side as well. If we put all the pieces together I think we should be right in the thick of things."

Last year, the Patriots combined for nine individual conference championships and one relay title. Of those champions, those back and looking to repeat on the men's side are last year's Most Outstanding Track Performer senior Bernard Freeman (60- and 200-meter dash), junior John Seals (high jump), fifth-year senior Jimi Tele (triple jump), senior Logan Besougloff (pole vault) and senior Steven Flynn (3,000 meters).

On the women's side, seniors Nhautrey Brown (triple jump) and Chantel Richardson (long jump) return as reigning champs. The 4x400-meter relay team, which last year consisted of Sharon Dorsey, Sarah Moore, Caela Williams and Sommer Sharpe, also collected gold in 2016.