FAIRFAX, Va. – Strong performances highlighted the opening two weeks of the outdoor season for the George Mason men's and women's track and field teams.
On Tuesday, three Patriots were recognized for their solid starts.
Michelle Wallerstedt was named the Atlantic 10 Women's Performer of the Week,
Kornelius Klah was tabbed the Men's Co-Performer of the Week and
Tyler Benson earned Rookie of the Week honors. The awards, the first of the outdoor season, were based off performances from March 17-26.
Wallerstedt, a redshirt senior from Omaha, Neb., finished first in the discus in both meets she has competed in so far and set a school record in the process. She took first at the Hurricane Invitational in Miami and set the school record in the discus with a toss of 53.55 meters. This shattered the previous school record of 51.87 set by Tamika Powell in 1996. This past Saturday, she was again victorious, winning the Fred Hardy Invitational in Richmond with a heave of 51 meters.
???????Klah, a native of Fairless Hills, Pa., began the outdoor season with a pair of strong performances in the hurdle events at the Hurricane Invitational. In the 400-meter hurdles, Klah finished first with a time of 52.99. He also placed third in the 110-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.46. Both of his times rank No. 1 in the Atlantic 10 this season. This past Saturday, the sophomore once again ran 52.99 in the 400-meter hurdles, placing fourth at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C.. He also took 10th in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.63.
Benson, a freshman from Warrenton, Va., helped the Patriots win the 4x400-meter relay at the Hurricane Invitational with a time of 3:09.60, which is the best in the Atlantic 10 and fifth-fastest in the NCAA East region so far this season. He also took sixth in the 400-meter dash at the Hurricane Invitational with a personal-best time of 48.31. This past Saturday at the Raleigh Relays, he helped the 4x200-meter relay place second with a time of 1:24.25 and the sprint medley finish seventh in 3:31.67.
