FAIRFAX, Va. – In its season-opening meet, the George Mason men's and women's track and field teams shined at the Father Diamond Invitational Saturday inside the Field House.

The Green & Gold posted 13 total first-place finishes while several Patriots notched personal-best marks.

In the field events, junior Jaylen Simmons finished first in the shot put with a personal-best mark of 17.51m. His previous personal-best of 17.45m earned him a spot at the 2019 NCAA East Preliminary Championships. In just the first meet of the 2020 season, he surpassed the NCAA qualifying-mark.

Junior Benjamin Viau notched first in the weight throw (17.80m), followed closely behind Simmons in third (17.36m). Junior Harrison Shotwell recorded a personal-best mark of 4.95m to finish first in the pole vault while sophomore Cason Gardner posted a personal-best mark of 2.11m in the high jump for a first-place finish, nearly reaching the 7-foot mark. 

Freshman Micah Harris provided an all-around performance for the Mason men. He registered a first-place finish in the 800-meter run (1:58.02) and 4x800 relay (7:52.93). Fellow freshman Xavier Shirley finished first in the long jump (7.32m) and third in the 60-meter dash (6.96) to highlight a successful first collegiate meet.

Junior Jordan Turner took second in the 60-meter dash (6:91) while freshman Isaiah Carter placed third (6:98).

Elsewhere on the track, junior Nick Corbin placed second in the 60-meter hurdles (8:03), shaving 10 seconds off his preliminary time. In the one-mile run, senior Colin Cannon closed well to take first with a time of 4:18.92.

On the women's side, graduate student Carina Garcia earned a personal-best time of 10:23.54 to finish first in the 3000-meter run. Senior Taylor Williams finished fourth in the 60-meter dash (7.67) while sophomore Alexis Anderson notched second in the 800-meter run (2:34.01).

In the jumps, junior Kiana Stallworth placed first with a mark of 5.67m in the long jump while freshman Bryanna Holguin took the top spot in the triple jump with a mark of 11.14m.

Reigning A-10 Indoor Women's Most Outstanding Rookie Hannah Robertson finished first in the pole vault with a mark of 3.55m.

The Patriots return to action on Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Great Dane Classic, hosted by University of Albany.