AMHERST, Mass. – The Patriot women finished 1st overall at the A-10 Outdoor Championships with 161 points at the University of Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon. This is the women's 5th time winning the outdoor championship and first since 2019. They were 30.5 points ahead of 2nd place VCU.
 
The men finished 2nd with 148 points, 24 points behind Rhode Island. The Patriots won 24 medals in total, eight of which were gold.
 
"Both teams competed really well yesterday and today," said Coach Gerard. "The women, especially, stepped up. Last year, we were 5th place with 79 points. This year, with virtually the same crew of women, we more than double our points and, although we had newcomers that contributed, the vast majority of the point production came from returnees which is a direct reflection of the hard work, commitment and resilience of that group. On the men's side, we also were able to bolster our points by 20 from last year as well - similarly a tribute to the determination of this group. Our student-athletes have really embraced the challenge of being the best combined men's and women's team in the A10 - for the women, it's the fifth outdoor title since joining the A10 and we've never lost at UMASS so it's great to extend that streak. I'm so proud of the job our women, our coaches, our trainers and whole support staff did this weekend and we're pumped to add another trophy to the case!"

The Mason women earned gold in three events, and recorded a total of 16 medals across 12 different events.

Annabelle Eastman won the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 10:08.77. Grace Furlong was the long jump champion with a leap of 6.02 meters, and her teammate Henrike Fielder won silver with a 5.96 meter jump. The Patriots swept the triple jump, led by Dhiambi Otete, whose 12.77 meter leap equaled a facility record. Teammates Grace Furlong and Kelsey Sebwe set personal bests taking the silver and bronze at 12.67m and 12.49m.
 
Micah Jones was named the Male Rookie of the Championship, which he also earned at the A-10 Indoor Championship. Coach Andrew Gerard was honored with being named the A-10 Women's Coach of the Year.
 
Isaiah Carter won the 200m and Dean Johnson finished 7th in the 110m hurdles (21.24, 14.59) Micah Harris captured gold in the 800m ( 1:49.58). KellyAnn Downer brought home the bronze in the 400m and Annabelle Eastman snagged 4th in the 1500m (54.47, 4:27.69).
 
Jarett Flaker and Daniel Adu finished in 4th and 6th in the men's 400m (47.46, 47.69). Micah Jones earned the bronze in the 100m dash (10.58) and Michka-Mae Hyde 6th in the 400m hurdles (1:03.58).
 
Downer also earned 4th in the 200m, along with Khia Holloway in 6th (24.54, 24.72). Sarah Francis snagged the bronze in the 5k (17:07.88) with Wesley Bond and Jack Ikenberry in 6th and 8th (14:35.19, 14:39.55).
 
Daniel Adu, Micah Harris, Edward Deskins and Jarett Flaker won the 4x400m with a time of 3:09.43 and Alex Lombardo, Justin Penny, Joseph Queen and Paul Mclain won the bronze in the 4x800m (7:29.62). The KellyAnn Downer, Adia Palmer, Mackenzie Banks and Michka-Mae Hyde placed 5th in the 4x400m (3:48.65). In the 4x100m, Max Karen, Isaiah Carter, Ashton King and Aidan Walcott finished 4th and Noelle Foss, Khia Holloway, KellyAnn Downer and Khia Holloway 6th (40.92, 46.81).
 
Cason Gardner won the gold in the decathlon setting a meet and facility record along with the second-best score in Patriot history (7,393). He also won the heptathlon in the A-10 Indoor Championship earlier this year (5,340). Abigail Weening grabbed the silver in the heptathlon with a personal best score of 4,968 and Lindsey Schmidt placed 5th (4,635).
 
In some other field events, Maya Stanley won the silver in the discus (44.75m) and Grace Gaudin the bronze in the shot put 13.85m. Bobby Kestyn snatched 5th in the discus 48.08m.
 
Up Next
 
The Patriots will be hosting the IC4A/ECAC Championships next weekend, May 12th-14th.