LYNCHBURG, Va. - The George Mason track and field teams will travel to Liberty University to compete in the 12th Annual Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational at the Brant Tolsma Indoor Track inside the Liberty Indoor Track Complex. In Lynchburg, the Patriots will face athletes from 32 different colleges and universities, including North Carolina, NC State, Virginia, Wake Forest, and fellow Atlantic 10 teams Richmond and VCU, to name a few.
The Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational spans two days of competition, from Friday, February 13, through Saturday, February 14. Friday's events begin with the preliminary rounds of the men's and women's 60m dash at 1:40 p.m. and conclude with the women's 3000m run open section at 9:25 p.m. Saturday's competition starts with the women's high jump open section at 8:30 a.m. and concludes with the men's and women's mile open sections at 4 p.m.
A complete meet schedule is available, and the live results website will provide real-time updates to follow the Patriots throughout both days of competition. The Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational will be streamed on ESPN+ during the following windows:
Day 1: 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Day 2: 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The following Patriots are scheduled to compete:
Men's Entries
Nadim Abdu (800m invite, 1000m, 4000m DMR)
Jayden Apenteng (60m hurdles, 400m open, 4x400m)
William Michael Baker (Shot put, weight throw)
Walt Bannerman (Pole vault invite)
Bryson Barnett (3000m open)
Luke Brown (1 mile invite)
Davian Burke (60m hurdles, 4x400m)
Nicholas DeWolfe (Pole vault invite, 4x400m)
Jordan Edwards (60m, 200m invite)
Anthony Gibson Jr. (60m, 200m open, 4x400m)
Daniel Hayes (800m open, 1 mile invite, 4000m DMR)
Caleb Hymans (800m invite, 1000m, 4000m DMR, 4x400m)
Robbie Jenkins (3000m invite)
Joziah Johnson (400m open, 4x400m)
Lance Koontz (400m open, 4x400m)
Kellen La Roche (High jump invite, long jump lower)
Darren McCoy (60m, long jump lower)
Messiah McKinley (800m invite, 1000m, 4000m DMR, 4x400m)
Cameron Portis (Shot put, weight throw)
Jackson Rowe (3000m open)
Trent Saben (Pole vault open)
Mason Samuels (60m, 200m invite, 300m, 4x400m)
Denver Shields (60m, 200m open, 4x400m)
Jay Sims (High jump invite)
Jayden Smith (60m hurdles)
Ethan Swan (Triple jump lower)
Jordan Tuck (400m invite, 4x400m)
Max Vom Saal (3000m open)
Aidan Walcott (200m open, 300m, 4x400m)
Women's Entries
Susan Adenitan (60m, 200m invite)
Fiona Agyekum (Shot put, weight throw)
Shanell Berry (500m, 800m open, 4x400m)
Chairely Bido (300m, 4x400m)
Sarah Clark (1 mile open)
Kenzie Dillman (1000m, 4x400m)
Kennedy Drish (Pole vault invite)
Stephanie Dundas (60m hurdles)
Kymara Fernandez (Triple jump upper)
Salma Fizaoui (60m hurdles, 300m, 4x400m)
Alina Florou Dimitriadou (Pole vault invite)
Aiko Galvin (4x400m)
Gabriela Gibson (Triple jump lower)
Abigail Graham (3000m open)
Brooke Gunter (Pole vault open)
Simone Hamlar (200m open, 400m open, 4x400m)
Amelia Male (Shot put)
Sierra Matheson (60m, 200m open)
Ay'rianna Moore (200m invite, 400m invite, 4x400m)
Kaela-Michelle O'Connor (60m hurdles)
Marley Oare (Pole vault open)
Liza Parkhomenko (Triple jump lower)
Sydney Rhodes (60m, 200m open)
Morgan Ryerson (60m hurdles)
Helena Santacana (200m open, 400m open, 4x400m)
Ella Semple (3000m invite)
Shania Staats (60m, long jump upper)
Laila Thomas (60m, long jump lower)
Kailynn Tyson (Long jump upper, triple jump upper)
BEARDSLEY IN BOSTON
Junior distance runner Biruk Beardsley is set to represent the Green and Gold at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational, hosted at the Track & Tennis Center on Boston University's campus. The meet will feature some of the top distance runners in the sport. Beardsley is scheduled to compete in the 5000m open section, with heats beginning at 6:40 p.m. on Friday, February 13.
A complete meet schedule is available, and the live results website will provide real-time updates on Beardsley's performance during the race. The BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational will be available to watch on FloTrack.
LAST TIME OUT
The Patriots delivered a strong two-day performance at the Penn Classic, highlighted by multiple event wins and personal-best marks. Shania Staats opened the weekend with a meet-record 6.03m to win the women's long jump, while Kellen La Roche captured the men's high jump title with a clearance of 2.00m in his first collegiate victory. Kennedy Drish added another win in the pole vault with a personal-best 4.26m to extend her lead atop the Atlantic 10 rankings.
On day two, Ella Semple ran a personal-record 4:42.93 in the women's mile to move into second in the A-10, while Lloyd Sheppard-Brown set a personal-best 8:16.24 in the men's 3000m. Mason Samuels added a top-five finish in the 200m with an indoor-best time of 21.45, ranking second in the conference this season. The men's 4x400m relay of Joziah Johnson, Lance Koontz, Aidan Walcott, and Jordan Tuck closed out the weekend with a season-best 3:16.32, highlighting a productive meet for the Green and Gold.
LAST WEEK'S ALL-TIME TOP 10 ENTRIES
(Women, Men)
2. Ella Semple - W Mile - 4:42.93
2. Kennedy Drish - W Pole Vault - 4.26m
7. Lloyd Sheppard-Brown - M 3000m Run - 8:16.24
8. Mason Samuels - 200m Dash - 21.45
9. Shania Staats - W Long Jump - 6.03m
9. William Michael Baker - M Shot Put - 15.08m
NCAA INDOOR QUALIFYING MARKS
32. Kennedy Drish - W Pole Vault - 4.26m
39. Walt Bannerman - M Pole Vault - 5.30m
48. Jayden Smith - M 60m Hurdles - 7.80
ATLANTIC 10 LEADERS
Walt Bannerman - M Pole Vault - 5.30m
Kennedy Drish - W Pole Vault - 4.26m
Ella Semple - W 5000m - 16:04:84
Jayden Smith - M 60m Hurdles - 7.80
Kailynn Tyson - W Triple Jump - 12.61m
