FAIRFAX, Va. - The Patriots turned in a dominant performance at the Patriot Games this weekend, the team's first home meet of the season. Impressive showings resulted in a haul of all three Atlantic 10 men's weekly honors: Track Performer of the Week, Field Performer of the Week, and Rookie of the Week.
Atlantic 10 Track Performer of the Week, graduate student Jayden Smith made a strong debut for the Patriots in the 60m hurdles. Smith bested the field in the preliminaries with a time of 7.89 before continuing his dominance in the finals, winning the event in 7.80. The mark ranks first in the Atlantic 10 this season. With his commanding showing, Smith also enters the NCAA Indoor Qualifying List ranked 39th.
Senior Walt Bannerman, named Atlantic 10 Field Performer of the Week, earned his first event win of the season in the pole vault, putting on a show for the home crowd. Bannerman cleared 5.05 meters and 5.20 meters on his first attempts before clearing 5.30 meters on his second attempt. His season-best mark ranks first in the Atlantic 10 and places him 31st in the NCAA rankings.
Freshman Kellen La Roche continued his stellar rookie season by claiming Co-Rookie of the Week honors. La Roche set his season best last week at the Hokie Invitational, clearing 2.06 meters, which ranks third in the Atlantic 10 and ninth in George Mason's all-time program records list for the event. He followed that performance with a second-place finish in the high jump at the Patriot Games, clearing 2.03 meters - a mark that would rank fourth in the conference.
The Patriots will continue action this week at the Penn Classic in Philadelphia, Pa. From Friday, February 6 to Saturday, February 7.