FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason track & field teams opened their first outdoor home meet of the season by hosting the Dalton Ebanks Invitational on Friday, April 3. Field events kicked off the day at 12 p.m.
Abby Weening set the tone early for the Patriots in the women's high jump invitational. Fresh off a personal-best 1.72m at the Raleigh Relays and being named Atlantic 10 Women's Field Performer of the Week, Weening delivered another impressive performance. After clearing 1.73m on her third and final attempt, she went on to clear 1.76m, 1.79m, and 1.82m all on her first try. Her new personal-best mark of 1.82m extends her lead atop the Atlantic 10 season rankings, moves her to second on George Mason's outdoor all-time list, and currently ties her for seventh in NCAA Division I.
The long jump squad also had a standout meet, with the Green & Gold sweeping both the men's and women's events. Freshman Kellen La Roche earned his second collegiate event win in the long jump with a personal-best 7.36m on his sixth and final attempt, moving up to fourth in the A-10 rankings. Shania Staats won the women's long jump with a season-best 6.02m, taking over the top spot in the conference. Freshman Laila Thomas finished second with a personal-best 5.92m, moving into second in the A-10 rankings.
Nicholas DeWolfe placed third in the men's pole vault with a season-best 4.75m, maintaining his position as second in the A-10.
Fiona Agyekum recorded a personal-best for the second consecutive week in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 53.52m. She remains fourth on George Mason's outdoor all-time list and fourth in the A-10 with the improved performance.
Track events began at 3 p.m. and continued into the evening. Mason Samuels clocked 21.57 in the men's 200m, ranking ninth in the A-10, while Simone Hamlar finished the women's 200m in 24.93, placing sixth in the conference.
Freshman Messiah McKinley set a personal-best in the men's 800m with a time of 1:51.07, moving up to fourth in the A-10 rankings.
Additional personal-bests for the Patriots included William Michael Baker (48.50m) and Cameron Portis (42.88m) in the men's hammer throw; Aiko Galvin (2:18.02) and Miranda Pinon (2:22.16) in the women's 800m; Jonathan Regules (1:53.49) in the men's 800m; and Lance Koontz (22.16) in the men's 200m.
The Patriots will return to action tomorrow for Day Two of the Dalton Ebanks Invitational. A complete meet schedule and live results website are available online to follow the Patriots' performances.
