George Mason Track & Field Shines at Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational
On February 14, the George Mason Patriots made a strong showing at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational in Lynchburg, Virginia. With only two weeks until the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships, the team is gaining momentum.
Senior Aidan Walcott impressed everyone by winning the men’s 300m in his first try, clocking in at 34.44 seconds. His performance places him seventh on George Mason’s all-time indoor list.
In the women’s mile, Sarah Clark celebrated a personal-best time of 5:01.26, securing her victory in the open section.
Freshman Kymara Fernandez also stood out, finishing second in the triple jump with a personal best of 11.94m. Not far behind, conference leader Kailynn Tyson placed fourth with a mark of 11.87m.
In pole vaulting, Walt Bannerman, who is leading the Atlantic 10 with a season-best of 5.30m, took second place by clearing 5.17m. Meanwhile, Nick DeWolf achieved a season high of 4.87m, moving him into second in the A-10 rankings.
Kellen LaRoche continued to impress, finishing fourth in the men’s high jump with a height of 2.01m.
The men’s 4x400m relay “B” team secured fourth place out of 17 teams, finishing in 3:16.53. Anthony Gibson, Davian Burke, Caleb Hymans, and Messiah McKinley made key contributions.
In field events, Amela Male hit a personal-best throw of 12.00m in women’s shot put. Cameron Portis also excelled, achieving a personal best of 13.78m in men’s shot put.
As the team prepares for the upcoming Father Diamond Invitational at home on February 20, their solid performances indicate promising prospects for the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships.
Experts suggest momentum is key at this stage of the season. Coach Mike Smith emphasized the importance of these performances as vital to building confidence leading up to crucial meets. “Every personal record enhances our team’s spirit,” he noted.
Recent trends in collegiate track & field reveal increased competition, making every performance critical. A survey by the NCAA showed that student-athletes are increasingly focused on personal bests as benchmarks for improvement.
With their recent achievements and strong team dynamics, the Patriots are gearing up for a successful championship season.
