Athletes from the George Mason track and field teams competed at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia from April 23 to April 25. The event, held at Franklin Field on the University of Pennsylvania campus, is recognized as the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States.
The competition was significant for George Mason athletes as they used it to prepare for upcoming championships. Alex DeRoussel ran a time of 8:58.05 in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase, finishing just short of his personal best that ranks second in the Atlantic 10 this season. In the men’s 5000 meters, Lloyd Sheppard-Brown achieved a personal-best time of 14:05.34, which moved him up to fourth place in conference rankings and fifth on George Mason’s all-time outdoor list. Biruk Beardsley also posted an outdoor-best time of 14:21.38, placing him tenth in the conference.
Ella Semple finished with a time of 15:59.32 in the women’s 5000 meters, marking her second career sub-16-minute finish—the only two such performances in school history—although her earlier season best remains top-ranked within the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Freshman Kellen La Roche earned fourth place in men’s high jump with a clearance of 2.06 meters; he currently ranks third in conference standings with his personal best jump of 2.11 meters this season. Jay Sims cleared a height of 1.91 meters during competition and is ranked eighth overall based on his season-best performance.
In throwing events, Cameron Portis threw for a distance of 48.22 meters in men’s discus while leading all conference competitors this year with his personal record throw; Morgan Batten reached a mark of 53.72 meters in javelin and holds eighth place within conference rankings by virtue of an earlier personal best.
This meet concluded regular-season action for George Mason’s team as they now turn their attention toward hosting duties at next week’s Atlantic 10 Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
