CAA Student-Athletes Set To Compete At NCAA Track & Field Championships
RICHMOND, Va. (June 5, 2012) - The CAA will be well
represented at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships held from
June 6-9 at Drake University's Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. Six
individuals and a pair of relay squads comprise the field representing the
conference at this year's championship.
George Mason junior David Verburg is one of three Patriots
to qualify as an individual at this year's meet. Verburg is a favorite for the
400 meter title after taking top honors in the meets at the CAA, IC4A and NCAA
East Regional Championships. The Mason speedster posted a season-best time of
45.06 at the CAA Championships last May, a new conference record. Verburg will
be joined in Des Moines by senior Lavell Handy, who captured his second
consecutive CAA long jump crown on his way to CAA Male Performer of the Meet
accolades. Handy also won the long jump title at the IC4A event and finished
fifth in the NCAA East Regionals. The senior's leap of 7.85m (25'9) at the CAA
Championships stands as the 11th best in the nation this season.
The Patriots' men's 4x400 meter relay squad consisting of
Nick Vaughn, George Empty, Ja-Vell Bullard and Verburg will look to take the
title, after finishing fourth overall in the NCAA East Regionals in a time of
3:03.82. That mark was a season-best and the fifth best in the 4x400 program
history.
In the field, William & Mary senior Brandon Heroux will
look to close out his career with a national title in the javelin throw. Heroux,
who missed most of the year after surgery last spring, returned to set a new
CAA record and win his fourth consecutive javelin title at the CAA
Championships in May. The senior posted a season-best throw of 71.86m (235'9)
at the NCAA East Regionals.
On the women's side, Mason junior Mandissa Marshall will
look to continue her strong season, after winning titles in the pole vault at
the CAA and ECAC Championships, as well as tying for first at the NCAA East
Regionals in the event. Marshall set a school-record height of 4.30m (14'1) earlier
this season at the W&L/VMI Track Carnival, good enough for ninth place
among NCAA competitors.
Georgia State senior Angelia Nugent returns to the NCAA
Finals in the triple jump after recording a school-record distance of 13m (42'8)
at the NCAA East Regionals. Nugent previously took top honors in the triple
jump for the second consecutive year at the CAA Championships in May.
William & Mary sophomore Elaina Balouris enters the NCAA
Championships for the first time, competing in the 10,000 meters, after running
the event in 34:29.88 to qualify from the NCAA East Regionals.
The George Mason women's 4x400 meter relay team consisting
of Daianna Barron, Cierra McGee, Jasmine Robinson and Dominique Graham is
seeded 21st for the event, after earning the last qualifying spot at
the NCAA East Regionals in a time of 3:36.84.
NCAA.com
and ESPN3.com will carry live coverage starting Wednesday. ESPNU will air live
coverage on Saturday, June 9, starting at noon.
CAA
STUDENT-ATHLETE LINEUP AT 2012 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (all times CST)
Lavell
Handy (Mason): Long Jump Final - Wednesday, June 6 at
5:30 p.m.
Mandissa
Marshall (Mason): Pole Vault National Final - Wednesday,
June 6 at 5:30 p.m.
David
Verburg (Mason): 400 meters National Semifinal -
Wednesday, June 6 at 6:45 p.m.
Brandon
Heroux (W&M): Javelin Throw National Final -
Thursday, June 7 at 2:30 p.m.
4x400
Relay (Mason): Men's National Semifinal - Thursday, June 7
at 8:05 p.m.
4x400
Relay (Mason): Women's National Semifinial - Thursday, June 7
at 8:25 p.m.
Elaina
Balouris (W&M): 10,000 meters National Final -
Thursday, June 7 at 8:45 p.m.
Angelia
Nugent (GSU): Triple Jump National Final - Saturday,
June 9 at 10:00 a.m.