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.
