By Mark Murchie (April 12, 2003)

In its first meet of the year against the defending district champions, the George Mason boys' track team came close to winning the meet, but fell 72 – 57 to Manassas Park on Wednesday, April 2. The girls' team wasn’t as close as the guys but had very outstanding performances from several of their athletes.
 

The boys' team was led by senior Mark Murchie who placed in six events at the meet. Murchie placed 1st in the high jump, setting a new personal record clearing 6’0’’; placed 1st in the 400m dash with a time of 52.37; 1st in the 200m dash; 3rd in both the long and triple jump; and was part of the 2nd place 4x400 relay team. In the long distance running events, Orie Bumgarner, Chad O’Hara and Alex Baldino ran strong races. Bumgarner put himself into cruise control during the 3200m run and finished 1st with a time of 11:41 and was followed by Steven Newhal and Keith Rothman who finished second and third respectively.

Senior Mark Murchie wins the high jump with a jump  of six feet. (Photo by Andrea Genovese Soares)

In the 1600m run (mile) Chad O’hara was edged out by the Manassas runner and finished 2^nd and was followed by Bumgarner and Baldino. In the 800m dash, O’Hara would again go head to head with the same runner and this time, he did not let him win and won with a time of 2:13. Baldino ended in third place with a time of 2:19. Experienced hurtler Niles Lashway led the way in the hurtles placing 3^rd in the 100m hurtles and 2^nd in the 300m hurtles. 

Newcomers to the guys' team had a strong showing in their first meet. These newcomers are Mohamed Zohir, Travis Greene, Steve Gullikson, and John Horne who participate in the 100m dash, some in the 200m dash and in the 4x100m relay. In the 100m dash Greene finished in 3rd with a time of 12.16, and was followed by Gulliksen (12.17) and Zohir (12.19) in an extremely close race. The 4x100 in which all four participated was a fun race to watch and really came down to the wire. Gullikson, the anchor, started a little behind the Manassas runner, but quickly caught up. At the end of the race, it was not clear whom the winner was going to be, but Gullikson barely lost. The 4x400 team also participated in an extremely close race where they also barely lost in the end. The members of this team are seniors Nick Huizenga, Alex Baldino, Mark Murchie, and sophomore Chad O‘Hara. Rahul Gupta placed 3rd in the shot put and 2nd in the discus.

An enthusiastic member of the Mason track team  prepares to dash 100 meters.  (Photo by Andrea Genovese Soares)

The girls' team was led by senior Annie Maynard who participated in three events. She finished 1st in the 800m run with a time of 2:42; finished 1st in the mile with a time of 6:08; and was part of the winning 4x400 team. Strong performances were also seen from Luisa Fairfax, Melissa Womble, Sarah Stanley and Grace Starbird. Womble and Fairfax led the field in the 3200m run finishing 2nd and 1st respectively. Sarah Stanley had a strong performance in the shot-put, placing 3rd with a throw of 27’10’’ and 3rd in discus with a throw of 73’0’’.

Sophomores Danielle Dunn and Melissa Womble, and  junior Louisa Fairfax race to beat Manassas Park in  the two-mile run. (Photo by Andrea Genovese Soares)

The Mason track team will be participating this Saturday in the Obie Calhoun Invitional, which features around 20 teams from the area, including several AA and AAA high schools, at Brentsville District High School. This is the biggest regular season meet and provides good competition to prepare the team for districts, regionals and states.