Feb. 9, 2008

NEW YORK - Sophomore Michael Pachella finished in seventh place in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:51.00 at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational, held at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City on Feb. 8-9. The time is a new personal best for Pachella during the indoor season.

In addition to being a personal best, Pachella's time is also the best that the Patriots have run in the event this season. Sophomore Sam Horn also competed in the 800-meter run at the meet, topping the IC4A qualifying standard with a time of 1:53.28.

In the 500-meter dash, junior Mutsa Nyakabau set a new personal standard with a time of 1:04.79 to finish in 13th place. Nyakabau has already qualified for the IC4A Championships in the event.

Senior Brian Hay tied his personal standard with a time of 7.85 seconds in the consolation finals of the 60-meter hurdles. Hay ran the same time at the Father Diamond Invitational on Jan. 5 to reach the NCAA provisional qualifying standard. He reached the consolation finals with a time of 7.97 seconds in the preliminary heats.

Another senior, Ryan McCoy, placed in the top-five in the triple jump, finishing fifth with a leap of 15.66 meters (51 ft. 4.5 in.). McCoy already has qualified provisionally for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the event.

Freshman Kevin Wilson qualified for the IC4A Championships in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.72 seconds, easily winning his heat in his first time running the event at Mason. Also qualifying for the IC4A Championships was the 4x400-meter relay team of Wilson, Nyakabau, Nate Harris and Marcus Wyche, who finished the relay race in fourth place with a time of 3:18.27.

The Patriots also competed at the Valentines' Invitational in Boston, Mass. on Saturday. Sophomore Robert Krause was the team's top finisher in the 3000-meter run, crossing the finish line in 8:39.50 to finish 39th. In the 5000-meter run, sophomore James Snyder finished 81st with a time of 15:19.02.

The men's track and field team will compete again next weekend at the Tyson Invitational, slated for Feb. 15-16 in Fayetteville, Ark.