Men's Track and Field Competes at GMU Winter Open

Chris Parsons Wins Shot, Qualifies for IC4As

03/01/04 12:35PM

FAIRFAX, VA - Senior Chris Parsons (Dunkirk, MD) qualified for IC4As with his shot win as defending CAA Champion William and Mary men's track and field competed Sunday at George Mason's Winter Open, the last meet before the indoor postseason. The Winter Open featured several area teams including Virginia Commonwealth, UNC-Wilmington, Towson, Mary Washington, Christopher Newport, and host George Mason.

In the highlight of the meet for the Tribe, Parsons threw for 50'10.75" to win the shot put, earning another qualification to IC4As in the event. Junior Nick Hecker-Thompson (Seattle, WA) claimed third in the event, throwing for a personal-record 48'11".

Freshman Matt Warco (McMurray, PA) had a strong collegiate debut in the 1,000m, just missing qualifying for IC4As by clocking a 2:30.65, less than a second off the qualification mark. Sophomore Stephen Cason (Richmond, VA) had a solid meet, running personal records in two events. Cason ran a 6.66 in the 55m and followed that with a 24.07 in the 200m. Sophomore Justin Benabdallah (Natick, MA) joined Cason in the 200m and paced a season-best 23.29. In the pole vault, sophomore Nathan Chubb (Doylestown, PA) and senior Aaron Spicer (Woodbridge, VA) each cleared 13'5.25" to tie for fourth, a season-best height for both vaulters.

Qualified athletes will next compete for the Tribe at the IC4A Indoor Championships, March 6-7 in Boston, MA.