In one of their final meets before Districts, the George Mason High School varsity track team recorded some outstanding times at the Royal Invitational at Eastern Mennonite University on Saturday. The meet also marked the triumphant return of junior Josh Jenkins to the Mustang lineup.

Jenkins, who had sat out previous district meets due to injury, set the meet record in the 200m dash with a state-qualifying time of 22.79. Junior teammate Karina Robarge was a double winner for the lady Mustangs, as she took home a first place finish in both the 100 and 300m hurdles.

In addition to Robarge’s meet-leading times, a quartet of freshman in Meghan Powell, Bella Nguyen, Katie Douthitt and Annie Loyd took home a second place finish in the 4×800 relay, while the 4×400 relay of sophomore Chantel Bailey, Robarge, senior Elizabeth Fortenberry and junior Naté Smartt took third on the day.  

On top of her participation in the relay, Bailey brought home an impressive second place finish in the 400, as well as taking third in the 100m dash. Senior Emma Goetz placed third in the 3200 and eighth in the 1600, junior Lydia Fairfax took seventh in the 1600, while senior Ashley Thompson took eighth in the 200, to go along with Smartt’s eighth place finish in the 400.

“EMU was an outstanding meet for us,” Mustang coach Julie Bravin said following the meet. “We set many personal records, and hopefully that will carry over into the district meet. We are looking to have a great showing.”  

Bravin’s expectations for the district meet are high, and rightfully so. The girls’ team is undefeated so far in the Bull Run District despite an IT-band injury to star runner Susanna Sullivan.

Mason will go into the May 16 meet at Manassas Park High hoping to finish with as many all-district runners as possible in preparation for the Regional meet in Charlottesville on May 25.

The Mustangs concluded their regular season with a meet on Wednesday at home against Strasburg High. Results were not available at press time.