The George Mason High School varsity track team kicked off their Bull Run District season with an impressive showing in the pouring rain last week against powerhouse Manassas Park. While both teams lost to the Cougars, impressive finishes were turned out by numerous Mustang runners.

On the ladies’ side, junior Melissa Benn dominated the field events, placing first in both the discus and the shot put. Senior Karina Robarge won the 100m and the 300m hurdles, and teamed with senior Susanna Sullivan and a pair of sophomores in Chantal Thomas and Chantel Bailey to capture first place in the 4x400m relay.

Sullivan, the returning state champion in the 3200- and the 1600-meter races, showed why she is one of the premier female runners in the state, winning the 3200 by an overwhelming margin, despite a pounding hail storm.

Senior Lydia Fairfax finished first in the 1600, while four eighth-graders in Natalie Young, Lia Cattaneo, May Williamson and Claire Constance finished second in the 4x400m relay race, beating Manassas Park and completing a Mason sweep in the event.

On the boys side, senior Austin Lucas, a highly-touted football recruit, won both the shot put and the discus in his first meet of the season. Fellow senior Will Douthitt placed first in the 3200m as well, while senior Matt Geurtsen took third in the shot put to gain some badly needed points in the field. Drew Garrison placed second in the 800m.

The Mustangs will participate in the Metro Run & Walk Northern Virginia Invitational this weekend at Edison High School, competing with over 30 schools from across the area. They will then return to district dual meets next week when they travel to Clarke County on April 16.