Mason’s Thomas is State Champ in 300m Hurdles

Last weekend at Radford University, the George Mason High School varsity girls track team rounded out their season in one of the best fashions possible, by finishing as the single A state runner-up despite entering only five runners into the meet.

In just her first season at the helm of the Mason track team, coach Bianca White led her squad to one of their best finishes in recent memory. Sophomore Chantal Thomas was the catalyst on the day, bringing back a first place finish in the 300m hurdles and a personal best 5’1” leap in the high jump, good enough for a fifth-place finish.

Senior Susanna Sullivan, a University of Notre Dame recruit, finished second in both the 1600m and the 3200m run. Sullivan was bested both times by sophomore Megan Marsico of Glenvar, who became only the third girl in Virginia this outdoor season to break five minutes in the 1600m, setting a state record in the process.

Sullivan’s classmate Karina Robarge, who will attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the fall, took fifth in both the 100m and 300m hurdles. Sophomore Chantel Bailey placed fourth in the 400m, earning a personal best time, while the 4x400m relay team of Robarge, Thomas, Bailey and Taylor Moot finished third. They further improved on their Region B time, in which they ran a 4:15:86, besting their previous time by five seconds. Part of that improvement was due to Bailey’s opening leg, in which her time actually exceeded the Mason school record for the individual 400m.

“It was amazing to have this as the culminating event my first year as head coach,” said White. “I had a talented group who worked hard all season. It has been really rewarding to watch everyone progress the past five years.”

Overall, Mason was only bested by Region B and Bull Run District rival Clarke County, who scored 74.5 points to the Mustangs’49. Although the Mustangs lose Sullivan and Robarge, among others, to graduation, they return a solid core of young runners.

“[The seniors] began their running careers my first year as a coach at Mason, so they will always hold a special place in my heart,” added White. “They were great competitors. I could not have asked for a better group of leaders.”