Ackerley Wins Discus Competition at Delaware Track & Field Invitational

George Mason finishes eighth with a score of 12.9.

NEWARK, Del. - George Mason junior Ashley Ackerley\'s (Burke, Va.) victory in the discus competition highlighted the George Mason women\'s track and field team\'s eighth-place finish out of 10 teams at the Delaware Invitational, held Friday and Saturday, April 8-9, on the campus of the University of Delaware.

Ackerley threw the discus 39.78m - just shy of her season high of 40.38 - to take home the individual crown, out performing her nearest competitor by three meters.

Mason sent a split squad to the meet as several athletes competed at the Texas Relays on the same weekend. As a team, the Patriots totaled 12 points at the event. Navy won with a team score of 218.50, while Morgan State (128.3) and host Delaware (125.50) finished second and third, respectively.

Also in action at Delaware was senior Ryann Holmes (Largo, Md.) who finished eighth in the 800m in a time of 2:23.45. Freshman Alicia York (Havertown, Pa.) was 15th (2:24.70) and freshman Sable Bell (Ft. Washington, Md.) placed 28th (2:35.73). Bell also saw action in 100m hurdles, where she placed 16th in a season-best time of 19.40.

Shannon Runge and freshman Danielle Turner (New Bern, N.C.) competed in the 1500m, placing 13th and 41st, respectively. Runge finished in a season-best 4:59.54. Turner\'s time was 5:36.27.

In other field events, Bell was eighth (1.50m) in the high jump and freshman Shannon Maurer (Wildwood Crest, N.J.) placed 11th. Ackerley ranked 15th in the shot put (10.24m).

George Mason\'s women\'s track and field team is at the Sea Rays Relays, Wednesday through Saturday, at the University of Tennessee.