Middle distance and distance runners highlight first batch of commitments to George Mason
FAIRFAX, Va. - Five middle distance and distance runners highlight the first group of signees that first-year head coach Andrew Gerard has brought in as he attempts to build the George Mason men\'s track and field program into a national contender.
Ryan Gaul, Robert Krause, Anthony LaMastro, Michael Pachella and James Phillips have all signed National Letters of Intent to compete for the Patriots next season. All five bring impressive credentials to the table.
\"I think it\'s a really exciting class we\'ve got so far; this is a big step towards rebuilding us in the middle distance and distance events,\" Gerard said. \"We\'re really pleased that individuals of their quality were able to buy into our vision of what this program will be in the future. This first class will serve as a nice springboard for regional and national level success in the coming years.\"
Both Gaul and Phillips hail from Virginia. Gaul is from Lafayette High School in Williamsburg, Va., where he was the 2006 state AA 1,000-meter champion during the indoor season. Phillips attended Oakton High School in Oakton, Va., where he finished fourth at the state AAA Cross Country Championships and captained Oakton\'s cross country team that captured the state title.
The remaining three signees come from out of state. LaMastro and Pachella are both from New Jersey, while Krause is from New York. A student at Pope John XXIII High School in Flanders, N.J., LaMastro placed fifth at the Penn Relays in the high school mile on April 28, crossing the finish line in 4:15.35. He was also the New Jersey state runner-up in the 1600-meter run. Pachella, from Wallkill Valley Regional High School in Ogdensburg, N.J., was the runner-up at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in the 800-meter run. His time of 1:52.81 at the championships was the third-fastest time in the country among high school competitors during the indoor season. The lone signee from New York, Krause attended Connetquot High School in Bohemia, N.Y., where he was the New York State Section XI Champion in cross country.
Middle distance and distance runners highlight first batch of commitments to George Mason
FAIRFAX, Va. - Five middle distance and distance runners highlight the first group of signees that first-year head coach Andrew Gerard has brought in as he attempts to build the George Mason men\'s track and field program into a national contender.
Ryan Gaul, Robert Krause, Anthony LaMastro, Michael Pachella and James Phillips have all signed National Letters of Intent to compete for the Patriots next season. All five bring impressive credentials to the table.