RELEASE DATE: 1/16/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Edwards dual winner at RIT Invitational – Garcia wins 500 and Gray shot put

ROCHESTER,NY – Mansfield’s Brenae Edwards won the mile and the 1000 meters while Victor Garcia won the 500 and Mike Gray the shot put at the RIT Invitational in Rochester Saturday.

Edwards qualified for the PSAC Championship with a winning time of 5:14.98 in the mile and also won the 1000 with a time of 3:10.33.

Garcia just missed the school record in the 500 with his winning time of 66.05, more than two second better than the next finisher, and Gray recorded his best throw of the season with a winning toss of 51-11.25 -- more than five feet better than the next longest throw.

In addition the Mountaineers produced a slew of conference qualifiers including Clarissa Cummings who finished sixth in the 5000 (18:58.84) while Erica Ferguson hit qualifying marks in the 55 (4^th - 7.69) and 200 meters (4^th – 27.57).

Also qualifying were Joe Stanek  who was the top collegiate finisher in the 5000 meters (15:51.06), Justen Johnson in the triple jump (43-11.75) and Amy Waltz in the 55 meters (7.77).

Other Mountaineers with strong performances included freshman Becky Kratz who was third in the 1000 (3:22.89) with Bethany Wigfield finishing fourth (3:25.11). Bud Plaszenski finished third in the 5000 (15:56.09) followed by Nathan MacNabb (4^th – 16:13.74), Sean Vollenweider (5^th – 16:17.19).

Bethany Coons was fifth in the 500 meters (1:27.12) and Casey Aylesworth fifth in the men’s 800 (2:01.18). Justen Johnson also took fifth in the 200 (23.63). Alexa Tsiknas  finished fourth in the pole vault (9-07.25)

###