|
Former Patriot standout and three-time All-American Mario Vernon-Watson enters his eighth season as an assistant coach for the men's track and field and cross country team, with a focus on coaching the middle distance events in which he excelled as a collegian. Vernon-Watson's athletes continue to qualify for postseason competition. Ricardo Cunningham led the middle distance group from 2003-05, advancing to the NCAA East Regional Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) Championships each season in the 800-meters. A 1995 graduate of George Mason University, Vernon-Watson was a part of one of the most successful campaigns in school history. In his senior season, George Mason was the runner-up at the NCAA Indoor Championships and placed sixth at the outdoor NCAAs. That year, the Patriots claimed the IC4A outdoor team championship. In addition, the Patriots picked up Track and field News' National Relay Champions title. Vernon-Watson garnered two All-America honors as part of relays; the first occurred at the indoor NCAAs in 1993 when his 4X800-meter relay placed third and the second took place at the indoor NCAAs in 1995 as Vernon-Watson ran the third leg of the fifth-place distance medley relay. Individually, he set a George Mason indoor record in the 800-meters with a time of 1:48.00, leading him to his third All-America recognition with a fifth-place finish in the 800-meters at the 1995 outdoor championships. Vernon-Watson continues to compete on the professional track and field circuit. In 1995, he was the Central American and Caribbean champion in the 800-meters, and in 1997, he was a semifinalist in the 800-meters at the indoor World Championships in Paris. In the summer of 2000, he competed in the Jamaican Olympic Trailes and was the runner-up in the finals of the 800. His personal best in the event is one minute, 45.58 seconds. Vernon-Watson earned a master's degree in education from The George Washington University in Spring 2004. |
 |
