(Alexandra Henriques / Fourth Estate)

Local community runs a mile to promote university spirit for the upcoming basketball season

BY ALEXANDRA HENRIQUES, STAFF WRITER

The George Mason University men’s basketball team hosted its third annual Mason Mile at EagleBank Arena on Saturday, Oct. 4. The event included a one-mile run and an open basketball practice and scrimmage. A block party with food trucks, music and free-to-enter raffles also enticed attendees. 

The Mason Mile brought students, alumni and local residents together for a morning full of fun. Parents stood with their students and alumni came out to support the basketball team, showcasing the close-knit community. 

“This helps by bringing people together and getting them involved with the athletics program, not just as spectators … My favorite part [of these events] is just meeting new people and talking to people,” Patriot Club intern and Mason Mile worker Aylin Yirmibesoglu said. 

Additionally, people got to talk with the basketball team both before the run and after for autographs. 

“It takes courage to come out here on a Saturday morning … to come out and support the men’s basketball team just shows how strong our fanbase is,” Mason basketball player Jermahri “Fatt” Hill said. 

People running the Mason Mile could do so in support of a cause of their choosing, which they could represent by writing on a free shirt.  

“Mason’s a real family-oriented school, so just to have everybody come out today is amazing. It just shows you how Mason cares about other things besides the sports and the academics, and there’s just a wide variety of people out here today, so it’s good to have everybody supporting their causes,” Mason basketball player Kory Mincy said.

(Alexandra Henriques / Fourth Estate)

Events like the Mason Mile help students, alumni and locals connect while celebrating the Mason community and athletics program.

Before and after the run, people lined up for food from Kona Ice, Mama’s Donut Bites and Banh Mi Pho Life. While some of the food cost money, others, like Mama’s Donut Bites, offered free sampler donut holes. 

Additionally, attendees got to talk to table representatives from Northwest Federal Credit Union, CJ3 Foundation, Silver Diner and ROTC cadets from Mason, taking free merchandise home. 

One of the most appealing aspects of the event was over a dozen free-to-enter raffles, including raffles for Apple Airpods, an iPad, a Nintendo Switch, a 40-inch HDTV, a minute in a money machine, a UFC gym membership and restaurant gift cards. 

For Maryland resident Jerry R., a morning excursion for his son’s basketball team, the Maryland Pumas, turned into leaving with a 40-inch HDTV and Banditos gift cards. Jerry said that his son’s basketball coach wanted them to watch the post-mile practice and scrimmage to improve their skills, but he decided to go earlier in the day to attend the mile and block party with his son, which resulted in his huge raffle wins. 

“I was just shocked. My son won the gift cards first, and he said ‘Dad, let me hold your ticket and give it good luck,’ and not too long after he gave me the ticket back, they called my number [for the TV],” Jerry said. “It’s incredible. It doesn’t get much better.”