With an improved season in cross country and more depth on both the men’s and women’s sides, the Rams indoor track team looks to improve upon a strong performance last year. Fordham did lose some notable seniors, though.
The men’s team features two strong relay teams that will look to continue their success in the 2013-14 season. The 4×400 relay team, which won gold at the A-10 championships last year, only lost one senior. Seniors Sean Collins and Ian Williams, as well as junior Lester Taylor, return looking to further their success. The 4×800 relay team, led by returning senior Ryan Polo and junior Dan Green, also looks to improve.
In distance, Fordham is led by junior Jonathan Annelli, who placed seventh in the mile run at the Atlantic 10 championships with a time of 4:19. Annelli also placed in the 3000 meter and the medley relay that placed in the IC4A championship last year.
Senior Sam Houston will be one of the most versatile male competitors, placing in events such as the 400 dash, long jump, high jump and heptathlon. His overall point total of 4,829 in the heptathalon gave him a second place finish in the A-10 championships last year.
Junior Austin Ruiz will also return from a strong season as a thrower, placing in the shot put and weight throw.
The Fordham women have top finishers in many different events that can help the team score higher than last season. Senior Titi Fagade is coming off a fantastic indoor season last year and is looking to break even more records going into her final year at Fordham. During her MVP season last year, Fagade ran on both the 4×400 and 4×800 relays, and finished second at the A-10’s for the 800-meter run.
In mid distance, Fagade has a strong team following her, including junior Melissa Higgins, who scored in two events last year at the A-10 championship. Senior Anisa Arsenault continues her last year as leader of the distance squad. Placing 11th last year in the 3000 meter run at the A-10s and coming off a stellar cross country season, Arsenault looks to continue her success on the indoor course.
Fordham’s sole pole jumper is sophomore Emma Cleary, whose jump of 10’ 4” at the Manhattan season opener was enough to give her the school record.
Throwers for Fordham include junior dual-athlete Lindsay Ritchie, junior Caitlin Hart and freshman Hailey Serrano.
While Fordham lost some top contenders, one shining note is the number of freshman on both the men’s and women’s teams. Freshmen Brianne Roche and Adam Schenzfeier are examples of younger team members stepping up in big ways.
Still, the indoor team’s top contenders are its upperclassmen. Seniors like Fagade, Arsenault and Houston look to cap off great years in their final winters at Fordham.
