By BRYAN KIEL
STAFF WRITER
Seniors on both the men’s and women’s track teams have led the Rams into the outdoor season. (RAM ARCHIVES)
After just a week’s break, Fordham track and field was back in action this past Saturday at West Chester University in Pennsylvania as the Rams started their outdoor season. The non-scoring competition brought new faces to the front of the pack, with two event wins and multiple top-five placers. While some of the top racers did not compete, the meet featured a number of freshmen and other competitors that represented Fordham’s depth, which the Rams will try to utilize to continue their success.
Senior Michael Belgiovine got Fordham’s first win of the meet. With a time of 15:23 in the 5000 meter run, Belgiovine beat runners from Connecticut College by more than 40 seconds. Fellow senior Tim Kazanjian placed sixth in the race with a time of 16:27. Fordham’s other winner was junior Briana Tevnan, who won the 3000 meter steeplechase event with a time of 11:23, almost a minute faster than the next competitor. Her race also featured junior Danielle Drummond, who came in fourth with a time of 13:24.
Other top five finishers included junior Elise Tigani, who came in second with a time of 1:02.70. Senior Joe Hartnett came in second in the steeplechase event with a time of 10:09. Juniors Pat McGuire and Austin Ruiz both took second in the hammer throw and shot put with marks of 127’ 0” and 48’ 3”, respectively. Fellow junior Caitlin Hart also took second in the javelin throw with a distance of 102’ 5”. Sophomore Yehia Fahmy took third in the men’s 1500 meter run with a time of 4:09.56, while fellow sophomore Rachel Picard also took third in the women’s 1500 with a time of 4:57.54.
A number of freshmen joined the many other Rams who placed fifth or better in competition. In the 800 meters, Mia Toffoli placed second with a time of 2:23.25. Hailey Serrano was fourth in the hammer throw with a mark of 113’ 5”. Ryan McGann was just .05 seconds behind Fahmy in the 1500 with a time of 4:09.61. Brianne Roche followed Picard in the women’s 1500-meters with a time of 5:01.67 for fourth place. Emma Kilroy placed in multiple events including the high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Senior captain James Doran, who earned eighth in the 1500 with a time of 4:14.25, sees a hopeful spring for the men’s middle distance group. “Yehia Fahmy has really been developing well,” he said. “Lester Taylor opens up next week and is ready to pick up where he left off from indoors. Ryan McGann was hurt for the indoor season, but he’s coming back better than expected.”
While the meet did not feature any of Fordham’s top competitors who competed in the ECAC/IC4A Indoor Championship two weekends ago, the meet highlighted the strong performances from the rest of the Rams, including many freshmen. After an indoor season that was affected by injury and illness, the depth displayed in the opening meet may prove useful for the Rams as they look to more competitive meets in the future.
“Next week we’re at University of Richmond,” head coach Tom Dewey said. “That should be a much better indicator what kind of shape the guys are in.”
The team will split squads this weekend between the Fred Hardy Invitational in Richmond, Va. and the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C.
