By BRYAN KIEL
STAFF WRITER

In a race-heavy weekend, the Rams headed south for two days to compete in meets in both Raleigh, N.C. and Richmond, Va.  While most of the squad was in Richmond, Va., at the Fred Hardy Invitational, senior Anisa Arsenault and junior Jonathan Annelli raced at the Raleigh Relays. Overall, Fordham posted four event wins and three ECAC/IC4A Championship qualifying times as the Rams head deeper into the outdoor season.

In Raleigh N.C., both Arsenault and Annelli qualified for the ECAC/IC4A Championship in May.  Annelli was eighth out of 40 runners in the 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 9:14.32, a career best.  Arsenault, one of Fordham’s best long-distance runners, posted a time of 35:50 in the 10,000 meter event, earning 11th place out of 34 runners.  Fordham’s other ECAC qualifier was senior Titi Fagade, who finished second in the 400 meter run with a time of 55.99 at the Fred Hardy Invitational.

Besides Fagade, Fordham had many other top finishers in Richmond, including four-first place finishes from senior David Fajoyomi, junior Briana Tevnan, sophomore Mike Turi and the 4×800 men’s team.  Briana Tevnan was the first winner on Friday in the 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 11:00.89.  Turi won the 5000 meter run with a time of 15:01.  Fellow sophomore Quincy O’Connor followed 14 seconds later in fourth place with a time of 15:15.  Friday also brought other top finishes from junior Sarah Glockenmeier and senior Sean Collins, who earned second place with a time of 17:43.78 in the 5000 meters and 54.73 in the 400 meter hurdles, respectively.

The Fred Hardy invitational continued on Saturday when Fajoyomi won the high jump event with a height of six-foot-eight-inches.  The 4×800 men’s relay team, consisting of Collins, senior Brian Walter and juniors Dan Green and Lester Taylor, took first with a time of 7:56.76.  Taylor and Walter added to Fordham’s successful day with their performances in the individual 800 meter race.  Taylor took second place with a time of 1:55.24 and Walter took eighth with a time of 1:56.01.  Fagade also ran in the 200 meter race, placing fifth with a time of 25.51, just .12 seconds behind the fourth place finisher from Temple.  Freshman Ryan McGann took sixth in the 3000 meter run with a time of  8:55.28.  Other freshmen who raced on Saturday included Brianne Roche, who took fourth in the 3000 meters with a time of 10:25.10, as well as Shanna Heaney, who was eighth in the 800m in 2:18.58.  Finally, the men’s 4×400 meter relay team, consisting of seniors Michael Belgiovine, Joe Hartnett, Kyle Clonan and sophomore Yehia Fahmy, came in 17th in a packed race with a time of 3:37.59.

While the rain on Saturday hampered performances, Fordham’s performance remained solid and indicative of a strong team.  “I think the team is in decent shape now,” said senior captain James Doran. “There’s obviously a lot of season left and we traditionally have been known to get off to a slower start than some other teams, but we always seem to step it up when championship season comes around.”

After coming off an indoor season that featured several injuries, Fordham is looking to capitalize on weekends like this where everyone races well.  “We definitely have the potential to have a really great season, especially as the weather warms up and we’re able to start training outside,” said sophomore Rachel Picard, who raced on Saturday after coming back from an injury that kept her out of cross country in the fall.

“I think this season will go very well for both myself and my team,” said Belgiovine. “Being my last college season, I know I’m willing to give every last ounce of effort to run as fast as possible.”

With many team members competing in their final season, the Rams are trying to make this their best outdoor campaign yet.  Their next race will be this weekend  at the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va.