After weeks of training and several “tune up” events, Fordham Cross Country ran their way to the “top of the heap” at last weekend’s Metropolitan Championship. Both the men’s and women’s teams placed first in their respective fields thanks to strong individual performances and even stronger team grit.

The women were led by sophomore Caroline McDonagh. McDonagh placed second, and ran the 5K Van Cortlandt Park course in a time of 19:25.6. The Rams also had four other runners place in the top 11. Sophomore Madeleine Ryan finished seventh with a time of 20:16.8, while senior Alexandra Thomas ran a time of 20:18.2 and grabbed the eighth slot. Seniors Nathania Tan and Taylor Mascetta were 10th and 11th with times of 20:25.0 and 20:30.7, respectively. The win marks the fourth time in six years that the Fordham women have taken home the Metropolitan Championship. It is also the second time in school history that Rams have won the event in back-to-back seasons.

The men received a strong performance from sophomore Nathan Bezuneh. The Virginia product ran the 8K course in a time of 26:35.9 and placed first overall. Fellow sophomore Rodolfo Sanchez was not far behind. He clocked in at 26:39.1 and finished second. Fordham also had four other runners place in the top ten. Graduate student Christopher Strzelinski ran a time of 27:10.9 and took fourth place in the event. Freshman Nicolas Grabarz placed sixth with a time of 27:15.2. Senior Ryan Fahey claimed eighth thanks to a final time of 28:04.1, and freshman Ben Borchers stole tenth with a time of 28:23.0. The men’s victory is the fifth title in the last eight Metropolitan Championships.

Cross Country will look to replicate their championship performance on Oct. 14 when they participate in the ECAC/IC4A Cross Country Championship at the familiar confines of Van Cortlandt Park.