As students return to campus and fall approaches, Fordham Cross Country prepares for another campaign in hopes of finishing at the top of the Atlantic 10 circuit.
The team will begin the season on Sept. 3 at the Stony Brook Invitational with head coach Brian Horowitz back for another year at the helm. Last season, the men placed eighth at the A-10 Championship and 19th at the NCAA Northeast Regional while the women finished 13th at the A-10 Championship and 33rd at the NCAA Northeast Regional.
Graduate student Colin Flood and senior Steven Zucca will lead a men’s side that includes a healthy mix of both underclassmen and upperclassmen.
The departure of last year’s seniors means that the unit will rely on Flood, Zucca and seniors Daniel Asher and Justin Lombardi to step up during competitions.
Zucca particularly shined last season as the Team MVP. The Ohio native won the Jasper XC Invitational with a time of 24:35.7 and dashed his way to a number of other impressive showings. Ultimately, he was named to the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference Team for his efforts.
Senior Ryan Fahey was the lone Ram to take part in all seven meets last fall as most of the men’s seniors were more competitive during the spring season.
Flood only competed in four cross country meets last fall, but finished 11th at the Jasper XC Invite in 25:49.7, and could offer more this year as the men’s side searches for more stability.
The Rams will also hope that their new crop of freshmen consisting of Sean Reidy, Tadael Mihret, Matthew McCabe, Jake Frayler and Jake Boerger will be able to make an impact over the course of the season.
On the women’s side, graduate students Alexandra Thomas and Mary Kathryn Underwood will join seniors Marin Bogulski, Carolyn Cardell, Maddy Kopec, Abigail Llach and Clodagh McGroary in a strong contingency of leaders.
Bogulski and Thomas were two of six Rams to run in all six meets last season, and each of them will look to offer a similar level of consistency this upcoming campaign.
Last year’s team MVP Caroline McDonagh will attempt to follow up a massively successful sophomore year with an even better junior campaign. The Bronx native placed ninth at the Jasper XC Invite in 22:56.8. She also finished seventh overall at the Fordham Fiasco in 19:41.4. Freshmen Brenna Sears, Cate Roche, Kate Meeks, Megan McCann, Grace Kenny and Meredith Gotzman have joined the fray in hopes of aiding the women’s pursuit to climb the A-10 ladder.
The men and women of cross country have already begun training for what promises to be a competitive fall season.
The A-10 Championship is slated for Saturday, Oct. 28 in Dayton, Ohio.
The NCAA Northeast Regional is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 10 at Van Cortlandt Park.
