Cross Country Takes on A-10 Championship
After missing out on the 2020 season due to COVID-19, the men and women’s cross country teams competed in Dayton with top finishes from Bridget Alex and Brandon Hall and the NCAA Northeast Regional on the way.
Both the men and women’s cross country teams continued their season at the A-10 championships (courtesy of Fordham Athletics).
Fordham Cross Country traveled out to Dayton, Ohio, for the A-10 Championships this weekend. After missing out on the cross country season in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions, the team was excited to be back at the conference championships.
Despite the enthusiasm, both teams walked away from the meet without the finishes they were hoping for. The women placed 10th in the team standings with 229 points. The men’s team took home 11th with 288 points.
The women’s team was once again led by senior Bridget Alex, who secured a 23rd overall finish with a time of 18:24.3, her fastest 5k of the season. Following Alex was junior Taylor Mascetta in 39th (19:11.0) and graduate student Germaine Harbaugh in 41st (19:12.6). Junior Nicoleta Papavasilakis finished in 62nd (19:32.3), sophomore Maddy Kopec in 66th (19:36.0) and freshman Madeleine Ryan in 67th (19:36.4) to round out Fordham’s top six.
Harbaugh said it was a great opportunity to compete at the A-10 Championships one more time. “This was going to be my last Cross Country A-10s, so it was already kind of a special race,” she said. “After last year not having any competition and races, it’s really nice to be back racing again.” She made the most of her second chance, breaking out for a new personal record in the 5k.
The men’s race went off the rails when senior captain Brandon Hall fell during a pileup near the one mile marker. Despite that, Hall was still the team’s top finisher, coming in 32nd overall with a time of 25:44.7. Fordham’s usual second man, sophomore Steven Zucca, trailed him in 43rd (25:56.0) and junior Colin Flood battled through a foot injury for 62nd (26:14.0).
Graduate student Christopher Strzelinski took home 74th with a time of 26:24.5 in his final A-10 Championships. Freshman Rodolfo Sanchez wrapped things up for Fordham’s top five in 88th (26:42.1).
The Rams’ season will continue on Friday, Nov. 12 as they compete at the NCAA Northeast Regional, housed at Franklin Park in Boston, Mass.. They will look for greater success than they found at the A-10 Championship.
