Fordham University’s track & field teams traveled to the Virginia Beach Sports Center to compete in the Atlantic 10 Championships. The Rams delivered outstanding performances in various events and showcased resilience, talent and determination. Both men and women achieved milestone victories, from record-breaking individual performances to dominant relay finishes. The men’s team came in fourth place with 87 points and the women’s team came in eighth with 35.5 points.
Though the women’s team did not fare as well as the men’s team overall, they had one of the most incredible performances on their team. Graduate student Katarina Birimac cemented her name in Fordham history, becoming the first Ram to ever win gold in the women’s 5,000-meter race at the A-10 Championships. Birimac ran a tactical race, finishing at an impressive 16:36.06, securing a commanding victory over the track. Not only did she grab gold in the 5,000-meter race, but she also stood atop the podium with bronze in the 3,000-meter run, coming in at 9:46.26. Her dominance in the event speaks to her hard work and endurance; her historic win not only gives pride to the university but also sets the bar high for future Fordham distance runners.
The men’s distance medley relay team made history of their own, capturing Fordham’s first-ever gold medal in the event at the A-10 Championships. The quartet including senior Nathan Bezuneh, sophomore Dakota Strain, sophomore Sean Reidy and senior Rodolfo Sanchez delivered a show-stopping performance, clocking a season-best time of 9:52.44. This victory was especially significant given Fordham’s past performances in the event — previously earning silver in 2003 and 2015 and bronze in 2005. This time, however, the Rams stood atop the podium, their dedication and teamwork culminating in a championship-winning effort. Their gold-medal performance secured the First Team All-Atlantic 10 honors, affirming Fordham’s strength in middle-distance and relay events.
The Fordham men’s team delivered an outstanding performance, securing fourth place out of 11 scoring teams with 87 points — their best finish since 2018 and the most points scored since 2012. The team excelled in multiple track events, led by standout freshman Njam Abdul-Latif, who dominated the sprints. Abdul-Latif won the 60-meter dash with a school record time of 6.81 seconds and continued his success in the 200-meter dash, clinching gold with an A-10 meet record time of 21.17 seconds, earning the title of Most Outstanding Rookie Performer of the Championship.
His teammate, sophomore Sam Freeman, also contributed valuable points by finishing third in the 500-meter dash in 1:04.47 and scoring sixth place in the 200-meter dash in 21.88. Sanchez also had a strong showing and claimed gold in the mile run with an impressive 4:09.46, just ahead of his teammate Reidy, who took silver in 4:09.50.
The team also demonstrated depth in relay events in the 4×800-meter relay team consisting of Reidy, junior Ben Borchers, Sanchez and graduate student Aidan Hickey, who placed third, earning a bronze medal at 7:35.12.
In the field events, the women’s team struggled to secure high placements, limiting the team’s score. Junior Zoe Arakelian delivered a strong performance in the high jump, tying for third place with a height of 1.65 meters. Sophomore Michaela Gier finished 13th in the pole vault, clearing 3.32 meters. In the shot put, sophomore Sarah Cooley placed 16th with a season-best mark of 11.75 meters, falling outside the top eight. Graduate student Jasmine Hope secured fifth place in the long jump with a leap of 5.62 meters.
On the track, Fordham’s squad of sophomore Brenna Sears, freshman Kathleen Keefe, sophomore Cate Roche and sophomore Megan McCann just barely missed scoring in ninth place at a season-best time of 9:23.80. In contrast, the 4×400 relay of junior Dillyn Green, graduate student Michele Daye, junior Kylie Ritz and junior Alexandra Williams scored sixth in a season-best mark of 3:51.37. Despite solid efforts from individual athletes, the Rams’ inconsistency in scoring positions ultimately led to a lower team standing in the championships for the women.
Fordham’s stellar performance at the A-10 Indoor Championships set the stage for an exciting outdoor season. As they shift focus to their last indoor competitions and move to outdoor competitions, the team will aim for faster times, higher finishes and more championship moments. With a deep roster and growing confidence, Fordham is ready to turn heads again.
