By Emmanuel Berbari

Fordham Track and Field got an ideal start to its 2018-19 season at the Ocean Breeze Opener in Staten Island. Saturday’s Ocean Breeze Opener was very kind to senior Mary Kate Kenny, who had a stretch last year of three school records in three weeks.

The 5’2” sprinter’s desire to improve has paid immediate dividends as she broke two school records in the opener.

She bested her own school record in the 60 meters in 7.67 seconds and set a new record in the 200 meters in 24.68, both first place and ECAC-qualifying times. The times edged previous marks of 7.68 and 25.07, respectively.

Fordham’s prominent effort went further than its prolific record-setter, as, in the women’s 60 meters, sophomore Kathryn Kelly (5th – 7.82), freshman Brielle Lewis (7th – 7.86) and freshman Kelley Abunaw (14th – 7.86) also stood out from the pack.

In the 500 meters, senior Aidan Moroz (2nd – 1:16.62), sophomore Sarinnagh Budris (5th – 1:17.59), freshman Dominique Valentine (7th – 1:19.15) and sophomore Dana Beggins (11th – 1:20.05) achieved top-notch positioning.

Freshmen Helen Connolly (1st – 2:22.36) and Angelica Piccini (7th – 2:32.50) made their marks in the 800 meters, while Kelly (2nd – 25.15), Lewis (7th – 25.82) and Budris (14th – 26.34) carried over their initial efforts into 200 meters.

Out on the field, freshman Jade Dyer-Kennedy finished eighth in the long jump at 5.01m, followed by Mary Kate Caucci (10th – 4.92m) and Dianna Juechter (17th – 4.26m). Casey Metzler finished 15th in the shot put at 8.87m and 11th in the weight throw at 11.32m. In the triple jump, Dyer-Kennedy led the way for the Rams finishing fourth at 11.12m, Caucci took eighth at 9.60m and Juechter placed tenth at 9.12m.

On the men’s side, sophomore Arthur Gooden Jr. paced the Rams, placing fourth in the 500 meters in 1:04.64, good enough to earn him IC4A qualification.

Moving over to the 60-meter dash, freshmen Manuel Alfonso Guzman (8th – 7.15) and Michael Capone (11th – 7.18) and senior Andre Guthrie Jr. (11th – 7.23) were deeply competitive. The 500 meter was not too tall of a task for sophomores John Keegan (9th – 1:07.11) and Kyle Mack (15th – 1:07.99), while the 1,000 meter allowed freshmen Zalen Nelson (4th – 2:33.40), Jeremiah LaDuca (5th – 2:36.19) and sophomore Dylan Serino (12th – 2:41.44) to shine. Meanwhile, Capone (2nd – 22.61) and Guzman (3rd – 22.69) turned in repeat stellar efforts, going back at it in the 200 meter dash.

Out on the field, the women were led by freshman Jade Dyer-Kennedy, who finished eighth with a 5.01-meter long jump. Junior Mary Kate Caucci (10th – 4.92m) and freshman Dianna Juechter (17th – 4.26m) placed directly behind Dyer-Kennedy with respectable marks. Freshman Casey Metzler registered a 8.87m shot put, good enough for 15th place, before coming in 11th with a 11.32 meter weight throw. Dyer Kennedy came back with a bang in the triple jump, as her 11.12 meter finish placed fourth, while Caucci took eighth at 9.60m and Juechter slotted 10th at 9.12m.

Sophomore Nikolas Reardon made his impact in the field events for the men’s team, finishing third with a 6.74-meter long jump. Sophomore Ryan McGraw (13th – 6.23m), freshman Connor McKeown (tied-17th – 5.91m) and juniors Andrew Byrne (T-17th – 5.91m) and Jeremy Milite (21st – 5.45m) followed Reardon’s standout effort. Additionally, freshmen Alec Wargo (13th – 11.33m) and John Regan’s (14th – 10.97m) weight throw efforts served as a pleasant welcome to college-level competition. Later on, Reardon (T-1st – 1.89m) and Byrne (T-3rd – 1.84m) excelled in the high jump. Reardon completed the trifecta performance with a 13.50m triple jump, placing sixth, while McGraw (9th – 12.63m) and Connor Burke (10th – 12.00m) also finished within the top-10.

The Rams will be back in action this Friday when they host the Fordham Season Opener. Events will commence at 2 p.m. inside the Lombardi Center Field House as the season swings into full gear.