Fordham’s track & field team delivered a strong showcase at the 2025 Rider 5-Way Invitational in Lawrence, New Jersey. The Rams earned multiple podium finishes and set several personal and season bests across track & field events. From dominant sprints to exceptional performances in distance races, jumps and throws, the Rams displayed their depth and perseverance. With athletes stepping up in key events and finishing with better results than at the Fred Hardy Invitational, the team’s performance reflected individual growth and collective strength.
Junior Dillyn Green ignited the track, participating in two events and standing atop the podium in both. She left competitors in the dust with her electrifying finishes in the 400m and 200m. Green claimed first place in the 400m with a blistering time of 59.13 seconds, indicating her speed and energy, while surging past the competition. Not content with one victory, Green returned for the 200m to take third place in 25.76 seconds. Her ability to excel in both highlights her versatility and makes her a dominant runner for Fordham.
Sophomore DaRon Elam delivered an outstanding performance, showing his strength and determination across the two events he participated in, the high jump and 110mH. In the high jump, he soared to a season-best of 1.95m to finish in second place, narrowly missing that first placemark. Elam didn’t stop there; he also excelled in the 110mH, taking fifth place with a personal best time of 15.47 seconds. His strong results in track & field events demonstrated his speed, agility and ability to rise to the occasion, making him a key asset.
The women’s track team delivered an exceptional performance, with multiple athletes securing podium finishes, setting personal bests and improving from their last meet at the Fred Hardy Invitational. Green led the way on the track, dominating the 400m with a first-place finish and earning third in the 200m. The middle distance runners were equally impressive, all setting new personal records, with sophomore Kate Meeks at a time of 4:54.28 to finish third in the 1500m, followed closely by her teammate, senior Madeleine Ryan (4:56.06) in sixth and junior Alexis Smith (4:57.56) following in seventh. In the 800m, sophomore Cate Roche took third at 2:26.33, while freshman Marisa House finished tenth at 2:34.11.
They also showed their strength in the 400mH, with junior Nicole Lytle securing third place in 1:07.12 and freshman Ellie Harkins finishing fifth in 1:09.70. Additionally, freshman Kathleen Keefe took third to secure herself podium with a time of 1:01.20, with her teammates Smith (1:04.34) and Meeks (1:06.81) placing fourteenth and fifteenth. Switching over to the 3000m, freshman Sophia Viscon ran a strong 10:53.18, securing herself fifth, while sophomore Grace Kenny posted a time of 11:05.64 for twelfth. With numerous personal bests, top finishes and new names rising, the women’s track team has set a solid foundation for the season, and we hope to continue to see their improvement.
Moving over the field performances, junior Zoe Arakelian showed us what she had in store; a gold medal this time, after placing second in her last high jump. This time, she cleared 1.65m and set a new personal record. Sophomore Lexi Fujita also contributed to Fordham’s success in the high jump with a season-best leap of 1.55m, earning seventh place. In the discus, sophomore Sarah Cooley demonstrated her talents, impressing with a third-place finish, throwing 35.94m, and placing fifth in the shot put with a distance of 11.74m. Sophomore Michaela Gier placed fourth in the pole vault, clearing 3.50m. The long jump saw junior Ileana Chlorou finish sixth with a mark of 5.39m, while sophomore Ashley Holbrook placed seventeenth with a leap of 4.81m. Cooley added another strong performance in the hammer throw with a sixth-place finish, throwing 38.42. Across these events, the women’s field team demonstrated their depth and strong individual results.
Despite participating in fewer events than the women’s team, the men’s team demonstrated high results in their track & field performances. On the track side (1500m), freshman Lucas Rohde led the way with a second-place finish in 4:07.49, closely followed by freshman Anan Bauman, who ran a personal best of 4:07.95 to claim third. Junior Matthew Febles also had a solid placing, finishing sixth in 4:09.44, while sophomore Jake Frayler recorded a personal best of 4:13.69 for eighth place. Freshman Will Spierdowis rounded out the 1500m with a personal best of 4:19.55, finishing 18th and 11th (52.62) in the 400m. In the 110mH, Elam put forth a standout performance, running a personal best of 15.47 seconds to place fifth, while freshman Luke Cramer finished ninth in 16.85 seconds.
Continuing to the field events, Elam led the way in the high jump, clearing a season-best 1.95m to earn second place. In the long jump, both junior George Pomer and freshman James Alati put in strong efforts, with Pomer jumping 5.90m for 11th place and Alati closely following with a mark of 5.82m for 12th. In the discus, Pomer had another strong finish, placing fifth with a throw of 37.84m, while Alati finished 15th with a 25.85m throw. The javelin throw was a highlight for Fordham, with Alati dominating the event, securing first-place with a throw of 55.82m, and Pomer contributing with a seventh-place finish at 49.34m. Across the track & field events, the men’s team showcased great consistency to impact their teams’ standings.
Overall, the 2025 Rider 5-Way Invitational proved that Fordham’s track & field teams continue demonstrating their strength and determination with impressive individual performances and multiple personal bests across events. With athletes continuing to push their limits and achieve new milestones, Fordham is poised for success on April 4 at their upcoming event, the Metropolitan Championships.
