The Fordham University Track & Field teams kicked off their outdoor season with a strong showing at the 2025 Fred Hardy Invitational, held on March 21, in Richmond, Virginia. Competing against a talented field, the Rams delivered several standout performances. The men’s team excelled in distance races and relays, taking four first place finishes, while the women’s team impressed in sprints, distance events and field competitions. With several personal bests and a meet record set, the Rams established a solid foundation for the rest of the outdoor season.
Senior Rodolfo Sanchez stood out at the Fred Hardy Invitational, wasting no time securing wins. After winning and placing in the top three at the Atlantic 10 Championship, Sanchez continues to demonstrate his talent and continued success throughout the season. At the Fred Hardy Invitational, he set a meet record in the 1500-meter run, finishing in 3:46.73 to secure a gold medal and stand atop the podium. Sanchez didn’t stop there — he also competed in the 800m, securing himself fifth place with a time of 1:53.88. One can only wait to see what Sanchez has in store for the rest of the season with his already impressive finishes.
Junior Zoe Arakelian also delivered an impressive performance at the Fred Hardy Invitational, demonstrating her talent and dedication to improving her performances throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons. After tying for third place in the high jump at the A-10 Championship,
Arakelian decided to take those leaps up another level and secure a position all for herself this time. She placed second with a height of 1.60m, demonstrating her progress in her event and setting a promising tone for the rest of the outdoor season. Who knows what Zoe Arakelian has for us in the future? It may be a gold medal.
The men’s team came out running at the Fred Hardy Invitational, displaying their outstanding performance and securing four first place wins across track events. On the track, sophomore Tadael Mihret delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the 5000-meter, ensuring one of the first place wins for the team with a time of 15:18.64. Continuing the winning streak, Sanchez won first in the 1500m with a time of 3:46.73, with his teammate, senior Nathan Bezuneh, placing second with 3:47.27. Freshman Njam Abdul-Latif scored himself a first place victory, continuing his winning streak in the 200m with a time of 21.53. Last but certainly not least, the quartet of junior Kevin Callaghan, freshman Nelson Lindsay, junior Matthew Nurse and sophomore Sam Freeman secured the last first place win for the team in the 4x400m with a time of 3:17.77.
While the men’s team did not win every event, the quartet of junior Liam Volz, sophomore Dakota Strain, senior Jonah Coleman and Abdul-Latif secured a fourth place win in the 4x100m with a time of 42.26. Freeman also placed fourth in the 400m with a time of 48.47, Bezuneh placed sixth in the 800m at 1:54.77 and Lindsay placed ninth at 49.23.
While none of the men’s team’s field events took first place, they still placed well in the few events they participated in. In the javelin throw, freshman James Alati placed fourth with a distance of 50.09m, with junior George Pomer following behind in sixth at 48.30m. In the high jump, sophomore DaRon Elam barely missed the podium, taking fourth with a distance of 1.95m.
Although the women’s team did not rank as high as the men’s, they demonstrated their resilience and determination throughout the events. For the track events, sophomore Caroline Fallona, sophomore Riley Carroll, junior Ileana Chlorou and junior Kylie Ritz earned a bronze medal atop the podium in the 4x100m with a time of 49.87. Alexandra Williams came out running in the 400m, placing sixth at 57.65. In the 100m, Ritz placed ninth with a time of 15.41; in the 3000m steeplechase, Ciara McGroary placed 10th at 12:07.45. For the field events, Arakelian placed the highest out of all the others and events, placing second in the high jump with a distance of 1.60m, and sophomore Lexi Fujita came three spots behind with a distance of 1.55m. In the triple jump, junior Alexandra Manetovic placed fourth at 10.94m, and sophomore Ashley Holbrook followed in 11th at 10.33m. Sophomore Sarah Cooley had three top 11 finishes in the shot put (fifth) at a distance of 11.65m, discus (sixth) with a distance of 34.08m, and hammer throw (11th) at a distance of 36.97m.
The men’s and women’s teams had impressive showings at the Fred Hardy Invitational this weekend, demonstrating strong performances that set a solid foundation for the outdoor season. The athletes displayed their hard work and dedication, with several standout moments across events. This competition marked a successful beginning to the outdoor campaign, offering valuable insights and experiences to build upon. With momentum, both teams are eager to continue improving. They look forward to their next challenge on March 29 at the Rider 5-Way Invitational in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where they aim to push their limits and achieve even more remarkable results.
