By BRYAN KIEL
STAFF WRITER
As the winter track season wraps up this weekend with the IC4A/ECAC championships in Boston, the Rams have much to be proud of. With record-breaking performances from runners such as seniors Titi Fagade, David Fajoyomi and junior Kristen Staurt, the Rams will compete in 20 races and field competitions at the championships. The Rams hope to continue this success into the spring track season, where the competition will go outdoors.
This spring season will be the last for some of Fordham’s best, and the first for Fordham’s budding freshmen who will help add to the success of the 2013-2014 track team.
Fagade, who has five school records for outdoor track, will be one of Fordham’s top women this spring. As a member of many competitive relay teams, she is joined by other sprinters and middle-distance runners such as Staurt, senior Averie Sheppard, junior Melissa Higgins and sophomore Danielle Rowe in the 4×400 relay. After being named Second-Team All Conference, the 4×800 meter relay team is looking forward to placing first both in the indoor and outdoor ECAC championships.
“We are going to start reloading and building our mileage and strength back up for the outdoor season,” Fagade said. “In a few weeks I’ll be starting my final outdoor track and field season ever, so I am working hard so that it can be my best outdoor season ever.”
Fagade will also compete in individual competitions such as the 400 and 800.
Senior Anisa Arsenault will also say farewell this year, as she continues to be one of the top racers for the Rams. The cross country and long distance track runner will most likely see success in the 10,000 meter and 5,000 races, and continue to shave her times down to become one of the top long-distance runners in Fordham history.
“For me, the longer the race, the more competitive I am,” Arsenault said. “I am dying to get back to the 10K outdoors.” Arsenault will be joined in the longer races with other racers like Senior Christina Vivinetto will also be a top competitor for the women’s team. In her final season, she will look to continue her success outdoors in mid-distance races such as the 800, 1,500, and 3,000 meter runs.
The men’s team will also look to carry over the success from the winter into the spring. With a fully healthy team, the men can be competitive in almost every meet they attend. Junior Austin Ruiz will be Fordham’s top competitor in throwing events, where he scored in Atlantic 10 Championships last year with a mark of 48’ ½” , good for 6th place. Senior Sam Houston will be Fordham’s top all-around competitor. Taking second in the A-10 Indoor Championships this season, he will look to continue his all-around success in the decathlon.
The male runners have proven their depth in cross country and in indoor track, and hope to further their success outdoors. The distance team is led by junior Jonathan Annelli, who will be one of Fordham’s top competitors in the 3000 meter steeplechase and 5000 meter run.
Sophomores Quincy O’Connor and Mike Turi will add depth in the long-distance races. Junior Lester Taylor will lead a very competitive 4×800 team consisting of fellow junior Daniel Green, as well as seniors Brian Walter and Ryan Polo. Taylor will also be a top Fordham runner in the individual 800 and 1500 meter races as well.
Senior David Fajoyomi will most likely be one of the biggest competitors to look out for this spring. Indoors, he has accumulated numerous top-place finishes and a school record for the 200 meter race. In the spring, the senior will late till later in the season to compete at the top level. The Hungarian-born senior will look to place in many track and field events, especially the high jump.
“My two main focuses are the NCAA Division I Outdoor Nationals, which is in the beginning of June, and the European Championship in Zurich, which is in 12-17 August,” Fajoyomi said.
A main theme of Fordham’s success this year has been its depth in a number of events. Its depth in the winter has allowed them improved places in championships this season. The team has similar expectations for springs’ championship runs.
“Last time we were at UMass, literally everyone competed well. Each year, our talent seems to get deeper, but so does the competition,” Arsenault said.
From freshman to senior, the Rams will employ that depth to be legitimate contenders in the 2014 outdoor track season.