By Emmanuel Berbari

Abnormally frigid late-March-into-early April temperatures and unanticipated snowfall in New York lined up with the start of Fordham’s outdoor spring Track and Field season. Fortunately for the Rams, a division of each team escaped the weather trap to compete at the Raleigh Relays and the Rider Invite this past weekend.

On an even better note, the season got off to a promising start.

Two school records were taken down and five individuals posted ECAC/IC4A-qualifying times in Raleigh, while the Rams registered two event wins at Rider.

Freshman Kathryn Kelly excelled in the 100-meter dash down south, crossing in 12.28 seconds to best the previous school mark of 12.33 seconds, set by teammate Mary Kate Kenny last year. Junior Laurel Fisher similarly cemented her name, finishing the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:54.43, .06 seconds ahead of Brianna Tevnan’s record back in 2015.

Meanwhile, senior Brian Cook (21st – 9:14.82) and freshman Antony Misko (14th – 48.96) achieved ECAC/IC4A qualification in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, while sophomore Ryan Kutch (35th – 29:58.32) did the same in the 10,000 meter run.

Over in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Laura Jaeger’s first-place finish in the 200-meter dash (25.77 seconds) and Brynna Harum’s victory in the 800-meter run (2:17.46) ensured that Fordham would have a fine day at the office.

The notable performances did not stop there.

Back in North Carolina, junior Jared Benn (26th – 49.64) and freshman Christopher Strzelinski (55th – 51.65) stood out in the 400 meter dash, while seniors Fritz Heinrich (64th – 3:59.89) and Louis Santelli (113th – 4:05.44) crossed in respectable 1,500 meter times.

On the women’s side, junior Mary Kate Kenny (37th – 12.51) was no slouch in the 100 meter dash, senior Merissa Wright (18th – 57.53) and junior Aidan Moroz (37th – 58.63) proved extremely competitive in 400 meter dash and junior Angelina Grebe (38th – 17:39.84) cracked top-40 in the 5,000 meter run.

During day two, the Rams took second in the women’s 4×800 relay in an ECAC-qualifying 9:02.07 and sixth in the identical men’s event in 7:43.23.

The additional contributions continued at the Rider Invite, as senior Laura Jaeger (100-meter, fourth – 12.69), sophomore Emily Silfies (200-meter, ninth – 28.17), junior Leah Hickey (400-meter, sixth – 1:01.68), sophomore Katarzyna Krzyzanowski (1,500-meter, fifth – 4:44.61), senior Stephanie Leo (ninth – 4:46,68), freshman Germaine Harbaugh (tenth – 4:57.06), juniors Kieran Hanrahan (3,000-meter, ninth – 11:27.23), Silfies (100-meter hurdle, eighth – 16.99) and Morgan Menzzasalma (10th – 19.60), senior Jennifer Boerke (400-meter hurdle, fifth – 1:06.52), junior Neve Devine (High Jump, third – 1.55m) in the high jump and sophomore Alina Kwiatkowski (Triple Jump, 10th – 10.11m) all made the top 10 in their respective events.

On the men’s side, an onslaught of stellar finishes highlighted the day as well. Junior Andre Guthrie Jr. (fifth – 11.54) and freshman Nikolas Reardon (tenth – 11.81) thrived in the 100 meter dash, freshman Nicholas Raefski’s (seventhth – 8:50.41) time stacked up well in the 3,000 meter run, freshman Eric Cao (fifth – 17.70), Reardon (sixth – 18.52), sophomore Jeremy Milite (eighth – 19.61) and sophomore Andrew Byrne (ninth – 19.76) were successful in the 100 meter hurdles, Reardon (second – 1.99m) and Byrne (sixth – 1.79m) came through in high jump, freshman Kyle Mack (third – 57.86) strongly represented the maroon and white 400 meter hurdles, Henry Nouss (3.95m) and Byrne (3.50m) were within the top five of the pole vault results, freshman Ryan McGraw (third – 12.14m) nearly took home the triple jump win, Reardon (fifth – 6.48m) delivered once again in the long jump, and senior Ryan Riviere (second –48.11m) was the runner-up in the javelin throw.

In the 4×400 relays, the ‘A’ team for the men and women earned fourth (3:25.75) and fifth-place (4:04.93) finishes, respectively.

Looking to build on these encouraging developments, Fordham will be back in action this Friday, April 6, in Williamsburg, Virginia for the Colonial Relays.