By Tom Terzulli
History was on display at the Fordham Season Opener on Friday night. Tom Courtney, former NCAA Champion and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, was honored with a banner commemorating his stellar career at Rose Hill. Courtney, FCRH’55, secured the NCAA crown in the 880-yard competition and anchored the world record setting two-mile relay team with classmates Terrance Foley, Frank Tarsney and Bill Perischetty, both in his senior campaign. The following year the Newark native traveled to Melbourne, Australia to compete in the 1956 Summer Olympics, where he took gold in the 800 meter run, setting a then-Olympic record in the process. Later on, gold number two came in the 4×400 meter relay. Courtney was inducted into the Fordham Athletics Hall of Fame in 1971.
Now, 45 years later, the current generation of Fordham runners watched in awe as Fordham Athletic Director Dave Roach unveiled the banner for one of the greatest Fordham athletes of all time.
“I want to thank Artie O’Connor and all the past runners and all today’s runners here.” said Courtney. “I know there are some very good runners here and I look forward to see you try some of your things today. Fordham has been a great part of my life and I have great memories from it.”
As the Rams closed the door on one of the greatest, this year’s squad got their first chance to show what they could do. After the ceremony ended, the Fordham Season Opener, a six team meet, began, in which Fordham took home six titles.
The 800m, the same event that Courtney won the gold medal in so many years ago, was won by junior Louis Santelli (1:55.15). Freshman Richard Webber took first in the 60 meter (7.02) and 200 meter dash (23.16). Second year distance runner Sean Phillips did the same in the 1000m (2:32.89). Sophomore Mary Kate Kenny swiped up the only women’s victory in the 200 meter dash (25.90).
The Fordham “A” team in the 4×400 meter relay stood alone as the top team finisher.
The Rams fleshed out the special day with some other great performers on the men’s and women’s sides. Freshman Griffin Bilicic, in his first Fordham meet, finished fourth in the 200m (23.64). A pair of sophomores, Jared Benn and Eddie Dehais, finished second and fourth in the 500m, with times of 1:05.93 and 1:08.36 respectively. Toronto native, freshman Michael Petersen finished right behind Santelli in the 800m in second in 1:55.56. Sophomore Patrick Dineen finished third in the 1000m (2:38.22). Finally, junior distance runner Fritz Heinrich placed fourth in the mile, in a time of 4:29.78.
Aside from the one top finisher for the women, there was a fifth place finish for sophomore Nkeka Pinheiro in the 60m (7.98) and fourth in the 200m (26.15). A couple of New Yorkers, sophomore Morgan Menzzasalma from Monroe (1:17.98) and junior Christina Perrier from Dix Hills (1:20.74) finished second and fourth in the 500m. Junior Merissa Wright (2:18.82) and sophomore Aidan Moroz (2:22.24) finished second and fifth in the 800m, respectively. Finally in the 1000m, the trifecta of freshman Sydney Snow, Kaia Corthell and sophomore Laurel Fisher all finished in the top five.
In long distance, freshman Katarzyna Krzyzanowski was fourth in the mile (5:28.02). Sophomores Maiya Larsen and Isabel Huelskamp finished fifth and sixth in the 3000m with times of 11:09:39 and 11:13.53, respectively.
On hurdles and field events, there were top five finishes for freshman Gabrielle Schreib (3rd – 9:57) and junior Kylie Farrell (5th – 9.73) in the 60m hurdles. In the high jump, sophomore Neve Devine finished second (1.55m). Two fourth place finishes for freshman Gabriella Gavalas in the long jump (5.29m) and triple jump (10.69m). Finally, fellow freshman Alina Kwiatkowski was fifth in the high jump and the shot put (9.37m).
Staten Island, NY and the OBP Track and Field Complex play host to the Rams’ next meet when they take part in the Wagner Invitational on Jan. 6 at 12 p.m.