Former Rams Kerri Gallagher and Melissa Salerno to Race at Olympic Trials

USTAF Olympic Trials Information

Bronx, N.Y. – Fordham University will be well represented in the women's 1500m competition at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials as former Rams Kerri Gallagher, FCRH '11 and Melissa Salerno, FCRH '08, GSE '10 will race at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, for a spot on the Olympic squad.
 
The two will compete in the same preliminary heat on Thursday, July 7, at approximately  9:30 p.m. EST.
 
Gallagher, who has international racing experience as she competed for the U.S. National Team at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, Gallagher won two events and set two Atlantic 10 indoor meet records as a senior in 2010-2011. She won 1000m and mile to earn First Team All-Conference honors in each and set meet records in both. Her winning time in the mile run of 4:48.60 broke the old conference mark of 4:49.71 by La Salle's Toniann Razzi in 2000 while her time in the 1000m of 2:51.43 snapped the 2006 A-10 record of 2:52.79, held by La Salle's Elizabeth Geiger. Gallagher also won the 800m at the 2011 Metropolitan Championship, breaking her own school record and qualified for the ECAC Championship in the 800m, 1000m and mile while twice being named A-10 Performer of the Week
 
In the spring of 2011, Gallagher won the 1500m at the Raleigh Relays with one of the top women's 1500m times in the country that year (4:26.34), the second fastest women's 1500m time Fordham history. She also won the 800m and the 1500m at the 2011 Metropolitan Championships and placed second in the 1500m at the Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championships.
 
Gallagher was also named to the Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team in 2010 and 2011.
 
Salerno, a 2012 US Olympic Trial Semi-Finalist in the 1500m and 2012 USATF Indoor Qualifier Women's 800m run, was a standout for the Rams. She was named the 2007 women's cross country most valuable player and the 2007-08 women's indoor track and field most valuable player. Salerno earned second team All-Atlantic 10 honors in the 1000m that season, taking seventh in the event at the ECAC Championships.
 
In 2009, Salerno earned second team outdoor All-Atlantic 10 accolades in the 800m and 1500m while setting the school record in both events (2:11.09 and 4:27.85).
 
In 2008, Salerno won the 800m and 1500m at the Metropolitan Outdoor Champion and was a member of the winning 4x800 relay.
 
Salerno is still a member of the school-record setting distance medley relay, a group which set the school mark in 2009.