May 9, 2009

New York, N.Y. - Members of the Fordham track and field team had their final tune-up for the 2009 ECAC/IC4A Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the 2009 NYC Qualifying Challenge, held at Icahn Stadium this past weekend.

Of those competing, Fordham had ten finishers in the top ten of their event, led by Jason Grant, who finished second overall in the triple jump with a season-best mark of 47' 3". Brian Schmidt also landed a top five finish in the 800 meters, as he took fifth in 1:54.06.

Tom Finnerty placed ninth overall in the 1500 meters in 3:58.86, while John Korevec was seventh in the 3000 meter steeplechase event.

On the women's side, Blair Hassell had the top individual performance, taking sixth in the javelin throw with a season-best toss of 121' 9". Kerri Gallagher took eighth in the 800 meters in 2:13.82, while Elisabeth Warren was eighth in the 200 meters in 26.18 seconds. Sherilyn Groeninger rounded out the individual top tens with a ninth place finish in the final of the 100 meters in a season-best time of 12.68.

In relay action, the men's and women's 4x100 relay placed sixth and seventh, respectively. The team of Nick Delligatti, Christopher Lyons, Frank Massaro, and Fred Wertz finished in a time of 43.41, while the team of Groeninger, Christine Willeford, Deanna Minasi, and Warren posted a time of 49.79.

The track and field team will now head off to Princeton, New Jersey for the 2009 ECAC/IC4A Championships to be held May 16-17. Below is a listing of who has qualified to date:

Men's Hammer Throw - Matt DiBuono

Women's 800 - Melissa Salerno

Women's 1500 - Melissa Salerno

Women's 10,000 - Brigid Moriarty

Men's 4x800 Relay

Women's 4x800 Relay