March 4, 2011

Bronx, N.Y. - Atlantic 10 Release

Fordham University senior Brian Schmidt (Malverne, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial), and juniors Nick Delligatti (Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville) and Kevin Fitzgerald (New Orleans, La./Jesuit) were recognized for their athletic and academic accomplishments by being named to the 2011 Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference Team for men's indoor track and field in a vote by the conference's Sports Information Directors.

To be nominated for Academic All-Conference honors, a player must be a starter or important reserve and have a cumulative 3.0 gpa or better (on a 4.0 scale) for his/her entire academic career.

Delligatti earns the honor for the second straight season, having been named Academic All-Atlantic 10 for indoor track last year, while Schmidt and Fitzgerald garner the award for the first time.

The three honorees helped Fordham place third at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship held on February 18 and 19 at the University of Rhode Island. The team was in ninth place after the first day but had a strong second day to edge out Massachusetts and Temple for third, tying the team's best ever finish at the championship.

Schmidt, a Psychology major, won the 800m at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship in 1:54.65, earning First Team All-Conference honors and defending his 2010 title. He also earned First Team All-A-10 accolades as a member of the winning 4x800 relay (7:40.51).

Last week, Schmidt set his second school record of the winter, taking second in the 500m in 1:03.17 at the Armory Collegiate Challenge, just 0.17 seconds behind St. John's Jared Sabre. He broke Deric Zaphire's 2003 record of 1:03.34.

Earlier this winter, Schmidt set a school record in the 800m (1:50.81) at the Valentine's Day Classic and was named A-10 Performer of the Week. He has qualified for the IC4A Championships, to be held this weekend in Boston, in both the 500m and 800m.

Last winter, Schmidt set an Atlantic 10 Championship record in winning the 800m at the 2010 Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship in 1:52.86 while last spring he earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors by placing second in the 800m at the A-10 Championship in a time of 1:51.82.

Fitzgerald, a Sociology major, won the 1000m in a time of 2:29.02 at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship, earning First Team All-Conference honors. He also earned First Team All-A-10 accolades as a member of the winning 4x800 relay (7:40.51).

On the year, Fitzgerald, who qualified in the 1000m for the IC4A Championship, also won the 1000m at the 2011 Metropolitan Indoor Championship (2:28.19).

Last spring, Fitzgerald earned First Team All-Conference honors by winning the 1000m at the 2011 IC4A Outdoor Championship.

Delligatti, a Finance major, earned Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors by placing second with the 4x400 relay at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship in 3:19.99. He also placed tenth in the 500m (1:06.47) at the championship.

On the year, Delligatti has qualified for the IC4A Championships in the 500m and as a member of the 4x400 relay.

Last year, Delligatti was a member of the 4x400 relay that placed second at the 2010 Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships, earning Second Team All-Conference honors and then he won the 1000m title at the IC4A Championships in a time of 2:27.91 to earn All-East honors.