May 6, 2011
Photo Gallery
Bronx, N.Y. -
As the 2010-11 season begins to wind down, the Fordham University Athletic Department held its 77th annual Block F Awards Dinner at the Villa Barone Manor on May 4th to honor Fordham University's student-athletes for their accomplishments during the academic year.
Among those honored were Ali Arat, who was the recipient of the Vincent T. Lombardi Award as Fordham's top male student-athlete, Kerri Gallagher, who was the winner of the Claire and Jack Hobbs Award as Fordham's top female student-athlete and head softball coach Bridget Orchard, who was presented with the Iron Major Award as Fordham's Coach of the Year.
The Vincent T. Lombardi Award is presented to the Male Athlete of the Year for distinguished athletic achievements in the winning tradition of Vince Lombardi. The award honors the memory of one of Fordham's famed Seven Blocks of Granite, who is considered to be one of football's greatest coaches.
The Claire & Jack Hobbs Memorial Award is presented to the Female Athlete of the Year who has achieved outstanding athletic accomplishments. The award is named in honor of the late Claire and Jack Hobbs. Jack was a 1938 graduate of Fordham College and a 1941 graduate of Fordham Law, and he and his wife were avid Fordham followers.
Gallagher is a senior with the women's cross country and track and field squads, serving as team captain for both teams. During the fall, she was one of the top cross country runners for the Rams, winning three races and finishing 12th at the ECAC championships and 28th at the Atlantic 10 championship.
Indoors, Gallagher won two events and set two Atlantic 10 meet records at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship, winning the 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
This spring she won the 1500m at the Raleigh Relays with one of the top women's 1500m times in the country this year (4:26.34), the second fastest women's 1500m time Fordham history and has qualified for the ECAC Championship in the 1500m and with the 4x800 relay. She also recently won the 800m and the 1500m at the 2011 Metropolitan Championships.
Gallagher was also named team MVP for the cross country and indoor track and field teams at the dinner.
The Fordham outdoor track and field team will compete at the 2011 Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championships on Saturday and Sunday, May 7th and 8th, at Charlotte's Irvin Belk Track and Field Stadium.
