Results
Fairfax, Va. - (March 17, 2012) - The Fordham track & field team got its first taste of the outdoor season on Saturday at the George Mason Season Opener in Fairfax, Virginia. By day's end, the Rams had ten event wins to their credit, as well as seeing one school record fall.
Highlighting the day's event was Blair Hassell, who broke her own school record in the javelin throw by placing second with an ECAC qualifying distance of 141' 10". Her previous school record was 136' 4", set last season.
On top of Hassell's performance, the Fordham women posted event wins in six events. Ashley Davis won the 1,500 meter run in a time of 4:52.42, while Kelly Connolly took home the 800 meters in 2:19.75. Both were also a part of the winning 4x400 relay, joining Elisabeth Warren and Melissa Higgins to take first in 4:00.97.
Warren was also an individual event winner, taking top honors in the long jump with a distance of 16' 8 ¾", while taking third in the 200 meter dash in 26.40 seconds. Courtnay Newman also had a strong afternoon, winning the high jump at 5' 3" and grabbing third in the 100 meter hurdles (15.95) and fourth in the javelin throw (94' 0").
The Rams' final women's winner was Briana Tevnan, who took first in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 12:04.39.
Other top performers included Hailey Cox, who was second in the triple jump (32' 1") and fourth in the long jump (15' 4 1/4"), Danielle Drummond, who was second in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (12:16.97), Titi Fagade, who was second in the 400 meter dash (57.40), Kellen Fitzgerald, who was second in the 800 meters (2:26.05), and Kristen Stuart, who was second in the 400 meter hurdles (1:04.55). The women's 4x100 relay of Higgins, Connolly, Warren, and Fagade, also took second in 50.25 seconds.
In the men's competition, Fordham posted victories in the 800, 1,500, and 3,000 meter runs, as well as the 4x400 relay. Daniel Green took the top spot in the 800 meters at 1:57.79, while Ryan Polo was first in the 1,500 meters in 3:58.28. Kevin Fitzgerald was the final individual winner, taking home the 3,000 meter run in 8:40.62. The men's 4x400 relay of Sean Atkinson, Green, Michael Bongiorno, and Frank Massaro won the event in 3:24.62.
Other top performers were Kevin Harvey, who was second in the 3,000 meters (8:40.62), Atkinson, who was second in the 400 meter hurdles (55.87), and Matt Collins, who was second in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:59.06). The men's 4x100 relay of Bongiorno, Massaro, Daniel Clemens, and Atkinson, also earned second in 44.25 seconds.
In the field events, Austin Ruiz had a pair of third place finishes in the shot put (44' 7 1/2") and the discus throw (126' 7"), while Daniel Chediak was fifth in the pole vault, clearing 13' 7 1/4".
The Fordham track & field team will next be in action on Saturday, March 24th, when the team travels to Charlottesville, Virginia for the UVa Team Swashbuckle Competition, beginning at 10:00 AM.
