Piscataway, N.J. - (Jan. 5, 2013) - After a month off, the Fordham track & field team was back in action on Saturday, competing against Temple and Rutgers at the Rutgers Invitational in Piscataway, New Jersey. Though there was no team scoring, the Rams had a successful afternoon, posting nine event wins, ten second place finishes, and two ECAC/IC4A qualifying times.

Leading the way for Fordham was senior Sean Atkinson and junior Titi Fagade in the 500 meter run. Atkinson won the men's 500 meters in an IC4A qualifying time of 1:03.55, while Fagade won the women's 500 meters in an ECAC qualifying time of 1:14.38. Atkinson would also add a fifth place finish in the 200 meter dash (22.48), while Fagade joined Melissa Higgins, Coral Hershkovitz and Courtnay Newman on the 4x400 relay that placed fourth in 4:11.76.

On top of Atkinson and Fagade, the Rams won six other events on the day. Sophomore Jillian Brooks captured the women's 1,000 meters in 3:08.39, while junior Ryan Polo won the men's 1,000 meters in 2:32.59. Sophomore Mara Lieberman won the 3,000 meter run in 10:30.33 with graduate student Nicole Ragucci taking the top spot in the women's pole vault, clearing 10' 0".

The final two individual wins came from junior Sean Collins in the men's 60 meter hurdles in 8.60 seconds, with junior Kyle Clonan taking first in the men's 800 meters in 2:02.97. Clonan came back later to join Ben Delikat, Quincy O'Connor, and Yehia Fahmy on the men's 4x800 relay that placed first in 8:22.86.

On top of the nine wins, Fordham also had ten second place finishers, which included six on the men's side. Senior Michael Bongiorno took second in the 800 meters in 2:03.32, while classmate John Cosgrove was second in the 1,000 meters in 2:34.88. Sophomore transfer Lester Taylor was runner-up in the mile run (4:31.16) with sophomore Jonathan Annelli (3,000 meters - 8:43.16), sophomore Austin Ruiz (shot put - 44' 9 3/4") and the men's 4x400 relay (Polo, Taylor, Bongiorno, and Michael Rossi - 3:27.40) also earning second place finishes.

On the women's side, the Rams got second place finishes from freshman Suzanne Forlenza in the 1,000 meters (3:08.89), junior Anisa Arsenault in the mile run (5:10.05), sophomore Sarah Glockenmeier in the 3,000 meter run (10:32.11), and the women's 4x800 relay, which consisted of Christina Vivinetto, Arsenault, Suzy Sikorski, and Christina Machado (10:01.82).

The Fordham track & field team will next be in action on Friday, January 11th as the team competes at the NYU Gotham Cup, held at the Armory Track & Field Center.