Fordham Women’s Track & Field Shines at 2025 Metropolitan Indoor Championship
Staten Island, N.Y. – January 31, 2025 – The indoor track and field season kicked off with a bang at the 2025 Metropolitan Indoor Track & Field Championship, hosted at the Ocean Breeze Complex on Staten Island. The Fordham women’s team showcased an exceptional performance, securing a remarkable second-place finish out of 13 competing teams with a total of 203 points, the highest score ever achieved by the Rams at this championship. They finished just behind St. John’s, which scored 247.5 points.
The Rams’ success was underpinned by an impressive eight event victories, with standout performances from several athletes, including Katarina Birimac, who contributed two wins to the team’s tally. Birimac dominated the mile run, clocking in at 4:54.11, and later excelled in the 1,000-meter run, finishing in 2:56.20. Her teammate, Marisa House, also made her mark, finishing sixth in the mile run with a time of 5:32.98. In the 1,000 meters, Alexis Smith and Sophia Oliva followed Birimac closely, finishing third and fourth respectively with times of 3:04.97 and 3:05.07.
The day began with a win from Sarah Zahaykevich in the 5,000-meter run, where she finished in 17:55.44, while Grace Keny secured a seventh-place finish in 19:07.59. In the 500 meters, Sara Labor clinched first place with a time of 1:15.71, edging out Alexandra Williams, who finished second at 1:15.84. The final individual win came courtesy of Meredith Gotzman in the 3,000-meter run, where she recorded a time of 9:59.48; notable finishes from teammates Kate Meeks (fourth, 10:33.80), Madeleine Ryan (sixth, 10:46.10), and Ciara McGroary (seventh, 11:04.97) further emphasized the Rams’ depth in this event.
In addition to the impressive track performances, Kylie Rtz took second in the 60-meter hurdles (8.86), with Nicole Lytle coming fourth (9.22) and Leia Ruvo in seventh (9.39). The 60-meter dash was another highlight, with Jasmine Hope finishing second in 7.71 seconds. The Rams’ display continued in the 400-meter dash, where Michele Daye placed seventh (58.63), and in the 800-meter run, Kathleen Keefe and Brenna Sears finished sixth and seventh, respectively. Additionally, Alexandria Yarbrough secured fifth place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.61 seconds.
Fordham’s relay teams also showed strength, with the quartet finishing third in both the 4×200 (1:45.76) and distance medley relay (12:53.29), while taking second place in the 4×800 (9:39.90) and 4×400 (3:55.77).
In the field events, Zoe Arakelian and Leia Ruvo performed admirably, tying for first in the high jump at 5′ 5″. Alexandra Manetovic added to the team’s success by winning the triple jump with a leap of 38′ 1 ½”. Meanwhile, Ashley Holbrook finished eighth with a jump of 34′ ¾”. Hope further built on her scoring contributions by winning the long jump, achieving a distance of 18′ 8 ½”, while Ileana Chlorou placed fifth with a jump of 16′ 10 ¼”. Michaela Gier netted fourth in the pole vault, clearing 9′ 10″.
In the throwing events, Sarah Cooley led Fordham’s efforts, finishing tenth in both the shot put (36′ 4 ½”) and weight throw (46′ 2″).
The Rams look forward to their next competition on Saturday, February 8th, where they will participate in both the Millrose Games at the Nike Track & Field Center at the Armory in New York and the Big Apple Invitational on Staten Island.
