LA CROSSE, Wis. – The St. John Fisher College men's track and field team wrapped up its appearance at the 2018 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. It was done in style as Peter Girardi claimed the National Championship in the 400-meter hurdles event on the day.
Girardi kicked off day three for the Cardinals with a sixth place overall finish in the 110-meter hurdles. The senior's 14.43 second time earned the Cicero native his fifth career All-American finish.
However, Girardi's bread and butter race, the 400-meter hurdles would come next. As a junior Girardi was last year's runner-up in the event. The senior would cruise past the competition this year and cross the finish line in 50.50 seconds. His time not only won the National Title and crushed the school record, but was recorded as the fifth fastest time in Division III history. Girardi's time has also qualified him for the U.S. National Meet.
"That race was a testament to how fierce of a warrior Peter is," stated St. John Fisher College men's track and field head coach Mike Henchen. "After falling at the finish line in the 110-meter hurdle finals and getting pretty banged up, Pete reached down deep to come back in a little over an hour to capture that National Championship that he has been chasing for three years. A well fought and well deserved National Championship!"
The senior in his final race as a St. John Fisher College Cardinal gave the college its first National Championship in an outdoor track event. Girardi is now the third Cardinal to win an individual National Title, with his teammate Mark VanMarter bringing home the hardware in the long jump at the 2018 Indoor National Championship. Scott Harris Jr. won the individual National Title in golf in the 2008 season.
VanMarter would wrap up the events for the Cardinals as the senior jumped a 13.93 best mark in the triple jump competition to finish out day three of the National Championship. At the completion of the day's events the Cardinals would total 23 points to tie for seventh overall at the national competition.
The 2018 season marked a banner year for the Cardinals' outdoor track and field season as Fisher ascended to its highest ranking in team history. VanMarter closed out his career with three All-American achievements as the senior notched the third place finish on day one of the national competition. Girardi earned his sixth All-American nod after he nabbed the national title and Rollins took home his second All-American finish with his fifth place finish in the high jump on day two. Eddie Mahana also had a memorable year as the sophomore finishes his season at 15th overall in the 110-meter hurdles.
