IRVINE, Calif. – Recent Concordia University Irvine graduate Sarah Fajer closed out her fantastic track and field career this June overseas in Dublin, Ireland with a medal to add to her personal trophy case.

Fajer holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Ireland. This allowed her to enjoy a rare opportunity to compete for her club – the Nenagh Athletic Club – at the Irish National Championships after completing her CUI track and field career.

Fajer finished in third place in the shot put with many family and friends cheering her on in person. Ireland is her mother's native country and a number of friends from the CUI track and field teams made the trek to support her, including her position coach Brianna Villanueva.

"It was so exciting to compete in a new place and on a new level for my final competition," said Fajer. "Most of my Irish family has never seen me throw in-person but they have been supporting me long-distance for my entire career. It was fun to end it all with many people cheering me on for the first time (in-person) and also many who have been there for it all.

Her Top 3 toss traveled 13.76 meters. She even wore a CUI jersey underneath her orange uniform to represent her alma mater while competing.

"I know my family is very excited to have a national championship medal in the family and I'm so glad to have been able to fight for it," she added. "CUI Track and Field has become family as well, and I know my career competing for the school is over, but I'll always be a Golden Eagle." 

Originally from Hillsboro Oregon, Fajer transferred to CUI after enrolling and competing for Concordia Portland before that school closed. She joined her twin sister, Katie Fajer, and together they competed as throwers for the track and field team and earned their undergraduate degrees at CUI.  In fact, Sarah just completed her time with a 4.0 GPA in the MCAA program (Master's of Coaching & Athletic Administration).

An All-Region thrower and former PacWest Conference champion in the shot put and the hammer, Fajer earned First Team All-PacWest honors in three events this spring. She finished in the Top 3 of the hammer, shot put AND discus to accomplish that rare feat at the PacWest Championships.

"Sarah has really pushed her limits and given it her all," said coach Villanueva. "It was a cherry on top to be able to travel to Ireland to watch her compete. It's the end of the Sarah Era! And I'm so happy to be a part of it."

Fajer also served as a key member of the CUI sports information department this past school year, helping keep statistics for home games, updating record books and contributing unique content that featured both reels and newly created graphics on social media. She helped cover multiple teams throughout the season, including both CUI cross country squads as well as helping on the track and field, soccer, swim and dive and softball beats.

Fajer recently accepted a new full-time job at The College of Idaho as the NAIA's school's new director of sports communication (SID). Fittingly, she will get to cover both track and field teams there, along with roughly 20 other sports programs at her new school.

Congrats on representing both your countries and your alma mater with class!