Ireland Announces Incoming Track & Field/Cross Country Class
7/14/2016 10:00:00 AM | Track and Field
NEW YORK - Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Daniel Ireland has announced the addition of 32 student-athletes to the class of 2020.
"We are very excited about the class of 2020," said Ireland. "We addressed a number of event areas that we needed on both teams, importantly on the men's track and field team. This is a class that hopefully begins the process of moving our men's track and field team into the top half of the Ivy League on an annual basis."
"The women's class has a number of very talented middle distance and distance runners that will allow us to build on the success that we saw from this group at Outdoor Heps this past spring."
A total of 16 male athletes will get their start at Columbia this fall. Among the men's class, Ireland will welcome nine Sprint/Hurdle/Jump/Throw athetes, and seven middle distance/distance runners. The women will also see 16 newcomers this fall, including six that will compete in the Sprints/Hurdles/Jump/Throws, and 10 that will run middle distance and distance events.
Men's T&F/XC
Alpha Barry | Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps | Greece Olympia School | Rochester, N.Y.
Former USATF All-American while competing for Greece Olympia School in New York … The 2016 USATF Indoor Junior National Champion in the long jump … Recorded personal bests of 7.78 in the 55m hurdles, 14.65 in the 110m hurdles, 22.37 in the 200m, 49.97 in the 400m, 23-5 in the long jump, and 46-0.25 in the triple jump … Born in Conakry, Guinea … The son of Souadou Diallo and Mamadou Barry … First cousin of Hadji Barry, a forward for Orlando City FC of the MLS … Will attend Columbia College.
Jacob Caswell | Middle Distance | Berlin HS | Berlin, Wisc.
Competed in cross country and track & field at Berlin High School in Wisconsin … Posted career bests of 1:53.94 in the 800m, and 4:19 in the 1 Mile … The son of Micki Kastenschmidt and Von Caswell … Will attend Columbia College.
Ryan Dearie | Distance | Saint Anthony's HS | Stony Brook, N.Y.
A member of the three-time cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track league champions at Saint Anthony's High School in Long Island … Earned nine varsity letters while running distance all four years … Posted personal bests of 1:55 in the 800m, 4:16 in the 1 Mile, and 15:13 in the 5K … The son of MaryBeth and Tim Dearie … Mother ran track at Lafayette, father ran at Marist, and his sister and cousin were also collegiate track & field athletes … Will attend Columbia College.
Abdoulaye Diallo | Middle Distance | Townsend Harris HS | Howard Beach, N.Y.
Ran events ranging from the 200m to the 800m at Townsend Harris High School in Flushing, New York … Part of the New York Relays championship 4x800m relay team, clocking a 1:54 anchor leg along the way … Holds career bests of 48.91 in the 400m, and 1:54.67 in the 800m … Spent time in high school researching at Columbia University's Medical Center, while becoming a finalist in Temptu's Science Research competition, and a semi-finalist at the NYC Science and Engineering Fair … The son of Mariama Balde and Saikou Raheem Diallo … Born in Labé, Guinea … Will attend Columbia College.
Willie Hall | Middle Distance | Davis HS | Davis, Calif.
Advanced to the California State final in the 800m run, taking fifth place his senior season … Earned all-league honors in the 800m and 4x400m relay … The Sac Joaquin Masters Champion in the 800m his senior season … Owns a career best of 1:51.59 in the 800m … Mother, Laura, played basketball at UC Davis, while his Father, Tom, was a football player at San Francisco State … Will attend Columbia College.
Hunter Hasley | Thrower | St. John's HS | Houston, Texas
A two-sport athlete, throwing for the track & field team and playing basketball for St. John's High School in Houston, Texas … An all-conference performer in the discus his junior and senior seasons … Holds personal bests of 156-0 in the discus, and 45-7 in the shot put … The son of Jennifer and Gregory Hasley … Great Grandfather, Louis Zunin, attended Columbia … Will attend Columbia College.
Daniel Igbokwe | Jumps | Eton College | Chelmsford, England
A former Berkshire County Champion from 2012-15 while competing for Eton College in England … Posted personal bests of 14.38m in the triple jump and 6.65m in the long jump … The son of Pauline Igbokwe … Will attend Columbia College.
Owen Long | Distance | Haddon Township HS | Haddon Township, N.J.
Earned 12 varsity letters running cross country and track at Haddon Township High School in New Jersey, picking up three state cross country championships during his tenure … Posted career bests of 1:56 in the 800m, 4:15 in the 1 Mile, and 15:50 in the 5,000m … The son of Raymond and Lisa Long … Will attend Columbia College.
Troy Martig | Sprinter | Bellarmine Prep | San Jose, Calif.
A member of the conference championship 4x100m relay and the individual champion in the 200m dash while competing for Bellarmine Prep in California … Part of the 4x100m relay team that took third place in the state final … Also participated in football, garnering WCAL quarterback of the year honors, leading the football team to the state championship game … Posted career bests of 10.80 in the 100m and 21.84 in the 200m … Son of Jill and Rick Martig … Will attend Columbia College.
Brandon Marquez | Distance | Timber Creek HS | Orlando, Fla.
Was the winner of the Disney Cross Country Classic, finishing the 5K in 15:15 while competing for Timber Creek High School in Florida … Competed at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, making the 1 Mile final … Posted career bests of 3:55 in the 1,500m, 4:15 in the 1 Mile, 8:39 in the 3,000m, and 15:08 in the 5K … Born in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico … The son of Evelyn Villalobos and Jorge Marquez … Will attend Columbia College.
Will Ontiveros | Davenport Assumption HS | Davenport, Iowa
A tri-sport athlete, competing in track & field, football, and basketball at Assumption High School in Iowa … Earned the Class 3A 400m title at the Iowa State Track & Field meet … Ran career bests of 22.31 in the 200m and 48.82 in the 400m … An Elite All-State wide receiver … The son of Carolyn and Gregg Ontiveros … Will attend Columbia College.
Armand Pappas | Jumps | Croton-Harmon HS | Croton-On-Hudson, N.Y.
Competed in the horizontal jumps at Croton-Harmon High School in New York … Picked up eight all-league awards, while taking sixth during the New York State Indoor Championships in the triple jump … Owns personal bests of 45-5.75 in the triple jump and 22-7.5 in the long jump … The son of Tsui Yuen-Pappas and Joseph Pappas, who competed collegiately in track & field at Boston University … Will attend the Fu School of Engineering.
Jacob Susalla | Distance | Plum Senior HS | Plum, Pa.
A member of the cross country and track & field teams at Plum Senior High School in Pennsylvania … A four-time state qualifier in cross country, taking eighth at the 2015 PIAA State Championships … Claimed fourth in the 3,200m run at the 2016 PIAA State Track & Field Championships … Ran career bests of 9:15 in the 3,200m run at 15:56 in the 5K … The son of Renee and Ed Susalla … Will attend Columbia College.
Ken Westrick | Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps | Regina HS | Iowa City, Iowa
A multi-event specialist and two-sport athlete at Regina High School in Iowa City, Iowa … Qualified for the State Track & Field meet his final three seasons … Owns career bests of 11.5 in the 100m, 55.9 in the 400m hurdles, 6-2 in the high jump, 20-7 in the long jump, 33.45m in the javelin, 9.32m in the shot put, and 29.86m in the discus … Also played defensive back and wide receiver on the state championship football team at Regina in 2015 … Born in Fukuoka, Japan, before moving to Iowa City in 2007 … The son of Hitomi Tsuruta and Paul Westrick.
Kenny Vasbinder | Distance | East Aurora HS | East Aurora, N.Y.
Ran track and cross country at East Aurora High School in New York, earning 10 letters … Became the New York Class C State Champion in 2014 and 2015 … Claimed 21st at the 2016 Nike XC Nationals … Posted career bests of 4:15 in the 1 Mile and 9:19 in the 3,200m run … The son of Rachel Roth and Dave Vasbinder … Will attend Columbia College.
Jacob Veerapen | Jumps | Wilson's School | London, England
Former U-17 England Indoor Champion in the triple jump in 2014 … The runner-up in the triple jump at the 2014-15 England Athletics U-20 meet … Owns a personal best of 14.52m in the event from July of 2015 at the English Schools Championships in Gateshead … Also played soccer for his secondary school, participating in the 2012 Gothia Cup … The son of Joanna and Vid Veerapen … Will attend Columbia College.
Women's T&F/XC
Bianca Alonzo | Distance | Marlborough School | Los Angeles, Calif.
Claimed fourth in the 800m at the 2016 CIF State Track & Field meet and eighth in 2014 and 2015 at the CIF Cross Country Championships while competing for Marlborough School in Los Angeles … Clocked personal bests of 2:08.79 in the 800m, 4:58.91 in the 1 Mile … The daughter of Monique Williams and Oscar Alonzo … Will attend Columbia College.
Mimi Bain | Sprints | Lakeside School | Seattle, Wash.
Competed in the short sprints for her club team, the Seattle Speed … Posted personal bests of 12.03 in the 100m and 25.39 in the 200m … Graduate of Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington … Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti … The daughter of Christy Bain … Will attend Columbia College.
Fiona Danieu | Distance | East Aurora HS | East Aurora, N.Y.
The individual Class C New York State runner-up in cross country her senior season at East Aurora High School … Led her cross country team to Class C State Championships her junior and senior seasons … A first team all-state honoree her senior year … Owns cross country career bests of 18:04 on a 5K course and 17:48 in the XC 3-Mile … On the track, has personal records of 2:17 in the 800m, 4:45 in the 1,500m, and 10:18 in the 3,000m … Mother, Kimberlee, was a tennis player at the University of Rochester while her farther, John, played football at the same school … Will attend Columbia College.
Emily Digman | Distance | Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake HS | Burnt Hills, N.Y.
Part of the New York State Class B team champions in 2014 at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School … Posted career bests of 4:40.27 in the 1,500m, 10:14 in the 3,000m, and 6:59.47 in the 2,000m steeplechase … The daughter of Michele and Jeffrey Digman … Will attend Columbia College.
Jenna Farrell | Distance | Fayetteville Manlius HS | Manlius, N.Y.
Member of the National Championship cross country teams from 2012-15 at Fayetteville Manlius High School in New York ... Clocked career bests of 4:47 in the 1500m and 10:09 in the 3000m.
Gabriella Ferrigine | Distance | Red Bank Catholic HS | Red Bank, N.J.
Collected 11 letters running cross country and track & field at Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey … High school team was the 2014 New Jersey State Champions in cross country … A seventh place finisher in the 1 Mile run at the 2016 Indoor State Track Meet … Winner of three career sectional championships in the 800m and 1 Mile events … Enters Columbia with career bests of 2:16.40 in the 800m, 5:02.22 in the 1,600m, and 18:44.09 in the 5K … The daughter of Michaela and Christopher Ferrigine … Will attend Columbia College.
Jordann Feinstein | Hurdles | Oaks Christian HS | Newbury Park, Calif.
Competed in the hurdles and 4x400m relay for Oaks Christian High School in California … Earned the Marmonte League 300m Hurdle title and the Ventura County championship in the same race … Posted career bests of 14.84 in the 100m hurdles and 44.64 in the 300m hurdles … The daughter of Julie and Jim Feinstein … Will attend Columbia College.
Maryam Hassan | Jumps | Cresskill HS | Cresskill, N.J.
A 17-time all-league/all-county selection between the long jump, triple jump, 4x400m relay, and cross country … Earned seven letters between track & field and cross country at Cresskill High School in New Jersey … Recorded personal bests of 38-5 in the triple jump and 17-11 in the long jump … The daughter of Amani Abdel-Dayem and Dr. Khaled Hassan … Will attend Columbia College.
Alexis Johnson | Distance | Mira Costa HS | Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Former cross country and track & field runner at Mira Costa High School in California … A two-time CIF qualifier in the 2-Mile run … Twice participated in the California State Cross Country Championships … Put up personal bests of 5:20.91 in the 1 Mile and 10:59.09 in the 3,200m … The daughter of Amabelle and Michael Johnson … Will attend Columbia College.
Abby McLaughlin | Distance | Bergen County Academies | Waldwick, N.J.
A former distance runner at Bergen County Academies … Captain of the team her final three seasons, earning nine letters throughout her career … Ran career bests of 5:10 in the 1 Mile and 10:51 in the 3,200m … A two-time first team all-county runner, and a first team all-league recipient all four years … The daughter of Susan and Robert McLaughlin, a former baseball player at Fordham … Will attend Columbia College.
Nora McSorley | Middle Distance | Randolph HS | Randolph, N.J.
Part of the 2014 state championship cross country team at Randolph High School in New Jersey … Earned all-county and all-section honors her final three seasons … Posted personal bests of 59.8 in the 400m, 2:13 in the 800m, 4:55 in the 1 Mile, and 18:44 in the 5K … The daughter of Tara and Guy McSorley … Will attend Columbia College.
Iman Sule | Sprints | Newman Smith HS | Carrollton, Texas
A state silver medalist in the 4x200m relay at Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas … Earned district titles in the 400m, 4x100m relay, and 4x200m relays in 2014 and 2015 … Posted career bests of 25.9 in the 200m, 55.62 in the 400m, and 2:14.25 in the 800m … Born in Lagos, Nigeria … The daughter of Gani Mixon and Muri Sule … Will attend Columbia College.
Hana Sun | Distance | Campolindo HS | Moraga, Calif.
Earned a total of eight varsity letters between cross country and track & field at Campolindo High School in Moraga, California … A sixth place finisher at the California State Cross Country meet … Posted career bests of 2:19 in the 800m, 5:03 in the 1 Mile, 10:59 in the 3,200m, and 17:49 in the 5K … The daughter of John and Jane Sun … Father, John, is a 1987 graduate of Columbia College … Will attend Columbia College.
Alexis Turley-Young | Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps | Canyon HS | Orange, Calif.
Took part in the sprints, hurdles and jumps while playing outside hitter and middle blocker on the volleyball team at Canyon High School in California … Recorded personal bests of 12.15 in the 100m, 14.33 in the 100m hurdles, 18-11 in the long jump, 38-9 in the triple jump … The daughter of Erica Turley.
Ceili Tuttle | Middle Distance | Fullerton Union HS | Fullerton, Calif.
Multi-sport athlete at Fullerton Union High School in California, earning 11 varsity letters between track & field, cross country and basketball … Won the 400m at the CIF D-II Finals … Has personal bests of 25.66 in the 200m, and 56.57 in the 400m … Has performed in 10 musicals … The daughter of Sunbie Harrell and Michael Tuttle … Father was a basketball player and golfer at Baker University, while her grandfather, Martin Tuttle, played basketball at Seton Hall … Will attend Columbia College.
Katie Wasserman | Middle Distance | Spotswood HS | Spostwood, N.J.
A two sport athlete, participating in track & field and soccer at Spotswood High School in New Jersey … Finished second in the 800m and third in the 1 Mile during her junior year, while taking fourth in the 1 Mile and seventh in the 800m her senior season during the Group II New Jersey State Championships … Earned three career conference titles in the 4x1600m relay, and an additional conference championship in the distance medley … Posted career bests of 2:15.03 in the 800m and 4:55.58 in the 1 Mile … The daughter of Leslie and Paul Wasserman … Will attend Columbia College.
Players Mentioned
