Columbia Men Announce The Class Of 2024

Photo by: Mike McLaughlin

8/19/2020 2:05:00 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field

2020 XC Roster 2020-21 T/F Roster

Columbia Men's Cross Country and Track & Field announced the addition of 16 student-athletes as members of the Class of 2024 and one transfer.

NEW YORK – Columbia Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Daniel Ireland announced, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, the addition of 16 men as apart of Columbia Track & Field/Cross Country's Class of 2024, along with one transfer, giving the Lions 17 men coming to Morningside with a collection of top talent and experience.

Among the 16 newcomers, six are distance runners; four will specialize in sprints/hurdles; three will specialize in jumps; one will run middle distance events; another will run sprints and another student-athlete will compete in throws. Coming from across the country, with 10 states and one country represented, two student athletes plan on studying at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, with the remaining 14 incoming men enrolling in Columbia College.

"Across all the events, our men's Class of 2024 really adds depth to our program," said Ireland. "As a staff we look forward to seeing how this class contributes to the future successes of the Columbia men's program."

Julian Baeza (Distance), Columbia College (St. Stephen's Episcopal School, Austin, Texas): A multi-sport letterwinner in Cross Country, Track and Swimming at Saint Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, Baeza was Named to the 2019 First Team Texas Runner and Tri-Athlete All-State Cross Country SuperTeam, and was ranked as high as 14th in the 2019 Footlocker South Region. A SPC Conference Men's Individual Champion (XC), he is also a two-time SPC North Zone Individual Champion (XC), a two-time All-Conference member (XC) and a member of back-to-back SPC Conference Cross Country Team Championships (2018-19).

Baeza earned All-Conference honors in 2018 (T/F), was a three-time All-Conference honoree in Swimming and he was a three-time winner of the David Paschall Award (Awarded to students at St. Stephen's that letters in three sports and maintains honor roll status).

"Julian was a very successful Cross Country runner in high school," said Assistant Coach/Middle Distance and Distance Cole Hester. "We look for him to have an immediate impact on the men's team when we get him on campus."

Michael Danzi (Distance), Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Smithtown High School West, Smithtown, N.Y.): Winning multiple letters in Cross Country and Track & Field at Smithtown High School West in Smithtown, New York, Danzi was a 2020 New York State Champion in the 1,000-Meter Run and was named the 2020 Long Island Distance Runner of the Year. He was a member of the 2019 Track Country Championship squad and the 2018 Cross Country County Championship side, and during his time at Smithtown West he was a five-time Country Champion (800m/1600m/1000m/5K [2019]; 1000m [2020]) and he was named to the 2019 Cross Country All-Long Island team.

"Michael was the 2020 New York State Champion in the 1K and finished 11th at the 2019 New York State Cross Country championships," said Hester. "His wins and top finishes show he can be strong for us and his wide range should make him a great fit for our mile group at Columbia."

Devon Davey (Sprints), Columbia College (Elkhorn Area High School, Elkhorn, Wis.): Lettered in Track, Soccer and Basketball at Elkhorn High School in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Davey was named the 2019 Southern Lakes Conference Track Athlete of the Year and helped his track team earn two Conference Championships, two Regional Championships and a Sectional Championship. The holder of the school record in both the 400-Meter and the 1,600-Meter Relay, Davey was named two-time Southern Lakes First Team All-Conference in soccer and was named the 2020 Southern Lakes Soccer Conference Player of the Year, was a three-time Southern Lakes Honorable Mention All-Conference in basketball and a WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalist.

"Devon has been successful as a two-sport athlete in high school," said Assistant Coach/Sprints, Hurdles & Relays Marquise Stancil. "With his dedication and determination, he will be a contributing factor in the long sprints and relays."

Cristian Hubbard (Sprints/Hurdles), Columbia College (South Colonie Central High School, Albany, N.Y.): Winning letters in Track and Football at South Colonie Central High School in Colonie, New York, Hubbard was a member of the 2019 4x100-Meter Relay New York State Championship squad, was named a 2018 New Balance All-American (Shuttle Hurdle Relay) and was a two-time Track team captain. On the gridiron, Hubbard was a two-time First Team All-County (WR) in football, a 2020 National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete inductee and he accumulated over 1,700 all-purpose yards and scored 13 touchdowns during his senior season.

"Cristian is a solid addition in the short hurdles squad with a great upside," said Stancil. "We are excited to see how he develops throughout his career at Columbia."

Jacob Ireland (Distance), Columbia College (Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy, Bronx, N.Y.): Four-time letterwinner in Cross Country and Track at Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy in the Bronx, New York, Ireland helped his Cross Country squad take the 2016 XC Bronx Borough Championship and individually he is a three-time XC Bronx Champion (2017-19) and the 2019 XC City Champion. He is also a three-time City Champion (3,000m Steeplechase), two-time (2017-18) Bronx Borough Champion (3,000m Steeplechase) and the 2018 Bronx Borough Champion (3,200m).

"Jacob was the NYC PSAL 2019 Cross Country Champion, a Top 10 XC finisher [sixth] at NY Feds and a Top 10 finisher in the steeplechase at the New York State meet as a sophomore," said Hester. "He should add much needed depth to both our cross country and steeplechase squads."

Eugene Kim (Throws), Columbia College (North Gwinnett High School, Suwanee, Ga.): Winning three letters in both Track & Field and Football at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia, Kim was the 2019 Georgia State Champion; Section Champion and Region Champion in the Shot Put. He was named to 2020 Gwinnett County Super Six and the 2019 Second Team All-Gwinnett County team.

Played on the offensive and defensive line in Football and was a member of the 2017 Georgia State Championship Football team. He was a recipient of the Linda Jones Memorial Scholarship and was named the 2020 WSB TV Scholar Athlete of the Year.

"Eugene is one of the top shot putters in the country at the high school level," said Assistant Coach/Throws Simon Cleary. "He has the characteristics to step in as a leader and the talent to be a strong contributor to the team in the shot put."

Ben Kuhn (Distance), Columbia College (Wyomissing Area Jr./Sr. High School, Wyomissing, Pa.): A four-time letterwinner in Track & Field and Cross Country at Wyomissing Area Jr./Sr. High School in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, Kuhn was a member of the 2017 Pennsylvania AA Cross Country State Champions and he set school record in the 5K (15:43) and the Indoor 3,200-Meter Run (9:25). Kuhn was the 2020 AA Cross Country Pennsylvania State Championship Runner-Up and he was a two-time Cross Country AA District Champion (2019-20); two-time Cross County Champion (2019-20), along with being named to the 2017 All-County (Cross Country and Track & Field) team and he was a two-time Cross Country and Track & Field team captain (2018-20).

"Ben has showed tremendous success on the Cross Country course in High School," said Hester. "And will add to a very strong freshman cross squad."

Kam Lambert (Jumps), Columbia College (Berkshire, England): Kam is an exciting talent," said Assistant coach/Jumps & Multi-Events Jesse Chapman. "He hails from the same club as school record holder Daniel Igbokwe '20CC, and we are extremely excited to see him progress here at Columbia."

Krystof Lapotsky (Distance), Columbia College (Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School, Coal Township, Pa.): Four-time letterwinner in Cross Country and Track & Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School in Coal Township, Pennsylvania, Laptosky was named to the 2019 All-Pennsylvania State (3,200m/4x800m Relay) team and he was named a four-time All-County team member in both Cross Country and Track & Field. Helping Our Lady of Lourdes take the 2017 PIAA District IV Cross Country Championship, he was also a part of the 4x800-Meter Relay squad that won the 2019 PIAA District IV title.

"Krystof was one of the top distance runners in Pennsylvania last year." Said Hester. "He is a very tough competitor that will allow him to have an immediate impact on our distance squad."

Evan Manley (Distance), Columbia College (U.S. Military Academy, Hudson, Ohio): Manley spent the 2019-20 season at the U.S. Military Academy where he was a member of the 2019 Patriot League Cross Country Championship team.

Anish Nanjappa (Distance), Columbia College (River Hill High School, Clarksville, Md.): A very successfully athlete at River Hill High School in Clarksville, Maryland, Nanjappa won 11 letters in Cross Country and Track & Field. He took the 2019 Maryland State Cross Country Championships and was named the Cross Country team captain for the 2019-20 season; Indoor team captain for the 2019-20 season and Outdoor team captain from 2017-20 and he was named to the Gold Honor Roll all four years in high school.

Justin O'Toole (Middle Distance), Columbia College (Middlesex School, Weston, Mass.): Letterwinner in Cross Country and Track & Field at Middlesex School in Weston, Massachusetts, O'Toole was named to the Cross Country All-New England (2017-19) and Cross Country All-League (2017-19) teams three times. Along with that, he was named the Cross Country team captain junior and senior years and the Track & Field team captain in his senior season.

"We are very excited to add Justin to our Middle Distance group," said Hester. "He has made tremendous progress during his time in High School and we look forward to seeing how he improves while at Columbia."

Timi Odunjo (Sprints/Hurdles), Columbia College (Penn Wood High School, Darby, Pa.): Ran Track & Field and played one season of soccer (Centerback) at Penn Wood High School in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, where he was named All-State, All-District and All-County (2019-20) in Hurdles two times.

Mike Ostuno (Sprints/Hurdles), Columbia College (East Kentwood High School, Grand Rapids, Mich.): Four-time letterwinner in Track & Field and a two-time All-American in Shuttle Hurdles, Ostuno won the State Championship in both the 4x400 and the 4x200-Meter Relay, while being named All-State four times.

Mike is a versatile athlete across all sprint and hurdle events," said Stancil. "He adds real depth for us in the short hurdles and we believe he will make an immediate impact to the team."

Ian Smith (Sprints/Hurdles), Columbia College (St. Christopher's School, Richmond, Va.): Smith was an 11-time letterwinnner in Track & Field, he was named All-Prep 12 times and All-VISAA State 18 times. He was also a member of seven team championships, while at St. Christopher's School in Richmond, Virginia.

TH Wei (Jumps), Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (South Pasadena High School, South Pasadena, Calif.): A seven-time letterwinner in Track & Field and Soccer at South Pasadena High School in South Pasadena, California, Wei was a member of the 2018 CIF State Championship team, a Two-time All-Area San Gabriel Valley team member and a two-time top five finisher at the CIF State Track & Field Championships.

"TH is one of the top jumpers in the country and I am extremely excited to have him joining our program," said Chapman. "He is an incredible technician and I believe he will waste no time in continuing the Men's Triple Jump tradition here at Columbia."

Andre Williams (Distance), Columbia College (Sonoma Academy, Kelseyville, Calif.): Ran Cross Country and Track & Field at Sonoma Academy in Santa Rosa, California, Williams was a three-time Cross Country team captain and a D5 California State Cross Country Champion.

"Andre is a very successful Cross Country runner coming out of High School," said Hester. "And we know that he will add immediate depth to our cross squad heading into the future."

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