Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Maryam K. Hassan
Cross Country Welcomes 17 Newcomers To Morningside
9/1/2021 11:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Daniel Ireland welcomed to campus, 17 new Columbia Cross Country student athletes.
NEW YORK — With Columbia Cross Country standing at the starting line of the 2021 season, Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Daniel Ireland has announced, on Wednesday, Sept. 1, the men's and women's cross country Class of 2025, which includes nine men and eight women giving Columbia and Coach Ireland a total class of 17 incoming student athletes.
"We are very excited about the class for both the men and women," said Ireland. "It was depth and covers the event areas that we need. The incoming student athletes are excited and ready to help us win."
Columbia's 17 incoming student athletes are a diverse group that come from all over the country, with a pair of student athletes hailing from international backgrounds. In total California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia, along with Canada and England, are represented within both the men's and women's classes, allowing for the Class of 2025 to bring a bit of every part of the country to Morningside.
The class also has representatives for both Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, along with Barnard College. Eight men and six women will attend Columbia College, one man and woman will be attending the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and one woman will be enrolling in Barnard College.
MEN'S CLASS OF 2025
Jack Bennett, Distance, Columbia College (Jesuit High School, Portland, Oregon): Multi-letterwinner in cross country and track at Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon, where he placed fifth (3K) at the 2018 6A State Championships. Bennett crossed the line in eighth (1,500m) at the 2021 6A State Championships and clocked a 10th place finish at the 2018 6A XC State Championships.
Both of Jack's parents ran at North Carolina and were members of the Nike Farm Team, with his father (Chris) holding the title of Senior Director for the Nike Farm Team. He had a relative, Robert Bennett who graduated from Columbia Business School, giving him some history with Columbia.
Bennett received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League program Penn, along with Villanova, but went with Columbia because "of the academic and athletic combination, along with the location of being in New York City." He will enroll in Columbia College.
Career Bests (HS):
800-Meter Run - 1:59.8
1,500-Meter Run - 3:54
One Mile Run - 4:13
Ryan Borden, Distance, Columbia College (Freedom, South Riding, Virginia): A multi-letterwinner in track and cross country at Freedom in South Riding, Virginia, Borden was key in helping both the cross country and track & field squads win the 2019 Regionals (XC/TF) and Track & Field Districts. He was named All-State in the indoor 1,600m (2019-20) and 1,000m (2020); the outdoor 1,600m and 4x800m Relay (2019) and cross country (2019).
Borden comes from an athletic family, with his dad (Roy) running track and cross country at Auburn (1992-97) and his mom (Lisa) playing soccer at James Madison (1992-93). There is also a family Columbia connection with Borden's great uncle, John McLean, attending and graduating from Columbia.
He received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League program, Harvard, along with Virginia; Georgetown; Air Force and East Carolina, but went with Columbia because of "the academics, level of competition on the track team, the coaching staff and being in New York City." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in economics and finance.
Career Best (HS):
600-Meter Run - 1:22
800-Meter Run - 1:56
1,500-Meter Run - 3:56
2-Mile Run - 9:27
5K (XC) - 15:51
Stephen Connelly, Distance, Columbia College (Pinkerton Academy, Chester, New Hampshire): Winning four letters in track and cross country at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire, Connelly helped his squad to a first-place finish at the 2019-20 Indoor Track Division I New Hampshire Championships and was member of the second place finishing cross country squad at the 2019 Division I New Hampshire Championships. Earning Indoor Track New Hampshire All-State honors, he was named team captain for his school's cross country (2019) and track squads (2019-20).
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Connelly has strong Columbia connection, as his uncle, Matthew Connelly, ran track and cross country (1985-87) at Columbia, graduating Class of 1989, and is now an active Columbia professor. Along with the Columbia Athletics connection, Connelly's family has a rich athletic past, with his father (Patrick) having run track and cross country (1981-85) at Fordham and his brother Nico having run track and cross country (2016-21) at New Hampshire.
Connelly received recruiting attention from Boston and Fordham but went with Columbia because "Columbia College presented the best chance for my education to best prepare me for the professional world." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in economics and sustainable development.
Career Best (HS):
800-Meter Run - 1:55.1
1,600-Meter Run - 4:18.3
Caleb Gartner, Middle Distance, Columbia College (Middlesex High School, Falmouth, Massachusetts
Owen Lockyer, Distance, Columbia College (Eden High School, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada): Running cross country and track at Eden High School in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Lockyer was a five-time Athletics Ontario provincial medalist and a three-time SOSSA Individual Champion. He is also the Zone Four 3,000m record holder and a member of the 2019 Zone Four Cross Country Championship and the Toronto West Athletics 2020 Cross Country winning squads.
Lockyer's father, Jeff, has a running background, competing for University of Toronto (1992-96) and representing Canada at the 1992 and 1996 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. He decided to attend Columbia "to learn from a diverse community and allow for the greatest opportunities to be challenged and grow." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in financial economics.
Career Bests (HS):
3,000-Meter Run - 8:41.4
5,000-Meter Run - 14:53
Owen Nelson, Distance, Columbia College (Seattle Prep School, Seattle, Washington): Multi-letterwinner in cross country and track at Seattle Preparatory School in Seattle, Washington, Nelson brings with him the No. 1 ranking in cross country in the 3A Washington State rankings (2020-21). He was named to the 2019 All-League/District Cross Country and 2019 All-League Track And Field teams, along with being named the 2019 Cross Country Team MVP, while serving as the 2021 cross country and track & field team captain.
Nelson's family has been a successful and historic one, with his mom, Marie, being a graduate of Columbia Teacher's College (Class of 1992), his second cousin was a professor at Columbia School of International Public Affairs, and Nelson's Grandmother, Eunice Groark, served as Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut (1991-95), becoming was the first woman to hold that position in office. Nelson has also climbed four major mountains (Mt. Saint Helens; Mt. Adams; Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainer) in his free time.
He received recruiting attention from Wisconsin, Duke, Boston College Holy Cross and Fordham, but settled on Columbia "because of the chance to experience New York City as a student at an unparalleled university." Will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in economic mathematics.
Career Bests (HS):
3,200-Meter Run - 9:22
5K (XC) - 14:56
Talha Syed, Distance, Columbia College (Plymouth Canton Educational Park, Canton, Michigan): A mutli-letterwinner in cross country and track at Plymouth Canton Educational Park, in Canton, Michigan, Syed helped his 2020 cross country squad to the KLAA Conference, District and Regional Championships, and was a member of the 2018 Track & Field MHSAA DI Region 05-1 Championship squad. A 2021 Adidas All-American (indoor track), he owns the school record in the 5K (XC), 5,000m, 3200m and the Two-Mile.
Named the 2020 Detroit High School Sports Awards Male Honoree (XC), Syed earned 2021 All-State honors in cross country, three-time All-Conference (XC) honors, three-time All-Region (XC) honors, two-time All-Conference honors (TF), two-time All-Region honors (TF) and three-time Academic All-State (XC/TF).
Syed received heavy recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Penn, Cornell and Yale, along with Duke, Michigan and Johns Hopkins, but went with Columbia to "train and compete at a high level athletically while also getting challenged in the classroom." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in economics
Career Bests:
1,600-Meter Run - 4:14.53
3,200-Meter Run - 9:05.38
Two-Mile Run - 9:08.99
5,000-Meter Run - 14:54.69
5K (XC) - 15:26.1
Alex Tillock, Middle Distance, Columbia College (O'Fallon Township High School, O'Fallon, Illinois): Winning multiple letters in cross country and track at O'Fallon Township High School in O'Fallon, Illinois, Tillock earned AAU All-American honors in the 800m. He was an Illinois State qualifier in the 4x800m and the 4x400m Relay and owns the school record in the 4x400m (3:21.45).
Tillock received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Dartmouth and Cornell, along with Loyola-Chicago, but went with Columbia because "of the amazing opportunities that Columbia offers." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in financial economics.
Career Bests (HS):
400-Meter Run - 49.20
800-Meter Run - 1:55.62
Gavin White, Distance, Columbia College (Pinckney Community High School, Pinckney, Michigan): A multi-sport letterwinner in cross country, track, soccer and swimming at Pinckney Community High School, White was a member of the three-time (track & field) Southeastern Conference Champions and one-time (cross country) Southeastern Conference champion squads. He was four-time All-Conference (XC), three-time All-Region (XC) and two-time All-State (XC) and was the 2021 Southeastern Conference 1,600m and 3,200m champion.
White was also a three-time All-Region honoree in the 3,200-Meter Run and earned 2021 1,600-Meter Run All-Region honors. Spent time running for the Jackalope Running Club and he finished second in the 1,600m at the 2021 Michigan Indoor State Meet.
He decided to attend Columbia "because the chance to run cross country and track, while pursing my degree at Columbia, with its vast variety of opportunities was too good to pass up." White will enroll in Columbia College.
Career Bests (HS):
800-Meter Run - 1:57.5
1,600-Meter Run - 4:17.22
3,200-Meter Run - 9:13.97
5K (XC) - 15:41
WOMEN'S CLASS OF 2025
Phoebe Anderson, Distance, Columbia College (Wycombe Abbey School, High Wycombe, England): A multi-sport student-athlete at Wycombe Abbey School in High Wycombe, England, running cross country and track, along with playing lacrosse, tennis and squash for four years, Anderson already has an international race in back pocket, finishing third (5K) for England at the 2020 U20 Belgium Cross Cup. She is a three-time Buckingham Country Cross County Champion (2017-19), the 2019 Surrey 3,000m Champion and she finished top-10 in back-to-back years (2019-20) at the Sound of England Championships (top finish was second in 2019).
Anderson brings with her a connection to Columbia with her cousin, Grainne Godfree (screenwriter), spending three years as the Assistant Director of Columbia's Film Festival and she graduated from the Columbia Film Program in 2003. Another of Anderson's cousins, Ghia Godfree, played softball at and graduated from fellow Ivy League program Harvard (2000).
She received recruiting attention from Ivy League program Yale, along with Northwestern, but she went with Columbia because "of the incredible engagement on global issues and great attitude of activism that the University provides." She will enroll in Columbia College and pans on majoring in sustainable development.
Career Bests (HS):
1,500-Meter Run - 4:38.17
3,000-Meter Run - 9:35.55
5,000-Meter Run - 16:52.9
Lilly Bradley, Distance, Columbia College (Thayer Academy, Boston, Massachusetts): Winning multiple letters in cross country and track & field at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts, Bradley won the 2019 NEPSTA DII 3,000m Championship and Cross Country championships and owns school record in the 3,000m. She helped her squad to a pair of Independent School League (ISL) 2016 and 2019 titles and was a member of the squad that was the three-time NEPSTA DII Championships (2016-17, 2019).
Bradley was named three-time ISL All-League Cross Country, the 2019 ISL League MVP (XC), the 2019 Patriot Ledger MVP and was named to the 2019 Boston Globe and Herald All-Scholastic teams.
She comes from an athletic family as her brothers Sean (Santa Clara) and Conor (Trinity) both row collegiately and her other brother, Michael, runs track and plays football at Milton Academy in Milton, Mass. Bradley received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Dartmouth and Princeton, along with USC, Wake Forest, WUSTL and Fordham, but went with Columbia because "it's been my dream school since middle school, and Columbia truly gives me the chance to receive a great education and compete at the Division I level." She will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in financial economics.
Career Best (HS):
1,500-Meter Run - 4:44.74
3K (XC) - 10:15.44
5K (XC) - 18:39
Story Downing, Middle Distance, Barnard College (Lincoln College Prep Academy, Kansas City, Missouri): Winning multiple letters in cross country and track at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy in Kansas City, Missouri, Downing is a four-time cross country Missouri State Championships qualifier (2017-21), two-time track (400m; 4x400m Relay) Missouri State Championship qualifier (2019; 2021). She also owns the school record in the 5K (cross country) and is a two-time Kansas City Public Schools Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year (2017; 2020). She was also named two-time Lincoln College Prep Cross Country Runner of the Year (2018-19), was a member of Lincoln College Prep's 2017 District championship and helped the 4x400-Meter Relay team finish fifth at the 2021 Missouri State Championships.
Downing's family has a rich tradition of running, with mom (Kathy) running cross country and track at Wichita State (1985-88), and her aunt running cross country and track at Pittsburg State, along with being a competitive half/full marathoner today, sitting only one minute off the Olympic qualifying time. Downing received recruiting attention from Missouri-St. Louis; Missouri-Kansas City; Friends; Wellesley; Mount Holyoke and Missouri but went with Columbia Athletics because "of Barnard providing a supportive and empowering women's college environment." She will enroll in Barnard College and pans on majoring in either psychology or neuroscience and behavior.
Career Bests (HS):
400m - 59.24
800m - 2:20.88
1500m - 5:06.38
Ava Jolley, Distance, Columbia College (North Salem, North Salem, New York): Jolley ran cross country and track at North Salem in North Salem, New York, and she collected her best finish in her career with a second-place finish at the 2018 Cross Country Class C State Championships. Jolley also took third at the 2019 Cross Country Class S State Championships, finished fourth at the NY State Federation Championships and recorded a podium finish at the 2019 (outdoor) and 2020 (indoor) State Championships in the 3,000m.
A member of three Cross Country League Championship squads (2017-19), Jolley also helped her outdoor track squad take the 2021 League Championship and she owns the school record in the 4x800m Relay and the DMR. She earned All-League, All-County, All-State honors in cross country and earned All-League and All-County honors in outdoor track,
Jolley's grandfather, Richard Jackson, was the first black mayor in New York State when he was elected mayor of Peekskill, New York in 1984 and while in high school, she helped found the North Salem for Racial Justice group, a student-alumni led movement to address racism in curriculum. Jolley received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League program Cornell, along with Georgetown but went with Columbia "because of the core curriculum, the city and the campus, and the welcoming feeling the women I met on campus gave me." She will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in political science.
Career Bests (HS):
800-Meter Run - 2:19
One-Mile Run - 5:09
3,000-Meter Run - 10:03
5K (XC) - 18:09
Sofia Matson, Distance, Columbia College (Falmouth High School, Falmouth, Maine)
Daphne Matthews, Middle Distance, Columbia College (Heritage Hall School, Yukon, Okla.)
Brigid McCabe, Distance, Columbia College (Notre Dame School, Bayonne, N.J.): A multi-sport letterwinner at Notre Dame School in Manhattan, New York, earning four letters in track and one letter in basketball, McCabe is a two-time Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Cross Country State Champion (2019-20), the 2020 CHSAA Cross Country City Champion, a two-time indoor 3,000-Meter Run CHSAA State Champion (2020-21), and the 2021 indoor 3,000m CHSAA City Champion. McCabe also took home the 2020 indoor CHSAA 1,500-Meter Run City Championship and the 2021 indoor 3,000m CHSAA City and State Champion.
McCabe has a family history in Columbia Athletics, as cousin Kyle Laracy '98CC, was a member of the Swimming & Diving team at Columbia. She received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League program Brown, along with Fordham; George Washington and Boston, but went with Columbia because "the location, campus, curriculum and team at Columbia are what I want in my college experience." She will enroll in Columbia College.
Career Bests (HS):
1,500m - 4:50
3,000m - 9:58
3,200m - 10:56
4K (XC) - 15:08
5K (XC) - 18:44
Natalia Quintero, Distance, Columbia College (Harvard Westlake, Los Angeles, Calif.)
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"We are very excited about the class for both the men and women," said Ireland. "It was depth and covers the event areas that we need. The incoming student athletes are excited and ready to help us win."
Columbia's 17 incoming student athletes are a diverse group that come from all over the country, with a pair of student athletes hailing from international backgrounds. In total California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Virginia, along with Canada and England, are represented within both the men's and women's classes, allowing for the Class of 2025 to bring a bit of every part of the country to Morningside.
The class also has representatives for both Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, along with Barnard College. Eight men and six women will attend Columbia College, one man and woman will be attending the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science and one woman will be enrolling in Barnard College.
MEN'S CLASS OF 2025
Jack Bennett, Distance, Columbia College (Jesuit High School, Portland, Oregon): Multi-letterwinner in cross country and track at Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon, where he placed fifth (3K) at the 2018 6A State Championships. Bennett crossed the line in eighth (1,500m) at the 2021 6A State Championships and clocked a 10th place finish at the 2018 6A XC State Championships.
Both of Jack's parents ran at North Carolina and were members of the Nike Farm Team, with his father (Chris) holding the title of Senior Director for the Nike Farm Team. He had a relative, Robert Bennett who graduated from Columbia Business School, giving him some history with Columbia.
Bennett received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League program Penn, along with Villanova, but went with Columbia because "of the academic and athletic combination, along with the location of being in New York City." He will enroll in Columbia College.
Career Bests (HS):
800-Meter Run - 1:59.8
1,500-Meter Run - 3:54
One Mile Run - 4:13
Ryan Borden, Distance, Columbia College (Freedom, South Riding, Virginia): A multi-letterwinner in track and cross country at Freedom in South Riding, Virginia, Borden was key in helping both the cross country and track & field squads win the 2019 Regionals (XC/TF) and Track & Field Districts. He was named All-State in the indoor 1,600m (2019-20) and 1,000m (2020); the outdoor 1,600m and 4x800m Relay (2019) and cross country (2019).
Borden comes from an athletic family, with his dad (Roy) running track and cross country at Auburn (1992-97) and his mom (Lisa) playing soccer at James Madison (1992-93). There is also a family Columbia connection with Borden's great uncle, John McLean, attending and graduating from Columbia.
He received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League program, Harvard, along with Virginia; Georgetown; Air Force and East Carolina, but went with Columbia because of "the academics, level of competition on the track team, the coaching staff and being in New York City." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in economics and finance.
Career Best (HS):
600-Meter Run - 1:22
800-Meter Run - 1:56
1,500-Meter Run - 3:56
2-Mile Run - 9:27
5K (XC) - 15:51
Stephen Connelly, Distance, Columbia College (Pinkerton Academy, Chester, New Hampshire): Winning four letters in track and cross country at Pinkerton Academy in Derry, New Hampshire, Connelly helped his squad to a first-place finish at the 2019-20 Indoor Track Division I New Hampshire Championships and was member of the second place finishing cross country squad at the 2019 Division I New Hampshire Championships. Earning Indoor Track New Hampshire All-State honors, he was named team captain for his school's cross country (2019) and track squads (2019-20).
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Connelly has strong Columbia connection, as his uncle, Matthew Connelly, ran track and cross country (1985-87) at Columbia, graduating Class of 1989, and is now an active Columbia professor. Along with the Columbia Athletics connection, Connelly's family has a rich athletic past, with his father (Patrick) having run track and cross country (1981-85) at Fordham and his brother Nico having run track and cross country (2016-21) at New Hampshire.
Connelly received recruiting attention from Boston and Fordham but went with Columbia because "Columbia College presented the best chance for my education to best prepare me for the professional world." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in economics and sustainable development.
Career Best (HS):
800-Meter Run - 1:55.1
1,600-Meter Run - 4:18.3
Caleb Gartner, Middle Distance, Columbia College (Middlesex High School, Falmouth, Massachusetts
Owen Lockyer, Distance, Columbia College (Eden High School, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada): Running cross country and track at Eden High School in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Lockyer was a five-time Athletics Ontario provincial medalist and a three-time SOSSA Individual Champion. He is also the Zone Four 3,000m record holder and a member of the 2019 Zone Four Cross Country Championship and the Toronto West Athletics 2020 Cross Country winning squads.
Lockyer's father, Jeff, has a running background, competing for University of Toronto (1992-96) and representing Canada at the 1992 and 1996 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. He decided to attend Columbia "to learn from a diverse community and allow for the greatest opportunities to be challenged and grow." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in financial economics.
Career Bests (HS):
3,000-Meter Run - 8:41.4
5,000-Meter Run - 14:53
Owen Nelson, Distance, Columbia College (Seattle Prep School, Seattle, Washington): Multi-letterwinner in cross country and track at Seattle Preparatory School in Seattle, Washington, Nelson brings with him the No. 1 ranking in cross country in the 3A Washington State rankings (2020-21). He was named to the 2019 All-League/District Cross Country and 2019 All-League Track And Field teams, along with being named the 2019 Cross Country Team MVP, while serving as the 2021 cross country and track & field team captain.
Nelson's family has been a successful and historic one, with his mom, Marie, being a graduate of Columbia Teacher's College (Class of 1992), his second cousin was a professor at Columbia School of International Public Affairs, and Nelson's Grandmother, Eunice Groark, served as Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut (1991-95), becoming was the first woman to hold that position in office. Nelson has also climbed four major mountains (Mt. Saint Helens; Mt. Adams; Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainer) in his free time.
He received recruiting attention from Wisconsin, Duke, Boston College Holy Cross and Fordham, but settled on Columbia "because of the chance to experience New York City as a student at an unparalleled university." Will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in economic mathematics.
Career Bests (HS):
3,200-Meter Run - 9:22
5K (XC) - 14:56
Talha Syed, Distance, Columbia College (Plymouth Canton Educational Park, Canton, Michigan): A mutli-letterwinner in cross country and track at Plymouth Canton Educational Park, in Canton, Michigan, Syed helped his 2020 cross country squad to the KLAA Conference, District and Regional Championships, and was a member of the 2018 Track & Field MHSAA DI Region 05-1 Championship squad. A 2021 Adidas All-American (indoor track), he owns the school record in the 5K (XC), 5,000m, 3200m and the Two-Mile.
Named the 2020 Detroit High School Sports Awards Male Honoree (XC), Syed earned 2021 All-State honors in cross country, three-time All-Conference (XC) honors, three-time All-Region (XC) honors, two-time All-Conference honors (TF), two-time All-Region honors (TF) and three-time Academic All-State (XC/TF).
Syed received heavy recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Penn, Cornell and Yale, along with Duke, Michigan and Johns Hopkins, but went with Columbia to "train and compete at a high level athletically while also getting challenged in the classroom." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in economics
Career Bests:
1,600-Meter Run - 4:14.53
3,200-Meter Run - 9:05.38
Two-Mile Run - 9:08.99
5,000-Meter Run - 14:54.69
5K (XC) - 15:26.1
Alex Tillock, Middle Distance, Columbia College (O'Fallon Township High School, O'Fallon, Illinois): Winning multiple letters in cross country and track at O'Fallon Township High School in O'Fallon, Illinois, Tillock earned AAU All-American honors in the 800m. He was an Illinois State qualifier in the 4x800m and the 4x400m Relay and owns the school record in the 4x400m (3:21.45).
Tillock received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Dartmouth and Cornell, along with Loyola-Chicago, but went with Columbia because "of the amazing opportunities that Columbia offers." He will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in financial economics.
Career Bests (HS):
400-Meter Run - 49.20
800-Meter Run - 1:55.62
Gavin White, Distance, Columbia College (Pinckney Community High School, Pinckney, Michigan): A multi-sport letterwinner in cross country, track, soccer and swimming at Pinckney Community High School, White was a member of the three-time (track & field) Southeastern Conference Champions and one-time (cross country) Southeastern Conference champion squads. He was four-time All-Conference (XC), three-time All-Region (XC) and two-time All-State (XC) and was the 2021 Southeastern Conference 1,600m and 3,200m champion.
White was also a three-time All-Region honoree in the 3,200-Meter Run and earned 2021 1,600-Meter Run All-Region honors. Spent time running for the Jackalope Running Club and he finished second in the 1,600m at the 2021 Michigan Indoor State Meet.
He decided to attend Columbia "because the chance to run cross country and track, while pursing my degree at Columbia, with its vast variety of opportunities was too good to pass up." White will enroll in Columbia College.
Career Bests (HS):
800-Meter Run - 1:57.5
1,600-Meter Run - 4:17.22
3,200-Meter Run - 9:13.97
5K (XC) - 15:41
WOMEN'S CLASS OF 2025
Phoebe Anderson, Distance, Columbia College (Wycombe Abbey School, High Wycombe, England): A multi-sport student-athlete at Wycombe Abbey School in High Wycombe, England, running cross country and track, along with playing lacrosse, tennis and squash for four years, Anderson already has an international race in back pocket, finishing third (5K) for England at the 2020 U20 Belgium Cross Cup. She is a three-time Buckingham Country Cross County Champion (2017-19), the 2019 Surrey 3,000m Champion and she finished top-10 in back-to-back years (2019-20) at the Sound of England Championships (top finish was second in 2019).
Anderson brings with her a connection to Columbia with her cousin, Grainne Godfree (screenwriter), spending three years as the Assistant Director of Columbia's Film Festival and she graduated from the Columbia Film Program in 2003. Another of Anderson's cousins, Ghia Godfree, played softball at and graduated from fellow Ivy League program Harvard (2000).
She received recruiting attention from Ivy League program Yale, along with Northwestern, but she went with Columbia because "of the incredible engagement on global issues and great attitude of activism that the University provides." She will enroll in Columbia College and pans on majoring in sustainable development.
Career Bests (HS):
1,500-Meter Run - 4:38.17
3,000-Meter Run - 9:35.55
5,000-Meter Run - 16:52.9
Lilly Bradley, Distance, Columbia College (Thayer Academy, Boston, Massachusetts): Winning multiple letters in cross country and track & field at Thayer Academy in Braintree, Massachusetts, Bradley won the 2019 NEPSTA DII 3,000m Championship and Cross Country championships and owns school record in the 3,000m. She helped her squad to a pair of Independent School League (ISL) 2016 and 2019 titles and was a member of the squad that was the three-time NEPSTA DII Championships (2016-17, 2019).
Bradley was named three-time ISL All-League Cross Country, the 2019 ISL League MVP (XC), the 2019 Patriot Ledger MVP and was named to the 2019 Boston Globe and Herald All-Scholastic teams.
She comes from an athletic family as her brothers Sean (Santa Clara) and Conor (Trinity) both row collegiately and her other brother, Michael, runs track and plays football at Milton Academy in Milton, Mass. Bradley received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League programs Dartmouth and Princeton, along with USC, Wake Forest, WUSTL and Fordham, but went with Columbia because "it's been my dream school since middle school, and Columbia truly gives me the chance to receive a great education and compete at the Division I level." She will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in financial economics.
Career Best (HS):
1,500-Meter Run - 4:44.74
3K (XC) - 10:15.44
5K (XC) - 18:39
Story Downing, Middle Distance, Barnard College (Lincoln College Prep Academy, Kansas City, Missouri): Winning multiple letters in cross country and track at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy in Kansas City, Missouri, Downing is a four-time cross country Missouri State Championships qualifier (2017-21), two-time track (400m; 4x400m Relay) Missouri State Championship qualifier (2019; 2021). She also owns the school record in the 5K (cross country) and is a two-time Kansas City Public Schools Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year (2017; 2020). She was also named two-time Lincoln College Prep Cross Country Runner of the Year (2018-19), was a member of Lincoln College Prep's 2017 District championship and helped the 4x400-Meter Relay team finish fifth at the 2021 Missouri State Championships.
Downing's family has a rich tradition of running, with mom (Kathy) running cross country and track at Wichita State (1985-88), and her aunt running cross country and track at Pittsburg State, along with being a competitive half/full marathoner today, sitting only one minute off the Olympic qualifying time. Downing received recruiting attention from Missouri-St. Louis; Missouri-Kansas City; Friends; Wellesley; Mount Holyoke and Missouri but went with Columbia Athletics because "of Barnard providing a supportive and empowering women's college environment." She will enroll in Barnard College and pans on majoring in either psychology or neuroscience and behavior.
Career Bests (HS):
400m - 59.24
800m - 2:20.88
1500m - 5:06.38
Ava Jolley, Distance, Columbia College (North Salem, North Salem, New York): Jolley ran cross country and track at North Salem in North Salem, New York, and she collected her best finish in her career with a second-place finish at the 2018 Cross Country Class C State Championships. Jolley also took third at the 2019 Cross Country Class S State Championships, finished fourth at the NY State Federation Championships and recorded a podium finish at the 2019 (outdoor) and 2020 (indoor) State Championships in the 3,000m.
A member of three Cross Country League Championship squads (2017-19), Jolley also helped her outdoor track squad take the 2021 League Championship and she owns the school record in the 4x800m Relay and the DMR. She earned All-League, All-County, All-State honors in cross country and earned All-League and All-County honors in outdoor track,
Jolley's grandfather, Richard Jackson, was the first black mayor in New York State when he was elected mayor of Peekskill, New York in 1984 and while in high school, she helped found the North Salem for Racial Justice group, a student-alumni led movement to address racism in curriculum. Jolley received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League program Cornell, along with Georgetown but went with Columbia "because of the core curriculum, the city and the campus, and the welcoming feeling the women I met on campus gave me." She will enroll in Columbia College and plans on majoring in political science.
Career Bests (HS):
800-Meter Run - 2:19
One-Mile Run - 5:09
3,000-Meter Run - 10:03
5K (XC) - 18:09
Sofia Matson, Distance, Columbia College (Falmouth High School, Falmouth, Maine)
Daphne Matthews, Middle Distance, Columbia College (Heritage Hall School, Yukon, Okla.)
Brigid McCabe, Distance, Columbia College (Notre Dame School, Bayonne, N.J.): A multi-sport letterwinner at Notre Dame School in Manhattan, New York, earning four letters in track and one letter in basketball, McCabe is a two-time Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) Cross Country State Champion (2019-20), the 2020 CHSAA Cross Country City Champion, a two-time indoor 3,000-Meter Run CHSAA State Champion (2020-21), and the 2021 indoor 3,000m CHSAA City Champion. McCabe also took home the 2020 indoor CHSAA 1,500-Meter Run City Championship and the 2021 indoor 3,000m CHSAA City and State Champion.
McCabe has a family history in Columbia Athletics, as cousin Kyle Laracy '98CC, was a member of the Swimming & Diving team at Columbia. She received recruiting attention from fellow Ivy League program Brown, along with Fordham; George Washington and Boston, but went with Columbia because "the location, campus, curriculum and team at Columbia are what I want in my college experience." She will enroll in Columbia College.
Career Bests (HS):
1,500m - 4:50
3,000m - 9:58
3,200m - 10:56
4K (XC) - 15:08
5K (XC) - 18:44
Natalia Quintero, Distance, Columbia College (Harvard Westlake, Los Angeles, Calif.)
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/ Cross CountryInterview: XC | Coach Ireland after Heps
Friday, October 31
Preview: XC NCAA Championships
Friday, November 18
Preview: 2022 XC Ivy League Heps
Thursday, October 27
Interview: XC | Tyler Berg Heps
Saturday, October 30
