NEW YORK — Director of Cross Country/Track & Field
Daniel Ireland has announced the addition of 33 newcomers to the cross country and track & field programs.
The class consists of 18 women, 15 men, and 9 cross country runners.
The entire incoming class can be found below. The full 2025 cross country roster can be found
HERE, while the full 2025 track & field roster can be found
HERE.
The cross country season begins this weekend on Saturday, September 6 with the Fordham Fiasco.
Tibor Barankay – Fy. – Distance – 6-4 – SEAS – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / Science Leadership Academy
Prior to Columbia: 2x Cross Country Philadelphia Public League Champion … 4x Track and Field Philadelphia Public League Champion … 2x Cross Country State Qualifier … 2x Track and Field State Qualifier … Track Nationals Qualifier … 1600m PR: 4:18 … 3200m PR: 9:16 … 5K PR: 15:02.
Personal: National Honor Society … Volunteered at local 10k … German heritage and fluent speaker … Hobbies include cycling, watching sports and movies … Favorite sports memory is running a big PR to qualify for states in the 3200m.
Zayna Flynn – Fy. – Multi Events – 5-9 – CC – Lincoln, California / Twelve Bridges High School / Revolution Express Track Club
Prior to Columbia: 4.0 GPA … AP Scholar with Distinction … 3x League Champion … School record holder in pole vault, 4x100, and 300m hurdles … State finalist in 2025 … Arcadia and Stanford Invitational participant … All-American in Dance … Competed for Revolution Express.
Personal: Originally from the DC area … Lifelong dancer and former competitive swimmer … Passionate about musical theatre and animals … Hobbies include travel, acting, environmental activism, and true crime podcasts … Favorite memory: winning Stanford Invitational with relay team.
Chris Young – Fy. – Hurdler/Sprinter – 6-3 – SEAS – Lambertville, New Jersey / Notre Dame High School / Trenton Track Club
Prior to Columbia: Scholar Athlete of the Year … 4x All-American … 1x National Champion (Adidas Outdoor Nationals 2025, Shuttle Hurdles) … Indoor MVP (Senior Year) … Varsity Letter (Freshman–Senior) … Team Captain (Junior & Senior) … Meet of Champs Qualifier (4x400, 55HH) … Personal Bests: 55HH 7.61, 60HH 8.13, 55m 6.92, 400m 50.50, 300m 37.15 … Outdoor MVP & Most Improved (Senior Year) … Meet of Champs Qualifier (110HH) … Personal Bests: 110HH 14.09, 400IH 58.39, 400m 49.04, 200m 22.64 … Competed for Trenton Track Club.
Personal: Eagle Scout … National Champion (Shuttle Hurdles) … Hobbies: skiing, biking, soccer, board games, and reading … Favorite sports memory: first trip to New Balance Nationals with his shuttle hurdle team.
Moriah Luetjen – Fy. – Sprints – 5-4 – BC – Shutesbury, Massachusetts / Amherst-Pelham Regional High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity athlete … 3x All-Western Mass (Soccer) … Gazette Girls Athlete of the Year 2024 … 400m PR 55.5, 200m 24.8 … 2025 New England 400m runner-up … 2x MIAA D4 Outdoor 400m State Champ … NBON Freshman 400m Champ … 2x 200m State Runner-up … School record holder (2 individual, 2 relays).
Personal: Hobbies: running, sewing, soccer, baking … Favorite sports memory: winning the 4x4 at New England's.
Ryan Power – Fy. – Middle Distance – 5-11 – General Studies – Alexandria, Virginia / Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Prior to Columbia: AP Scholar with Distinction … 2x VHSL National District Champ … 2x All-State … School record holder (1k, indoor 4x400) … 2x team MVP … PRs: 800m – 1:54.24, 1k – 2:32.17, 400m – 50.1.
Personal: Can dunk with a 7'6" standing reach … Hobbies: running, golf, spikeball, hiking, and movies … Favorite memory: celebrating a 4x400 win early and nearly losing to the slow heat.
Jayla Johnson – Fy. – Sprinter – 5-6 – CC – Bronx, New York / The Montfort Academy / New Horizon
Prior to Columbia: Magna Cum Laude … Athletics Award (4.0 GPA) … National Honors Society VP … Theology & Spanish Awards … 4-year varsity athlete … PRs: 55m 7.62, 200m 25.57, 400m 55.30 … Competed for New Horizon.
Personal: Hobbies: biking, drawing, music … Passionate about track since age 6 … Favorite memory: winning AAU Club Championships in the 400m.
Marcus Blasucci – Fy. – Throws – 5-11 – CC – Interlaken, New Jersey / Christian Brothers Academy / Brothers Track Club
Prior to Columbia: AP Scholar with Distinction … Shore Coaches 2025 Field Athlete of the Year … Shot put PR: 67-6.5 … 2025 Meet of Champions Winner … Holds CBA indoor & outdoor records … Competed for Brothers Track Club.
Personal: Third-generation Columbia student … Hobbies: surfing, guitar … Favorite memory: breaking school record at Shore Conference, receiving stadium-wide applause and Olympian praise.
Reena Hsieh – Fy. – Distance – 5-3 – CC – Arcadia, California / Arcadia High School
Prior to Columbia: AP Scholar with Honor … Pacific League XC Champ (3x) … CIF/State/Footlocker Nationals Qualifier … 1600m – 4:49, 3200m – 10:38, 3M – 16:33 … Arcadia High Sportswoman of the Year.
Personal: Former swimmer … Hobbies: videography, painting, baking … Favorite memory: hiking in La Jolla with teammates post-Nationals.
Ella Farley – Fy. – Throws/Javelin – 5-7 – CC – Niceville, Florida / Niceville HS / Emerald Coast Track Club
Prior to Columbia: AP Scholar … Top 1% of graduating class … School co-founder of Women's Empowerment Club … PRs: Discus 40.06m, Javelin 38.95m … 2025 Nike Nationals qualifier (Javelin) … Competed for Emerald Coast TC.
Personal: Switched from hurdles to throws early in HS … Hobbies: reading, writing, lifting … Favorite memory: surprising herself with a big javelin PR.
Christian Wilbon – Fy. – Sprinter – 6-1 – CC – Waldorf, Maryland / Westlake High School
Prior to Columbia: 4x State Champ … 3x Adidas All-American … 100m – 10.96, 200m – 22.21 … Scholar Athlete Award … 5.0 GPA senior year.
Personal: 16x AAU All-American … Hobbies: musicals, shopping, reading … Favorite memory: winning his first MPSSAA state title.
Jackson Downin – Fy. – Mid Distance – 6-1 – CC – Wilmington, Delaware / Tatnall High School
Prior to Columbia: High Honor Roll every semester … Cum Laude Society … Math award winner … Mandarin Chinese Seal.
Personal: Studying Chinese since kindergarten … Hobbies: photography, watching sports … Favorite memory: setting state 4x800 record and earning All-American.
Maya Helman – So. – Throws – 5-5 – BC – Clatskanie, Oregon / Clatskanie HS / Western Oregon University
Prior to Columbia: Valedictorian … State Champion in Basketball … District Field Athlete of the Year … Transferred from Western Oregon, GNAC All-Academic … Discus school record holder.
Personal: Of Hispanic heritage … Barista since 15 … Hobbies: painting, family time … Favorite memory: dad coaching her through her throwing career.
Lukas Malek – Fy. – Distance – 6-0 – CC – Wilmington, North Carolina / Laney High School
Prior to Columbia: Top 10% of class … School record holder in 1600m, 5k … PRs: 15:27 (5k), 4:14 (1600m), 1:56 (800m).
Personal: Hobbies: fishing, hiking, Pokémon … Dog named Rusty.
Ashlyn Mundell – Fy. – Sprints – 5-5 – General Studies – Casper, Wyoming / Stanford Online School
Prior to Columbia: 3x All-State … PRs: 100m – 12.06, 55m – 7.03 … 5 national titles … 7 youth world records.
Personal: Advocate for women in STEM … Tech entrepreneur … Favorite memory: running into her parents' arms with 3 medals.
Ben Pizarro – Fy. – Distance – 6-2 – CC – Wilmington, Delaware / The Tatnall School / CYM Cross Country
Prior to Columbia: 5x team state champ … 2024 XC State Champ … 2024 Gatorade POY … Indoor 3200m state record holder … Competed for CYM.
Personal: 4x captain … Hobbies: sailing, soccer, travel … Favorite memory: winning Carlisle Invite in senior year.
Seelah Kittelstrom – Fy. – Distance – 5-7 – CC – Santa Rosa, California / Montgomery High School
Prior to Columbia: IB Diploma … PRs: 5k – 17:38, 3200m – 10:38 … 4th at CIF State Champs … 12th at Footlocker West.
Personal: Hobbies: reading … Favorite memory: freshman breakout double win at league finals.
Maggie Boler – Fy. – Mid-Distance – 5-6 – 123 – CC – Madison, New Jersey / Villa Walsh Academy
Prior to Columbia: 800m PR – 2:13 … 1600m PR – 4:57 … 3x state champ … All-County/Conference … School record holder.
Personal: N/A
Liam Hanemann – Fy. – Distance – 5-7 – CC – Atlanta, Georgia / Marist School
Prior to Columbia: 4x Nationals Qualifier … 2x All-American … 4x1600m state record … PRs: 800m – 1:52.97, Mile – 4:09.
Personal: Hobbies: reading, golf … Volunteer at Reach for Excellence and Books for Africa … Favorite memory: XC team state title with close friends.
Zahara Bernal – Fy. – Distance – 5-2 – CC – Atlanta, Georgia / Pace Academy
Prior to Columbia: Georgia 4A State Champ (XC & 2 Mile) … PRs: 2M – 10:36, Mile – 4:57, 5k – 17:18.
Personal: Former soccer player … Hobbies: reading, painting … Favorite memory: Nike Indoor Nationals junior year.
Omolade Dada – Fy. – 400M Runner – 5-6 – CC – League City, Texas / Clear Creek HS / Texas Cyclones Club Team
Prior to Columbia: Team captain … 4x Superintendent Scholar … 400m PR – 56.12 … Competed for Texas Cyclones.
Personal: Hobbies: singing, reading … Favorite memory: anchor leg of 4x4 for the first time.
Cali Holliday – Fy. – Throws – 5-7 – CC – Trenton, New Jersey / Hamilton North High School
Prior to Columbia: Multiple All-American honors … Shot Put PR – 41-10 … Discus – 130-1 … Competed at Penn Relays and NB Nationals … Top 10 in class … Football background.
Personal: Hobbies: powerlifting, MMA, piano, writing, drawing … Favorite memory: sectional win on last discus throw.
Brynn Garcia – Fy. – Distance – 5-6 – CC – San Juan Capistrano, California / Jserra Catholic High School
Prior to Columbia: 4-year varsity athlete … 3x State Champ (XC) … CIF Track Champion (3x) … 2x NXN Qualifier.
Personal: Hobbies: reading, thrifting, outdoor adventures … Favorite memory: qualifying for NXN.
Gavin Holcombe – Fy. – Pole Vault – 6-0 – CC – Danville, Pennsylvania / Danville Area High School
Prior to Columbia: 4-year varsity athlete in track and swimming … Pole vault PR: 15'6" … Region Scholar Athlete Award … District Field Athlete of the Year.
Personal: Enjoys music and theater … Favorite sports memory is winning the state title as a team his sophomore year.
Mia Hoskins – Fy. – Throws – 5-5 – CC – Coventry, Rhode Island / Coventry High School
Prior to Columbia: National Champion at NBNO 2025 (Hammer) … 6x All-American … First Team All-State … CHS Athlete of the Year … Vice President of Class of 2025 … 4-year varsity athlete and multisport competitor.
Personal: Aspires to become an Olympian … Hobbies include lifting and throwing … Favorite memory: winning New Balance Nationals in June 2025.
Roan Krishnamurthy – Fy. – Sprints – 5-8 – Engineering – Seattle, Washington / Lincoln High School / GLS Speed Track Club
Prior to Columbia: 8x WA State Qualifier … USATF Junior All-American … PRs of 10.86 (100m) and 22.20 (200m) … Competed for GLS Speed.
Personal: Hobbies include cooking, poker, and web development … Favorite memory: training with talented senior teammates during sophomore year.
Dana Lehr – Fy. – Distance – 5-5 – CC – Belmont, Massachusetts / Belmont High School / Emerging Elites
Prior to Columbia: MIAA 2 mile state champion (2024) … 2025 D2 mile and 2 mile champion … Mile PR: 4:48 … 2 Mile: 10:30 … 3K: 9:40 … Ran for Emerging Elites.
Personal: Was captain in soccer and track … Enjoys cooking, hiking, and time with her dog … Favorite memory: breaking 5:00 in the mile as a sophomore.
Ava Malagisi – Fy. – Distance – 5-2 – CC – Ridgefield, Connecticut / Ridgefield High School
Prior to Columbia: All-New England (Indoor Track 2024) … Mile PR: 4:57 (2025 gap year) … 5K: 17:08 … 1600 leg of 4:58 in DMR at NBNO 2024.
Personal: Took a gap year to train, work as a research assistant and coach … Hobbies include yoga, nutrition, puzzles, ASL, and hairstyling … Favorite memory: boys and girls teams both winning FCIACs and doing a victory lap together.
Darren Pasek – Fy. – Distance – 6-0 – CC – Saratoga Springs, New York / Saratoga Springs High School / Racing City Track Club
Prior to Columbia: 2x State Champion … 3200m PR: 9:04 … 1600m PR: 4:15 … NBNI All-American … Captain since 10th grade … Ran for Racing City TC.
Personal: 4.0 GPA … White Award for Physics … AP Scholar … Hobbies include guitar, hiking, reading, and cycling … Favorite memory: winning states on a 6th-man tiebreaker.
Ethan Singleton – So. – Sprinter – 5-10 – CC – Dallas, Texas / St. Mark's School of Texas / Wesleyan University / X-Factor
Prior to Columbia: Transferred from Wesleyan … 47.83 in 400m (school record) … All-SPC 2024 … 10.75 in 100m … 22.01 in 200m.
Personal: Founded Tennis Without Limits non-profit … Co-authored a novel … Hobbies include foodie travel blogging, saxophone, investing, Knicks fandom, and volunteering.
Max Thompson – Fy. – Mid-Distance – 5-10 – CC – Kings Mountain, North Carolina / Kings Mountain High School
Prior to Columbia: 2024 NCHSAA 800m State Champion … 3x Big South Conference MVP … 2x 1000m State Runner-Up.
Personal: Valedictorian and student body president … AP Scholar … Raised $10K for the team … Hobbies include piano, fishing, YouTube channel "LakeTalk", and lifting.
Temoc Zamora – Fy. – Hurdles – 5-11 – CC – Corpus Christi, Texas / Veterans Memorial HS / STX Punishers
Prior to Columbia: UIL 5A 110H Bronze Medalist … Region IV 5A Champion … PRs: 110H – 13.97, 300H – 37.94 … National science fair finalist … Team captain in Track & Swim.
Personal: Founder of "Giants" youth science program … Enjoys beach volleyball, the arts, and biking … Favorite memory: beating rival school to win district title after 8 years.
Meredith Wolfe – Fy. – Distance – 5-7 – CC – Round Rock, Texas / Round Rock High School / 620 Running
Prior to Columbia: 4-year varsity athlete … 1600m PR: 4:52 … 5K PR: 17:51 … Named Girls XC Athlete of the Year by Austin American Statesman.
Personal: Volunteered through church and women's service program … Hobbies include biking, piano, swimming, and listening to music … Favorite memory: her team making state.
Mignonne de Beer – Fy. – 100m Hurdles and Long Jump – 5-6 – General Studies – Stellenbosch, South Africa / Bloemhof High School for Girls
Prior to Columbia: Competed in the 100m, 100m hurdles, and long jump all four years of high school, advancing to senior-level championships in 2025. Won multiple school and club titles, including first place in both 100m hurdles and long jump at the 2022 school championships. Personal bests include 12.08 in the 100m, 14.30 in the 100m hurdles, and 5.99m in the long jump. Also served on her school's House Committee and Student Representative Council, and competed for Menlo Park Club.
Personal: Hobbies include playing the violin, chess, and spending time with her siblings in her free time.
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