Columbia Track and Field Announces 29 Newcomers
9/2/2026 3:00:00 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field
Incoming Class Features Standouts from 15 States and Four Countries
NEW YORK — Columbia Director of Cross Country/Track & Field and Middle Distance/Distance Dan Ireland announced 29 additions to the Lions' 2026-27 roster. The incoming class represents 15 states and four countries, bringing a wide range of talent and accomplishments both on and off the track.
Ananya Balaraman
Distance | West Hills, Calif. | North Hollywood High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity cross country and track and field athlete ... Two-time CIF Los Angeles City Section Division I cross country champion and three-time state qualifier ... Three-time CIF-LA track and field champion and five-time state qualifier ... Personal bests include 2:15.56 in the 800m, 4:57.10 in the 1600m, and 17:03 in the cross country three-mile ... Named the 2026 CIF-LA Scholar-Athlete of the Year and North Hollywood Outstanding Individual Athlete ... AP Scholar with Distinction and National Merit Commended Scholar.
Personal: Plans to study applied mathematics at Columbia College.
Amelia Alvazzi
Distance | Boston, Mass. | Phillips Academy Andover
Prior to Columbia: Four-year track and field athlete and two-year cross country runner at Phillips Academy Andover ... Served as outdoor track captain ... Two-time NEPSTA champion in both the 1,500m and 3,000m (2025-26) ... Finished runner-up at the NEPSTA Cross Country Championships in 2024 and 2025 ... Placed 11th at the 2025 Brooks Northeast Championships ... Holds school records in the 800m, 1,000m, mile and two-mile ... Helped her teams win four cross country and outdoor track championships from 2024-26 ... Competed for Swiss athletics club Hochwacht Zug ... Swiss Olympic Talent Card holder at the regional level ... Recipient of the Phillips Academy Phelps Award ... Earned Academic Excellence honors in French and mathematics ... Selected as a 2025 NSLI-Y Mandarin Scholar ... Led the Phillips Academy Climate Lobby initiative.
Personal: Plans to study economics-political science at Columbia College.
Kieran Boyle
Sprints | Ridgefield, Conn. | Ridgefield High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity track and field athlete ... New Balance Nationals All-American after placing fifth in the sprint medley relay ... Finished second in the 55m and fourth in the 300m at the New England Indoor Championships ... Runner-up in the 55m at the CIAC State Open ... Reached the 100m semifinals at the Irish Championships ... Recorded personal bests of 6.38 in the 55m, 10.76 in the 100m, 21.81 in the 200m and 34.71 in the 300m ... High Honor Roll student and recipient of the 2026 Tiger Hollow Inc. Scholarship.
Personal: Plans to study financial economics at Columbia College ... Sister, Caitlin, competed in rowing at Fordham from 2019-23.
Chris Bustamante
Multis | Yonkers, N.Y. | Fordham Preparatory School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity track and field athlete ... Two-time Nike Indoor Nationals All-American ... Recorded personal bests of 15-0 in the pole vault, 7.72 in the 55m hurdles and 14.75 in the 110m hurdles ... Member of the National Honor Society ... Earned First Honors 10 times, Second Honors three times and Principal's Honor Roll recognition five times ... Volunteered with the Boomer Esiason Foundation and his local parish.
Personal: Plans to study financial economics at Columbia College.
Adrian Cami
Hurdles | Demarest, N.J. | Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest
Prior to Columbia: Three-year varsity track and field athlete and team captain ... Three-time New Jersey Meet of Champions qualifier and four-time New Balance Nationals qualifier ... Earned 13 state sectional medals and six state group medals ... Recorded personal bests of 14.40 in the 110m hurdles, 7.72 in the 55m hurdles, 11.00 in the 100m and 22.33 in the 200m ... Named Northern Valley Demarest Male Athlete of the Year ... NJSIAA and Big North National Scholar-Athlete ... AP Scholar with Honor and nine-time Scholar-Athlete ... Also captained the varsity soccer team.
Personal: Plans to study neuroscience at Columbia College ... Son of Behar and Elena Cami ... Father, Behar, played football at Columbia from 1988-91 ... Co-founded a mentorship program for children with autism.
Mateo Canga
Distance | Norfolk, Va. | Maury High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity cross country and track and field athlete ... 2025 RunningLane XC Second Team All-American and Brooks XC South All-Region selection ... Earned VHSL First Team All-State honors in 2025 and Second Team recognition in 2024 ... Finished runner-up at the 2024 VHSL Class 5 Cross Country Championships and third in 2025 ... Two-time Region 5B and Eastern District individual champion ... Two-year team captain and MVP ... Recorded personal bests of 15:10.00 in the cross country 5K, 9:11.67 in the 3200m and 4:23.96 in the 1600m ... Two-time AP Scholar and honor graduate.
Personal: Plans to study political science at Columbia College… Mother competed in cross country and track and field at Princeton from 1999 to 2000.
Roman D'Alfonso
Throws | Newburgh, N.Y. | Newburgh Free Academy
Prior to Columbia: Four-year track and field athlete ... Recorded personal bests of 203-4 in the hammer throw and 67-7 in the weight throw ... Improved his hammer mark from 191-8 as a junior to 203-4 as a senior ... Trained with the New York Hammer Academy ... Named an OCIAA Scholar-Athlete ... Participated in Johns Hopkins' ISPEED in Biomedical Engineering program ... Served as a lead volunteer for community blood drives.
Personal: Plans to study applied mathematics at Columbia Engineering.
Eliana Daplyn
Mid-Distance | Greenwich, Conn. | Greenwich High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year cross country and track and field athlete, competing during all three seasons ... Nike Indoor Nationals All-American in the 4xMile relay ... Earned All-New England and All-State honors ... Recorded personal bests of 2:12 in the 800m and 57 seconds in the 400m ... Member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Social Studies Honor Society ... Received Greenwich's Global Studies and Chemistry awards ... Founded her high school's Bible study and served as a student leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Personal: Plans to study economics and psychology at Columbia College ... Sister, Esme, competes in cross-country and track and field at Dartmouth.
Teresina DeAscnais
Distance/Mid-Distance | Wilmington, Del. | Padua Academy
Prior to Columbia: Four-year member of the Padua Academy cross country and track & field program, competing in cross country in the fall and indoor track in the winter all four years ... Three-time All-American member of the 4x800 relay and All-American member of the 4xMile relay ... Member of the National Honor Society and four-year Honor Roll student ... Personal bests include 2:15.77 in the 800m, 5:00.06 in the mile, and 10:55.05 in the 3200m.
Personal: Plans to study financial economics at Columbia.
Kayla Ewing
Hurdles | Morris Plains, N.J. | Morristown High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year indoor and outdoor track and field athlete ... Named NJAC Athlete of the Year and earned First Team All-Morris County and First Team All-NJAC honors ... Won conference titles in the 100m and 400m hurdles ... Two-time North 1, Group 4 sectional 55m hurdles champion and sectional record holder ... Placed fourth in the 55m hurdles, fifth in the 100m hurdles and seventh in the high jump at the New Jersey Meet of Champions ... Holds Morris County records in the 55m and 100m hurdles ... Recorded personal bests of 7.97 in the 55m hurdles and 13.91 in the 100m hurdles ... NJSIAA Scholar-Athlete and NJAC All-Academic honoree ... Graduated in the top 10 percent of her class.
Personal: Plans to study economics at Columbia College ... Father competed in track and field and basketball at UMBC, while her brother, Michael, played basketball at MIT ... Competed in dance for 12 years.
Rohan Gazula
Mid-Distance | Marietta, Ga. | The Westminster Schools
Prior to Columbia: Four-year cross-country and track and field athlete ... Won the Georgia Class 4A state championship in the 800m as a senior ... Recorded personal bests of 1:52.65 in the 800m, 4:18.65 in the mile and 49.29 in the 400m ... National Merit Scholar and recipient of the Georgia Certificate of Merit.
Personal: Plans to study economics at Columbia College ... Son of Raj Gazula and Mona Mahadasu ... Enjoys soccer and reading.
Andrea Gross
Sprints | Miami, Fla. | Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart
Prior to Columbia: Five-year varsity track and field athlete ... Helped the 4x400m relay finish second at the 2025 FHSAA Class 2A State Championships and third in 2026 ... Placed fifth in the 400m at the 2025 state championships and competed at New Balance Nationals ... Holds school records in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 4x400m relay ... Recorded personal bests of 12.26 in the 100m, 25.05 in the 200m and 56.67 in the 400m ... Four-time Carrollton Outstanding Sprinter Award recipient ... Graduated as valedictorian and an AP Scholar with Distinction ... Miami Herald Silver Knight honorable mention.
Personal: Plans to study economics at Columbia College ... Father, Jorge, played football at Columbia in 1997 ... Founder and president of All For Run, Inc.
Tytan Johnson
Mid-Distance | West Monroe, La. | West Monroe High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity cross country and track and field athlete ... Won the 800m at the 2026 Louisiana Indoor State Championships ... Two-time outdoor state runner-up in the 800m ... Helped the 4x400m relay place third at the 2025 state championships ... Named to the All-Louisiana Track Team ... Holds West Monroe's 800m record with a personal-best 1:51.98 ... Also recorded a personal best of 49.14 in the 400m ... AP Scholar with Distinction, AP Capstone Diploma recipient and Academic All-State honoree in cross country and track and field.
Personal: Plans to study engineering at Columbia.
Jonah Kim
Pole Vault | Syosset, N.Y. | Syosset High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity track and field athlete ... Five-time county champion and two-time Long Island champion ... Four-time All-State honoree and four-time national championships qualifier ... Recorded a personal best of 15-6 in the pole vault ... Member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society ... Also competed in varsity volleyball for three years.
Personal: Plans to study biology at Columbia College.
Sophia Kono
Sprints | Snoqualmie, Wash. | Mount Si High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity track and field athlete and two-year team captain ... Won the 4x200m relay at Nike Indoor Nationals ... Recorded personal bests of 11.90 in the 100m and 24.30 in the 200m ... Competed for GLS Speed from 2024-26 ... AP Scholar with Distinction and High Honor Roll student ... Also competed in dance.
Personal: Plans to study biology at Columbia College.
Anya Mahorowala
Pole Vault | Portland, Ore. | Jesuit High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity track and field athlete ... Two-time Metro League First Team All-Star ... Placed fifth in the pole vault at the OSAA State Championships as a junior ... Competed for the Willamette Striders Track Club ... Named an OnPoint Community Credit Union Scholar-Athlete ... National Merit Commended Student and National Honor Society member ... Two-time recipient of Jesuit's Computer Science Award ... Graduated magna cum laude.
Personal: Plans to study mathematics at Columbia College.
Malia Martin
Throws | Santa Clara, Calif. | Archbishop Mitty High School
Prior to Columbia: Three-year varsity track and field thrower and senior team captain ... Ranked fourth in California in both the shot put and discus in 2026 and No. 15 nationally among the Class of 2026 in the discus ... Western Catholic Athletic League champion in both events ... California state finalist and USATF Pacific All-American in the discus and shot put ... Holds Archbishop Mitty records with personal bests of 45-5.75 in the shot put and 157-4 in the discus ... Named Archbishop Mitty's 2026 Track Athlete of the Year ... Qualified for Nike Outdoor Nationals in both events ... AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Commended Student and eight-semester Principal's Honor Roll honoree ... Won the 2026 San Jose Poetry Slam.
Personal: Plans to study creative writing at Columbia College.
Jason McNicoll
Throws | Overland Park, Kan. | Blue Valley West High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year track and field athlete specializing in the javelin ... Ranked sixth nationally as a senior ... Two-time Kansas state runner-up in 2025 and 2026 ... Earned All-America honors after placing fourth at the 2025 New Balance Nationals ... Recorded a personal best of 220-6 in the javelin ... AP Scholar, National Honor Society member and Academic Letter recipient ... Volunteered at TurnStyles Thrift Store ... Founded a tree-planting organization that sourced Gala apple trees and planted them free of charge for Overland Park residents.
Personal: Plans to study economics at Columbia College ... Played baseball before beginning his javelin career.
Kela Noji
Sprints | Seattle, Wash. | Nathan Hale High School
Prior to Columbia: Three-year varsity track and field athlete ... Won three titles at the 2026 Washington Class 2A State Championships, capturing the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay ... Set Class 2A state meet records in the 100m and 200m ... Eight-time Metro League champion and seven-time SeaKing District champion ... Holds Nathan Hale records in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x200m ... Recorded personal bests of 11.71 in the 100m, 23.91 in the 200m and 7.68 in the indoor 60m ... Graduated in the top two percent of her class ... Served as editor-in-chief of the school newspaper and founded the Women and Sustainability Club.
Personal: Plans to study economics and political science at Columbia College ... Daughter of Rick and Amy Noji, who both competed in track and field at Washington ... Father competed professionally and is a member of the Husky and WIAA Halls of Fame.
Wells Peterson
Distance | San Antonio, Texas | TMI Episcopal
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity cross country and track and field athlete ... Three-time Texas state champion, winning titles in cross country, the 1600m and the 3200m ... Helped TMI Episcopal win the 2023 cross country team state championship ... Two-time All-State honoree in cross country and three-time All-State selection in track and field ... 2024 Nike Outdoor Nationals All-American in the distance medley relay and 2026 Under Armour Outdoor Nationals All-American in the mile ... Recorded personal bests of 14:58.22 in the track 5K, 8:59.61 in the 3200m and 4:12.63 in the 1600m ... Academic All-State honoree and AP Scholar ... Served as Honor Council president and JROTC battalion commander.
Personal: Plans to study economics at Columbia College.
Lucas Poliseno
Mid-Distance | Bucks County, Pa. | Council Rock High School North
Prior to Columbia: Four-year cross country and track and field athlete ... Helped the 4x800m relay win a Pennsylvania state championship in 2024 and the cross country team capture the 2023 state title ... Nine-time state medalist ... Earned All-America honors after placing third in the 4xMile relay at the 2026 New Balance Nationals ... Recorded personal bests of 1:51.29 in the 800m, 4:12.20 in the 1600m and 15:21.00 in the cross country 5K ... Member of the National Honor Society and four-time Distinguished Honor Roll student ... Volunteered with a local youth track team and food pantries.
Personal: Plans to study financial economics at Columbia College.
Kenneth Ramdayal
Throws | New Hyde Park, N.Y. | Herricks High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year track and field athlete ... Seven-time county champion and seven-time All-State honoree ... State champion and two-time All-American ... Earned All-America honors in the weight throw at New Balance Nationals ... Recorded personal bests of 59-11.50 in the shot put, 189-1 in the discus, 224-5 in the hammer and 80-6.25 in the weight throw ... Two-time sportsmanship award recipient ... Honor Roll student ... Also competed in football for three years.
Personal: Plans to study financial economics at Columbia College.
Anna Salter
Distance | Hillsborough, Calif. | Crystal Springs Uplands School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year cross country and track and field athlete ... Helped Crystal Springs Uplands win three CIF Division V cross country state championships ... Placed fifth individually at the CIF Division V Cross Country State Championships ... Three-time CIF Track and Field State Championships qualifier across the 800m, 1600m and 3200m ... Finished second in the 1600m and third in the 800m at the 2026 CCS Championships ... Recorded personal bests of 2:10 in the 800m, 4:45 in the 1600m, 10:18 in the 3200m and 17:43 in the cross country 5K ... Named Crystal Springs Uplands' 2026 Athlete of the Year.
Personal: Plans to study financial economics at Columbia College.
Stephen Sziebert
Mid-Distance | San Jose, Calif. | Bellarmine College Preparatory
Prior to Columbia: Four-year cross country and track and field athlete ... Holds the all-time WCAL and CCS records in the 1600m ... Recorded personal bests of 1:52 in the 800m, 4:02 in the 1600m and 14:58 in the cross country 5K ... Helped Bellarmine finish second at the 2024 CIF Cross Country State Championships, the best finish in program history ... Named Bellarmine's 2025 Top Track Athlete and Most Valuable Cross Country Athlete ... Selected as the Class of 2026 Most Valuable Senior Athlete ... Two-time Mateo Ricci General Excellence Award recipient and AP Scholar.
Personal: Plans to study financial economics at the School of General Studies.
Trent Thibault
Distance | Lansing, N.Y. | Lansing High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year cross country and track and field athlete, competing during all three seasons ... Won the NYSPHSAA Class C Cross Country State Championship ... Recorded personal bests of 9:04.11 in the 3200m and 14:51.19 in the 5K ... Captained the cross country team as a senior ... Helped Lansing complete undefeated outdoor track and field seasons during his junior and senior years ... Named ESPN Ithaca's Athlete of the Year ... Member of the National Honor Society and recipient of the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence.
Personal: Plans to study financial economics at Columbia College ... Father, William, competed in cross country and track and field at Dartmouth.
Symone Thomas
Throws | Houston, Texas | Klein Cain High School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year track and field athlete ... Texas UIL Track and Field State Championships finalist ... Recorded personal bests of 155-2 in the discus and 37-2 in the shot put ... Four-year varsity cheerleader and team captain ... Earned All-America honors in cheerleading ... Graduated cum laude ... Member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society ... Volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Best Buddies International, the Houston Food Bank and several veterans organizations.
Personal: Plans to study political science at Columbia College.
Grace Townsend
Hurdles | Sydney, Australia | Pymble Ladies' College
Prior to Columbia: Four-year track and field and cross country athlete ... Two-time New South Wales champion and two-time Australian national runner-up in the 400m hurdles ... Represented Australian Schools at the Oceania Championships ... Won the U16 Oceania title and set the championship record in the 300m hurdles ... Represented New South Wales twice in both soccer and touch football ... Received Pymble's Athlete All-Rounder Award ... Earned a 98.10 ATAR and recognition as a Distinguished and All-Rounder Achiever ... Volunteered as a youth soccer coach and with Sydney FC's Powerchair Football Community Program.
Personal: Plans to study economics at Barnard College ... Father, Danny, played professional soccer for Sydney United and Parramatta Power.
Ethan Williams
Jumps | Houston, Texas | The Kinkaid School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year varsity track and field athlete ... Two-time Southwest Preparatory Conference high jump champion, winning titles in 2025 and 2026 ... Earned All-Conference honors three times ... Recorded a personal best of 6-8 in the high jump ... Competed for Texas Elite Track and Field ... Also played varsity basketball for four years ... Received the College Board National African American Recognition Award and twice earned honorable mention on the National French Exam ... Recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Silver Award.
Personal: Plans to study financial economics at Columbia.
Richelle Wo
Hurdles | Hong Kong | Diocesan Girls' School
Prior to Columbia: Four-year track and field athlete specializing in the 100m hurdles ... Hong Kong Division I Inter-School Athletics champion and record holder ... Member of the Hong Kong China Athletics Team and WAC Athletics Club ... Placed sixth at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships ... Finished fourth at both the Asian U18 Athletics Championships and Central Asian Athletics Championships ... Received the DGS Scholarship for Academic Excellence and the DGS PTA Scholarship after finishing at the top of her class ... Volunteered as a teacher for ethnic minority students and served as a student leader in her school's Citizens Club.
Personal: Plans to study economics at Columbia College.
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