UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State cross country and track & field head coach John Gondak and the Nittany Lion coaching staff have completed its incoming class with the addition of 40 student-athletes.
"Once again our coaching staff did an amazing job enhancing our program with the 2019 recruiting class. We have a very accomplished group of individuals that will be wearing the Blue and White the next four to five years and we are all excited to see what they can accomplish. We also continue to build on being a balanced program across all events and this class shows our efforts are paying off." Coach Gondak said of his incoming class.
The Nittany Lions begin the 2019-2020 year on September 6 at the Dolan Duals hosted by Lock Haven University.
Yasmin Brooks
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pa. | High School/Previous School: Susquehanna Township High School/Texas Christian University
Events – Personal Bests: 60m Hurdles-8.38, 100m Hurdles-13.49, 200m-24.73, 400m-60.81, Long Jump-19'.5"
Highlights: NCAA Regional Qualifier in the 100m hurdles.
Megan Ciasullo
Hometown: Ambler, Pa. | High School: Mt. Saint Joseph Academy
Events – Personal Bests: 3200m-10:53.91, 5,000m-18:54
Highlights: State qualifier in the 3200m and cross country.
Isabella Culver
Hometown: Spring Mills, Pa. | High School: Penns Valley
Event – Personal Best: 400m-56.82
Highlights: Placed second at the 2018 State Championship in the 400m.
Erica Ellis
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y. | High School: Gates Chili High School
Event – Personal Best: Pole Vault-14'1
Highlights: Junior Class national record holder in the pole vault.
Katherine Fedko
Hometown: Gibsonia, Pa. | High School: Hampton
Events – Personal Bests: 3200m-11:10.36, 5,000m-18:21
Highlights: State qualifier in cross country.
Taylor Jede
Hometown: Mechanicsburg, Pa. | High School: Cumberland Valley High School
Events – Personal Bests: 300m Hurdles-43.98, 400m-58.76, 400m Hurdles-63.64
Highlights: 3-time state finalist in the 300m hurdles.
Kileigh Kane
Hometown: State College, Pa. | High School: State College Area High School
Events – Personal Bests: Mile – 4:51.05, 3200m – 10:48.34
Highlights: Placed second at the 2019 PA state cross country championships.
Mallory Kauffman
Hometown: Millerstown, Pa. | High School: Greenwood High School
Events – Personal Bests: Shot Put-48'6", Discus-160'6"
Highlights: 2019 PIAA State Champion in the shot put and discus.
Makenna Krebs
Hometown: Harrisburg, Pa. | High School: Central Dauphin East
Events – Personal Bests: 800m-2:12.95, 1600m-5:02.98
Highlights: State Championship qualifier in both cross country and track.
Allyson Lewis
Hometown: Lisbon, Conn. | High School: Norwich Free Academy
Event – Personal Bests: High Jump-5-9
Highlights: 2018 state champion indoor and 2019 state champion outdoors.
Sarah Lehman
Hometown: Mechanicsburg Pa. | Pervious School: Penn State Harrisburg
Events – Personal Bests: Long Jump 18-9 (5.72m), Triple Jump 39-11.50 (12.18m)
Highlights: NCAA Division III All-American in the triple jump.
Jane Madson
Hometown: Upper St. Clair, Pa. | High School: Upper Saint Clair High School
Events – Personal Best: 100m-12.35, 200m-24.65, 400m-58.45
Highlights: Two-time state finalist in the 200m.
Serafina Mazza
Hometown: Centre Hall, Pa. | High School: St. Joseph's
Events – Personal Bests: 1600m-5:11.83, 5k-18:39
Highlights: Four-time top-10 finisher at State in cross country, 2016 state champion in cross country.
Mary McDavid
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa. | High School: Penn Charter
Events – Personal Bests: 1600m – 5:03.27
PA Independent Schools finalist in the 1600m.
Chibugo Obichere
Hometown: Valley Stream, N.Y. | High School: Valley Stream South High School
Events – Personal Bests: 55m Hurdles-7.82, 60m Hurdles-8.61, 100m-12.20, 100m Hurdles-13.80
Highlights: 2019 state champion in the 100m hurdles.
Jean Starr
Hometown: Vandergrift, Pa. | High School: Kiski Area High School
Event – Personal Best. Shot put-43' 4"
Samantha Stravach
Hometown: Westfield, N.J. | High School: Westfield High School
Event – Personal Best: Javelin-131' 4"
Highlights: New Jersey Meet of Champions qualifier.
Sharai Taylor
Hometown: Pottstown, Pa. | Previous School: Penn State Harrisburg
Event – Personal Best: Multi-events-4720
Highlights: NCAA Division III All-American in the heptathlon.
Paige Terrette
Hometown: Bangor, Pa. | High School: Bangor High School
Event – Personal Best: Javelin-135
Highlights: State qualifier in the javelin.
Kate Willshaw
Hometown: Easton, Pa. | High School: Easton Area High School
Event – Personal Best: High jump-5-8
Highlights: Six-time state qualifier in the high jump
Carlie Wilson
Hometown: Sparta, N.J. | High School: Sparta High School
Event – Personal Best: High jump-5-6
Highlights: Indoor and outdoor Meet of Champions qualifier in the high jump.
Hailey Zurich
Hometown: Loyalsock, Pa. | High School: Loyalsock High School
Event – Personal Best: Pole vault-13-0
Highlights: Four-time, top-four finisher at the state championships.
Mateo Boudourian
Hometown: Buenes Aires, Argentina | Previous School: IMG Academy
Event – Personal Best: Decathlon-6200
Highlights: Placed third in the Under-20 decathlon at Argentina Championships
Joe Cardina
Hometown: Lancaster, Pa. | High School: Conestoga Valley
Event – Personal Best: High jump-6'6
Highlights: 2019 indoor and outdoor state qualifier in the high jump.
Evan Dorenkamp
Hometown: Lancaster, Pa. | High School: Manheim Township
Event – Personal Best: 1600m-4:08.15
Highlights: 2019 PIAA state champion in the 1600m and runner-up at New Balance Nationals in the 1600m.
Christopher Fredericks
Palmerton, Pa. | Palmerton Area
Event – Personal Best: Javelin-206' 3"
Highlights: Top-ranked senior javelin thrower in Pennsylvania , 12th in the USA.
Lance Hamilton
Hometown: State College, Pa. | High School: State College Area High School
Events – Personal Best: Triple jump-51' 1/4", Long jump-23'9
Highlights: 2019 PIAA state champion in the triple jump and runner-up at New Balance Nationals in the triple jump.
Savion Hebron
Hometown: Langhorne, Pa | High School: Neshaminy High School
Events – Personal Bests: 60m-6.98, 100m-10.75, 200m-21.35, 400m-48.40, Relay-46.3
Highlights: 2019 indoor state champion in the 200m and outdoor state champion in the 4x400.
Karl Johnson
Hometown: Beckton, London | High School: Barking Abbey School
Event – Personal Best: 400m Hurdles-50.90
Highlights: Placed third at the 2018 European Under-18 Championship in the 400m hurdles.
Godwin Kabanda
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa | High School: Northeast High School
Events – Personal Bests: 110m High Hurdles-14.58, 300m Hurdles-37.29, 400m Hurdles-53.36
Highlights: 2019 state champion in the 300m hurdles.
Luke Knipe
Hometown: State College, Pa. | High School: State College Area High School
Events – Personal Bests: Pole vault-16, Long jump-23'6
Highlights: 2019 state champion in the pole vault.
Josh Lewis
Hometown: North East, Pa. | High School: North East HS
Event – Personal Best: 3200m-9:26.38
Highlights: Placed 13th at the 2018 Footlocker Northeast Regional.
Miles Liggins
Hometown: Monmouth Junction, N.J. | High School: South Brunswick
Event – Personal Best: 800m-1:53.88
Highlights: Runner-up at the 2019 Indoor Meet of Champions in the 800m.
Chase Longenecker
Hometown: State College, Pa. | High School: State College Area High School
60m Hurdles-8.19, 110m High Hurdles-14.56
Highlights: Indoor and outdoor state finalist in the hurdles.
Sam Owori
Hometown: Zelienople, Pa. | High School: Seneca Valley
Event – Personal Best: 1600m-4:14.51
Highlights: State medalist in both cross country and the 1600m.
Lucciano Pizarro
Hometown: Marlton, N.J. | High School: Cherokee HS
Events – Personal Best: Shot put-60' 11"
Highlights: Won the 2019 New Jersey Meet of Champions in the shot put.
Sincere Rhea
Hometown: Dorchester, N.J./Philadelphia, Pa. | High School: St. Augustine Prep
Events – Personal Best: 55m High Hurdles-7.10, 60m High Hurdles-7.64, 100m-10.99, 110m High Hurdles-13.51, 200m-21.56, 400m-47.89, 400m Hurdles-54.62
Highlights: Indoor high school national champion and outdoor national runner-up in the hurdles.
Sean Ryan
Hometown: Northport, N.Y. | High School: Northport
Events – Personal Bests: 800m-1:53.39, 1600m-4:10.78
Highlights: 2019 New York state champion in the 1600m.
Payton Sewall
Hometown: Glenmoore, Pa. | High School: Downingtown West
Event – Personal Best: 3200m-9:23.88
Highlights: State qualifier in both cross country and track (3200m)
Colin Waters
Hometown: Poughquag, N.Y. | High School: Arlington
Event – Personal Best: 3200m-9:21.06
Highlights: State finalist in both cross country and track (3200m).
For more information on Penn State cross country / track & field, visit gopsusports.com. Follow us on social media @PennStateTFXC.
