UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State director of cross country/track & field John Gondak has announced 33 new additions to the program's cross country and track & field roster ahead of the 2021-22 season.
"The coaching staff is thrilled with the incoming class of Penn State Cross Country/Track and Field recruits," Gondak said. "We have a great range of talent that includes freshman high school All-Americans to graduate transfer conference champions. Everyone joining the program recognizes the amazing impact a Penn State degree will have for them along with being able to help the program. We are all excited to see them compete in the Blue and White!"
The class is made up of 21 male and 12 female student athletes. Among additions are five transfer students.
Penn State will kick-off the 2021 cross country campaign on Sept. 2, when the team heads to Lock Haven, Pa. for the Dolan Duals. The Nittany Lions' schedule consists of three home meets, including the Big Ten Championships which will be held at Penn State.
The team competed in just one cross country meet during the 2020-21 season, as the Big Ten canceled its cross country regular season in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The full list of new Nittany Lions is below.
Collin Burkhart
Hometown: Nazareth, Pa. | High School: Nazarath
Personal Bests: JT - 216-11, HT - 230-2.5, DT - 171-7, WT - 72-0.5.
Mia Bryant
Hometown: Linden, Calif. | High School: Venture Academy
Multi-Event Athlete.
Brendan Colwell
Hometown: Centre Hall, Pa. | High School: Penns Valley
Personal Bests: 1600m – 4:18, 3200m – 9:09, 5k – 14:53
Christopher DeSousa
Hometown: Ocean Port, N.J. | High School: Christian Brothers Academy
Personal Bests: 800m – 1:56.10, 1600m – 4:16.56, 3200m – 9:15.67, 5000m – 15:23.31
Zoe Duffus
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind. | High School: Fort Wayne Carroll
Personal Bests: 800m – 2:13, Mile – 4:45.95, 5k – 17:27
Sabria Epps
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa. | High School: Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Personal Bests: 55m - 7.15, 200m - 25.18, 400m - 56.98
Emi Erekosima
Hometown: Hagerstown, Md. | High School: North Hagerstown
Personal Bests: TJ - 48-0.25, LJ - 21-7.25, 400m - 50.51
Drew Gallen
Hometown: Glen Mills, Pa. | High School: Rustin
Personal Bests: 60m - 6.94, 100m - 10.86, 200m - 22.11
Eric Hamel (Fifth Year, Transfer from Western Washington)
Hometown: Enumclaw, Wash. | High School: Western Washington
Personal Bests: 5k- 14:18
Samantha Hayes
Hometown: St. Mary's, Pa. | High School: St. Mary's
Personal Bests: 1600m – 5:07.50
Hayden Healey
Hometown: Pasadena, Md. | High School: Chesapeake
Personal Bests: Mile – 4:21.22, Two Mile – 9:26.05, 5k – 15:12.05
Justin Healey
Hometown: Indianapolis, Ind. | High School: Franklin Central
Personal Bests: 800m – 1:53, Mile – 4:16, Two Mile – 9:21
Allison Johnson
Hometown: Mount Gilead, Ohio | High School: Mount Gilead
Personal Bests: 400m – 56.27, 800m – 2:05.20, Mile – 4:41.29, PV – 11'0 , 5k, 17:47.63
Dylan Lambrecht
Hometown: Jonestown, Pa. | High School: Northern Lebanon
Personal Bests: DT - 171-10, SP - 60-3
J Henry Lyon
Hometown: Williamsport, Pa. | High School: Williamsport Area
Personal Bests: 3200m – 9:12.71
Nick Marino (Graduate Student, Bucknell)
Hometown: Horsham, Pa. | High School: Hatboro-Horsham
Personal Bests: PV - 16-8.75
Korbin Martino
Hometown: Canal Winchester, Ohio | High School: Canal Winchester
Personal Bests: 100m - 10.88, 200m - 21.35, 400m - 47.04, 800m - 1:56.27
Cori McCormick
Hometown: Ashland, Pa. | High School: North Schuylkill
Personal Bests: 800m – 2:15.94, 1600m – 5:01.79, 3200m – 10:45.14
Connor McMenamin (Fifth Year, Transfer from Bucknell)
Hometown: Telford, Pa. | High School: Souderton Area
Personal Bests: 1500m – 3:52.56, 3000m SC – 8:55.40, 3200m – 9:06.53, 5k – 14:29.15
Alexia Mechling
Hometown: Butler, Pa. | High School: Butler
Personal Bests: HJ - 5-5
James Onwuka
Hometown: Newburgh, N.Y. | High School: Newburgh Free Academy
Personal Bests: 200m - 22.07, 400m - 47.52
Isaac Osifo
Hometown: Cumming, Ga. | High School: West Forsyth
Personal Bests: HJ - 6-11
Jonathan Petersen
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio | High School: Oletangy Orange
Personal Bests: PV - 16-1
Lauren Princz
Hometown: Egg Harbor Township, N.J. | High School: Egg Harbor Township
Personal Bests: 55m - 6.98, 60m - 7.66, 100m - 11.81, 200m - 23.90,
Dante Radigonda
Hometown: Exeter, N.H. | High School: Exeter
Personal Bests: 600m – 1:20.18, 800m – 1:54.30
Chloe Royce
Hometown: Saint Lambert, Canada | Previous School: Maryland
Personal Bests: Pentathlon - 3740, Heptathlon - 5000
Zachary Salas
Hometown: Torrance, Calif. | High School: Torrance
Personal Bests: PV - 15-1
Tristan Schmidt
Hometown: Emmaus, Pa. | High School: Emmaus
Personal Bests: JT - 198-11
Darius Smallwood
Hometown: Pottstown, Pa. | High School: Pottstown
Personal Bests: 800m - 1:51.91
Lindsay Stull
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio | High School: Hillard Davison
Personal Bests: 800m - 2:09.47, 1600m - 4:49.05, 3200 - 10:48.73, 5k - 17:46.60
Lauren Shedelski
Hometown: Kulpmont, Pa. | High School: Mount Carmel
Personal Bests: JT - 135-7
Allen Taylor
Hometown: Cogan Station, Pa. | High School: Williamsport Area
Personal Bests: 110h - 14.01, 300h - 38.83, LJ - 22-11.25
Elizabeth Taylor
Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va. | Before Penn State: Bryant and Stratton
Multi-Event Athlete