UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State track & field/cross country head coach John Gondak has announced 40 incoming student-athletes to the program's 2023-24 roster.
"We are very excited to welcome this talented class of newcomers to Penn State Cross Country/Track and Field," Gondak said. "The staff did a great job of identifying individuals that can come in and help the program right away, along with others we feel can continue their growth as athletes in our system. We just concluded our best year team-wise since 2018 and this incoming group is going to keep us going on the climb to the top!"
The newest members of Penn State's squad will join a group of three mid-season enrollees from this past year who will now enter their first full seasons of competition with the Nittany Lions: Hayley Kitching, Charlotte Costich, and Allison Spalding. Kitching entered the program midway through the 2022-23 campaign and put on a show in her freshman season, winning both indoor and outdoor Big Ten Freshman of the Year awards with a pair of medal-winning performances in the 800 meters. She also qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in her first season with the Nittany Lions.
Penn State's newest additions, seeking to make strong contributions in 2023-24, are listed below, along with their top marks and accomplishments:
2023-24 PENN STATE TRACK & FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY NEWCOMERS
Men's Team
Patrick Abel | GR | Sprints | Brooklyn, N.Y. | Stony Brook
- PRs: 60m – 6.87, 100m – 10.65, 200m – 21.41
- Holds Stonyy Brook records in 60m, 100m, 200m
Robert Allen | FR | Jumps | Center Valley, Pa. | Southern Lehigh
- PRs: HJ – 6-7
- 2x PA District 9 medalist in the high jump
- 2x PIAA Championships qualifier in the high jump
Antonio Abrego | JR | Mid-Distance | Santa Clara, Calif. | Iowa
- PRs: 800m – 1:48.47, Mile 4:09.75
- 2022 NCAA West Prelims qualifier in the 800m
- Two Time Big Ten Finalist in the 800m
Darion Baumgartner | FR | Sprints/Hurdles | Chambersburg, Pa. | Chambersburg
- PRs: 55mH – 7.38, 60mH – 7.89, 110mH – 14.84
- 2023 PTFCA indoor 60mH state champion
Jake Borgesi | FR | Mid-Distance | Pittsburgh, Pa. | South Fayette
- PRs: 800m – 1:56.14, Mile – 4:14.27, 3200m – 9:07.99
- Nike All-American
Matt DeMatteo | SO | Sprints/Hurdles | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Duquesne
- PRs: 400mH – 53.61
- IC4A/ECAC Outdoor qualifier in 400m hurdles
- Third-fastest 400mH time in Duquesne history (53.61)
Brian DiCola | FR | Distance | Horsham, Pa. | Hatboro-Horsham
- PRs: Mile – 4:04.14, 3K – 8:18.68, 3200m – 8:47.39, 5K – 14:26.72
- 2022-23 Pennsylvania Boys Track & Field Gatorade Player of the Year
- 2023 New Balance Nationals 5K Champion
- 2x 2023 PA State Champion (1600m and 3200m)
- 2022 PA Cross Country Champion in course record time
- 2022 Eastbay Nationals Finalist
- 2023 Penn Relays High School Boys Mile Champion
- PIAA record 8:47.39 3200m
- No. 2 prep mile time in Pennsylvania state history at 2023 Hoka Festival of Miles
Olin Frank | SO | Multi-events | Chagrin Falls, Ohio | UMass
- 8x Crown Conference Champion
Ahmad Fogg | FR | Jumps | Egg Harbor Township, N.J. | Egg Harbor Township
- PRs: LJ – 24-4.25
- Bronze Medalist at 2023 New Balance Nationals in long jump
Brett Kroboth | FR | Distance | Venetia, Pa. | Peters Township
- PRs: 1600m – 4:13.20, 3200m – 9:12.68
- 2x First Team All-State in cross country
Jakub Korejba | FR | Throws | Poland
- PRs: SP – 58-3.25 (17.76m), DT – 170-8 (52.02m)
Ramsey Little | GR | Distance | Millburn, N.J. | Marist
- PRs: 3000m – 8:08.31, 5000m – 14:08.72, 10,000m – 29:54.24, 8K (XC) – 23:34.2, 10K (XC) – 29:49.8
- 1x NCAA All-Northeast Region honoree
Colton Lynch | FR | Sprints | Shamokin, Pa. | Shamokin
- PRs: 400m – 48.10
- 2x PIAA State Medalist
Andrew McGonigle | FR | Distance | Phoenixville, Pa. | Owen J. Roberts
- PRs: 1600m – 4:17.94, 3000m – 8:37.30, 3200m – 9:14.64, 5K (XC) – 15:14.90
- 2x All-Area runner of the year
- 5x District Medalist
Kaleb Nastari | FR | Mid-Distance | Hanoverton, Ohio | United
- PRs: 400m – 48.33, 800m – 1:48.31, Mile – 4:13.95
- 1x Nike National Champion (2023 outdoor 800m)
- 1x Nike National Runner-Up (2023 indoor 800m)
- 2x Ohio State Champion ('23 outdoor 800m, '22 outdoor 800m)
- OHSAA record holder in 800m
T.J. Roden | FR | Mid-Distance | Harrisburg, Pa. | Central Dauphin
- PRs: 800m – 1:52.70, 1600m – 4:11.01, 3200m – 9:08.20
- 2023 PIAA Bronze medalist in the 800m, 5th in 1600m
- 2022 Eastbay Nationals Finalist
Nicholas Sloff | FR | Mid-Distance | State College, Pa. | Sate College
- PRs: 800m – 1:54.32, 1600m – 4:11.40
- 2023 6th-place finisher in PA in 1600m
- 4x District 6 Champion
Chris Ross | FR | Sprints | Franklin, N.J. | Wallkill Valley
- PRs: 60m – 6.99, 100m – 10.71, LJ – 22-10.75
- 2023 New Jersey long jump state champion
- Holds county records in 55m, 60m, 100m, 200m, long jump
Logan Strawser | FR | Distance | McAlisterville, Pa. | East Juniata
- PRs: 1600m – 4:13.95, 3200m – 9:09.29
- 3x PIAA silver medalist (2023 1600m, 3200m, 2022 3200m)
Dustin Swartwood | FR | Throws | Auburn, N.Y. | Auburn
- PRs: DT – 168-0 (51.21m), SP – 51-4.25 (15.65m), WT – 70-3 (21.41m)
- 2x N.Y. State silver medalist ('23 indoor shot, '23 weight)
Cheickna Traore | GR | Sprints | Linden, N.J. | Ramapo
- PRs: 60m – 6.76 100m – 10.18, 200m – 20.25, 300m – 33.64, 400m – 46.54
- 3x NCAA Division III National Champion ('23 outdoor 200m, '23 indoor 200m, '23 indoor 400m)
- NCAA Division III record holder in the outdoor 200m, 300m, 500m, and indoor 200m, 300m
- No. 2 all-time in NCAA Division III in the outdoor 100m, indoor 400m
- 10x NJAC Conference Champion
Joe White | FR | Jumps | Spring Lake, N.J. | Christian Brothers Academy
- PRs: LJ – 23-8
- 1x N.J. State medalist in the long jump
- 2023 Conference Champion in the long jump
Women's Team
Victoria Atkinson | GR | Pole Vault | Mountain Top, Pa. | Cornell
- PR: PV – 13-9.25 (4.20m)
- 2x Ivy League Pole Vault Champion ('22 indoor, '22 outdoor)
- 2x NCAA Division I East Prelims qualifier in the pole vault
Hannah Boyle | FR | Mid-Distance | Liverpool, N.Y. | Cicero-North Syracuse
- PRs: 400m – 57.73, 800m – 2:10.39, 1500 – 4:22.48, Mile – 4:42.11
- 2022 New Balance Mile National Champion
- 3x New York State Champion
Florence Caron | JR | Mid-Distance | Canada | Laval University
- PRs: 800m – 2:11.19, 1500m – 4:19.89, Mile – 4:40.70, 3K – 9:34.61
Morgan Casey | FR | Jumps | Portsmouth, R.I. | Portsmouth
- PRs: HJ – 5-8
- 7th place in high jump at 2022 New Balance Outdoor Nationals
Gabi Deglau | FR | Throws | Richmond, Va. | Collegiate School
- PRs: DT – 142-2 (43.33m), HT – 141-6.5 (46.22m), WT – 50-6 (15.43m)
- 8x Va. State Champion ('23 i/o shot, '23 discus, '22 i/o shot, '22 discus, '21 i/o shot)
- 3x All-American (2x USATF Youth Nationals, 1x Adidas Indoor Nationals)
- 6x All-Metro league (3x shot, 3x discus)
Julia Dial | FR | Jumps | Alexandria, Va. | Thomas Edison
- PRs: LJ – 18-9 (5.72m), TJ – 40-10.75 (12.47m)
- 5x Va. state medalist (LJ and TJ)
Ryleigh Hearn | FR | Sprints | West Brandywine, Pa. | Downingtown West
- PRs: 400m – 56.56
- 4th at 2023 indoor PTFCA state championships in the 400
- Holds seven Downingtown West School records.
Kylie Jacoutot | FR | Sprints/Hurdles | Colts Neck, N.J. | Colts Neck
- PRs – 400m – 57.50, 400mH – 1:02.30
- 2x Central Jersey Group 3 Section Champion (400m and 400mH)
- 2021 Nike All-American in the DMR
Samaria McDonald | GR | Throws | Los Angeles, Calif. | Grand Canyon
- PRs: HT – 212-10 (64.87m), WT – 62-5 (19.02m)
- 1x WAC hammer throw champion ('21)
- 1x WAC hammer throw runner-up ('22)
- 1x NCAA West Prelims qualifier ('22 hammer throw)
Jadyn Mullen | FR | Multi-events | Alexander, N.Y. | Alexander Central
- PRs: HJ – 5-6.5, LJ – 18-1.25, 400m – 58.56, 800m – 2:18.15, PENT – 3492
- 2023 NYSPHSAA State Champion in the outdoor pentathlon
- 2023 pentathlon silver medalist at Adidas Indoor Nationals
Willow Myers | FR | Distance | Mercer, Pa. | Mercer
- PRs: 1600m – 5:05.30, 3200m – 11:05.41, 5K (XC) – 18:53.00
- 1x PIAA Bronze Medalist in Cross Country (2022)
- 4x 5th-place finisher at PIAA State Championships (3x 1600m, 1x 3200m)
Ashley Pines | FR | Mid-Distance | Mechanicsburg, Pa. | Cumberland Valley
- PRs: 800m – 2:13.30, Mile – 5:02
- 1x State Champion (indoor 4x400)
- 2023 PIAA District 3 AAA 800-meter champion
Dani Prunzik | FR | Sprints | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Upper St. Clair
- PRs: 60m – 7.66, 100m – 11.70, 200m – 24.53
- 6x top-eight finisher at PIAA Championships (3x 100m, 3x 200m)
- 3x WPIAL 100m Champion
Lizzie Schreiber | FR | Jumps | Huntington Station, N.Y. | Walt Whitman
- PRs: LJ – 18-7, TJ – 40-9.75
- 3x N.Y. State medalist in the triple jump
- 2023 Eighth-place finisher at New Balance Nationals in the triple jump
Carolyn Tarpley | FR | Distance | Downingtown, Pa. | Downingtown STEM Academy
- PRs: 1600m – 4:59.68, 3200m – 10:39.54, 5K (XC) – 17:55.80
- 6th place in 3200m at 2023 PIAA Championships
- 2x Ches-Mont Cross Country Champion ('22, '21)
Therese Trainer | FR | Mid-Distance | Villanova, Pa. | Academy of Notre Dame
- PRs: 800m – 2:13.43, 1600m – 4:57.31
Jenna Young | FR | Jumps | Brooklyn, Ohio | Brooklyn
- PRs: HJ – 5-8
- 1x OHSAA Division II State high jump champion (2022)
- 1x OHSAA Division II State high jump runner-up (2021)
Claire Zubey | FR | Distance | Spring City, Pa. | Owen J. Roberts
- PRs: 1600m – 4:53.25, 3200m – 10:34.34, 5K (XC) – 17:47.70
- 2021 PIAA Bronze Medalist in cross country
- 4x All-State in Cross Country
- Owns 1600m and 3200m Owen J. Roberts school records
2023 CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
Penn State will begin its 2023-24 year of competition with cross country season in the fall. The Nittany Lions will host one home meet during the 2023 season, the Spiked Shoe Invitational on September 8.
Date Meet Location
Sept. 1 Dolan Duals Lock Haven, Pa.
Sept. 8 Spiked Shoe Invitational University Park, Pa.
Sept. 30 Lehigh Paul Short Invitational Bethlethem, Pa.
Oct. 13 Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational Madison, Wis.
Oct. 27 Big Ten Championships Madison, Wis.
Nov. 10 NCAA Regional Championships Bethlehem, Pa.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Follow along with the team on our social media pages on Facebook (PennStateTFXC) and Twitter/Instagram (@pennstatetfxc).