GRAD TRANSFER: Sydney Seymour to NC State Next Fall

On Tuesday night, Tennessee's Sydney Seymour toppled the first domino of the summer transfer madness. That's because the former Volunteer star announced via Instagram that she will be finishing her eligibility with NC State starting next fall as a graduate transfer.

She has eligibility remaining in all three seasons of competition.

Seymour has been one of the most underrated breakout distance talents of 2022. The soon-to-be Wolfpack runner was very strong during the 2021 cross country season, winning the "Open" race at Pre-Nationals, placing 9th at the SEC XC Championships and later placing 3rd at the South Regional Championships.

An illness ultimately prevented Seymour from competing at the NCAA XC Championships.

On the indoor oval, Seymour began to build incredible momentum, running 9:15 for 3000 meters and knocking her 5k PR down from 16:18 to 16:00 to 15:47, the latter mark earning her a runner-up finish at the SEC Indoor Championships.

This spring, Seymour truly reached a new tier of talent. The rising distance star went from the 15:48 to 15:36 to 15:34 over 5000 meters, the latter of which helped her qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships where she placed 13th.

Overall, Seymour brings massive value to an NC State program that is considered to be a modern-day powerhouse. The Wolfpack women are the defending team cross country champions and boast an army of the best long distance runners in the country, including rising phenom Katelyn Tuohy.

And on paper, Seymour is an outstanding roster fit for the women of Raleigh, something that The Stride Report has observed in past episodes of the Blue Oval Podcast.

see past analysis at 28:56

see past analysis at 37:58

The Wolfpack women will lose (according to TFRRS) Allie Hays, Hannah Steelman and Dominique Clairmonte from their 2021 varsity cross country lineup.

However, the rise of Gionna Quarzo (a recent 10k national qualifier) and Marlee Starliper (a recent 5k national qualifier) theoretically covers most of the scoring gaps within NC State's top-seven.

And with Seymour now set to join this roster later this fall, the Wolfpack women suddenly look like the same formidable juggernaut that they proved to be in 2021 (and earlier).

NC State has now not only landed a highly valuable and reliable scorer, but given Seymour's rapid progression, they may have another true low-stick on their hands.

And who knows? Maybe there are other undecided transfers who will eventually join Seymour in Raleigh, North Carolina next fall...