BREAKING: Portland Men Add Two Top-Tier Grad Transfers

Earlier today, the Portland Pilots announced that they have added Stan Niesten and Chris Morzenti to their program. According to TFRRS, Morzenti has eligibility remaining in all three seasons of competition, including two seasons of outdoor track. Niesten, a graduate transfer from the Netherlands, will enter the NCAA with one full year of eligibility.

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Niesten was a highly accomplished distance talent while in Europe. He owns personal bests of 3:48 (1500), 8:01 (3k), 13:40 (5k) and 29:03 (10k).

Morzenti, a graduate transfer who previously competed at UCLA, owns a personal best of 4:02 for the mile and 3:46 for 1500 meters. He has also run 14:20 for 5000 meters. Morzenti was a member of UCLA's DMR squad which qualified for the Indoor National Championships this past winter.

Bringing in a talent like Niesten will be massive for a Portland squad which lost a handful of veteran distance runners this past year including Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse, Caleb Webb and Michael Teran-Solano. Niesten will join fellow transfers Jacob Klemz and Zak Kirk as they attempt to reload a historically talented Portland cross country roster.

Meanwhile, Morzenti will be paired with 3:42 1500 meter runner Cathal Doyle (a 22 year-old from Dublin, Ireland) as the team's top milers on the track. The Pilots have had two men run under the four minute mile barrier over the past two indoor track seasons.