.png)
BREAKING: Virginia Signs Quartet of Princeton Stars in Harrison Witt, Samuel Rodman, Dan O'Brien & Nicholas Bendtsen as Graduate Transfers
The Stride Report has confirmed that the University of Virginia has signed a quartet of Princeton veterans -- Harrison Witt, Samuel Rodman, Dan O'Brien & Nicholas Bendtsen -- as graduate transfers.
According to TFRRS and internal sourcing, the four soon-to-be Cavaliers are expected to have the following remaining years of eligibility...
Harrison Witt
Cross Country: 1
Indoor Track: 1
Outdoor Track: 1
Samuel Rodman
Cross Country: N/A
Indoor Track: 0
Outdoor Track: 1
Daniel O'Brien
Cross Country: 1
Indoor Track: 0
Outdoor Track: 2
Nicholas Bendtsen
Cross Country: 1
Indoor Track: 0
Outdoor Track: 0
* * *
We begin our discussion with Harrison Witt, the runner who has had the most recent success compared to his fellow on-the-move teammates. The Princeton star has had a breakout year in 2025, posting a fantastic time of 3:52 in the mile and later running 3:37 for 1500 meters this spring. He also advanced to the NCAA Indoor Championships in the former event this past winter, placing 10th overall in the finals.
Not only that, but Witt has also run head-turning marks of 1:47 for 800 meters and 2:19 for 1000 meters! That latter performance currently sits at NCAA #15 all-time.
Having someone like Witt to pair with Gary Martin and Wes Porter (assuming they both return next year) should allow the Virginia men to continue being a formidable power in the middle distance events come 2026. And more importantly, the Cavaliers will be primed to go after another DMR national title. In fact, one could argue that the UVA men could be even BETTER in that event next year with the addition of a 3:52 miler to their roster.
Together, Martin and Witt have the potential to become the most feared 1-2 punch over 1500 meters and/or the mile in 2026. Both men will be experienced veterans as Witt will no longer be wide-eyed to the nationally competitive stages that he had never toed the line for prior to this year.
When it comes to Samuel Rodman, he has undoubtedly been the most competitive name for the longest amount of time amongst this four-person group. However, some seasons of his have been better than others.
The middle distance ace has earned not one, not two, but NINE different Ivy League titles (individual and relay) between the indoor and outdoor track seasons. Rodman has also made four appearances at the NCAA Championships, earning 4th place All-American honors in the DMR in 2022 and later taking 7th place All-American honors over 800 meters at the outdoor national meet that same year.
Admittedly, Rodman has been noticeably more competitive name as an underclassman than he has been as an upperclassman. While his consistency has remained an underrated aspect of his resume, his top-end potential has seemingly been limited.
Thankfully, that may all be changing after seeing the Tiger star erupt for an outstanding 800-meter PR of 1:46.85 at the Princeton Elite Invitational two weekends ago. That is only the third time that Rodman has ever dipped under the 1:47 (800) barrier and it is the first time that he has gone under that mark in over 27 months!
When we think about successful middle distance programs, specifically over 800 meters, the University of Virginia may not be the first very program that comes to mind. Of course, this isn't to say that the Cavaliers haven't had grand success in that area as of late. They were, after all, responsible for producing NCAA outdoor 800-meter champion, Shane Cohen, last spring.
Not only that, but the Virginia men currently hold three men on their roster who have run 1:47 or faster for 800 meters. In other words, Sam Rodman should be in the hands of a more-than-capable coaching staff as they aim to get him back to his 2022 form (and beyond).
It also doesn't hurt to mention that Rodman could be another crucial piece for Virginia's hopes of defending their DMR national title from this past winter. A relay which features Harrison Witt, Gary Martin and Rodman could be considered one of the most complete DMR lineups in the country next year.
* * *
As we venture away from the middle distances and move to the longer races, we come to Daniel O'Brien, an underrated strength-based talent who has brought tons of sneaky-good value to Princeton on the cross country course. While his personal bests of 7:56 (3k) and 13:56 (5k) are respectable, it is the grass where the future Virginia runner will likely make his mark.
O'Brien has made three separate appearances at the NCAA XC Championships, placing 117th (2022), 94th (2023) and 166th (2024) in those outings. Other key results include a 53rd place effort at the often-stacked Nuttycombe Invite (2024), a 12th place result at the Mid-Atlantic Regional XC Championships (2023) and an 8th place finish at the Ivy League XC Championships (2022).
On paper, O'Brien's cross country results, while still strong, don't necessarily jump off the page. And yet, at the same time, that doesn't really matter.
Gary Martin is a brilliant low-stick on the grass for UVA and Will Anthony is far better than what he showed us at the NCAA XC Championships last fall. Plus, with fellow Princeton runner Nicholas Bendtsen joining the team, the front portion of this scoring group seems poised for excellence come October and November.
However, the final few scorers of Virginia's varsity group allowed gaps to form between them and their teammates last fall. And at the national meet, the team's unexciting supporting cast sent them tumbling out of the top-20 in the final standings. Thankfully, O'Brien has tons of big-race experience. He has been a top-100 finisher at the national meet before and he seems to be fairly reliable.
Sure, we'll admit, O'Brien is not expected to blow the doors off when he next touches the grass in the fall. Even so, by simply adding him to this cross country contingent, O'Brien raises the Cavaliers' floor considerably for later this year.
As we just mentioned above, Nicholas Bendtsen is the other long distance specialist who is joining Virginia -- and with him comes low-stick potential.
The Princeton ace proved to be a respectable and valuable name for the Tigers on the grass early-on in his career. However, it was the fall of 2023 where the Bendtsen evolved into a star. After placing 42nd at the Nuttycombe Invite, Bendtsen went on a tear as he placed 4th at both the Ivy League XC Championships and the Mid-Atlantic Regional XC Championships before securing an outstanding 29th place All-American honor at the NCAA XC Championships.
Admittedly, Bendtsen did not replicate that kind of success in 2024, but he was still plenty valuable. Last fall, the Princeton ace placed 8th at the Ivy League XC Championships and posted a still-strong 77th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships.
The future Cavalier standout has also showcased range on the oval. In addition to being a two-time national meet qualifier over 5000 meters, Bendtsen has also run times of 3:59 (mile), 7:54 (3k), 13:35 (5k) and 28:25 (10k). Unfortunately for Virginia, he has only one season of eligibility remaining -- and it's in cross country.
Regardless of his lack of eligibility on the track, Bendtsen's proven ability to be an All-American cross country scorer for UVA is massive. The Cavaliers have had strong cross country teams over the last couple of years, but they have also underwhelmed on the national stage. However, by adding a two-time top-80 national meet finisher, the Virginia men will get an outstanding injection of scoring potency into their lineup.
If Gary Martin, Will Anthony and Nicholas Bendtsen are firing on all cylinders, then Coach Vin Lananna's squad could have three realistic All-American low-sticks leading the way for them in 2025. And with Daniel O'Brien offering crucial stability at the fourth or fifth spot in this lineup, the Virginia men are expected to be far more complete in terms of their scoring structure in 2025.
