GRAD TRANSFER: BYU Lands 9:46 Steeplechaser & NCAA XC Championship Qualifier Carmen Riano

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Earlier today, BYU announced that they have signed Carmen Riano, a graduate transfer from Miami University (OH). Riano, who entered the transfer portal in the winter, is expected to have at least one full year of eligibility remaining across all three seasons of competition, per TFRRS. It also seems possible that she could have a second year of cross country eligibility, although that is still unclear.

Riano is a promising three-season threat who, in retrospect, feels like a perfect fit for the BYU women as far as skillsets and roster identities are concerned.

On the oval, Riano has produced personal bests of 15:50 (5k) and 9:46 (steeple). She has also qualified for the outdoor national meet twice in the latter event. The six-time Mid-American Conference champion across all three seasons has also thrived on the grass, at one point cracking our top-50 individual rankings during the 2022 cross country season.

That year, Riano placed 3rd at the Louisville XC Classic and then won both the Bradley Pink Classic as well as the MAC XC Championships before placing 15th at the Great Lakes Regional XC Championships. The now-former RedHawk would go on to have an "off" day the national meet.

When we look at this transfer from a cross country perspective, this is a fairly significant recruiting win for Coach Diljeet Taylor. The BYU women are primed to have a fairly strong 2024 cross country season. Not only do most of their top stars return, but they are also far more experienced and far more proven as well.

At the very least, Riano gives a podium-caliber squad a stable top-five scorer who can only raise BYU's already-high floor. She provides excellent scoring insurance and essentially gives the Cougars a more complete lineup heading into this fall.

At her best, the newest grad transfer can even be a fringe low-stick who helps to negate some of the scoring efforts from other podium-contending squads.

Photo via Miami (OH) Athletics

But what truly makes this transfer pick-up such a great fit is the fact that Riano can provide national-caliber value in both cross country AND the steeplechase. The 9:46 steeplechaser has been on the national stage twice, but has yet to truly reach the next tier where she's battling for All-American honors in that event.

Of course, as we all know, Coach Diljeet Taylor is one of the best in the nation when it comes to developing upper-echelon steeplechase women. She did, after all, just guide Courtney Wayment to an Olympic birth in that event a few weeks ago.

Riano fits everything that BYU was (probably) looking for and BYU perfectly meshes the skillset that has made Riano a valuable transfer prospect to begin with. On paper, few athlete-program pairings make more sense than this one.