GRAD TRANSFER: Flomena Asekol to Florida

Earlier today, Flomena Asekol and the University of Florida announced that the former Alabama distance star will be joining the Gators later this fall as a graduate transfer. She is expected to hold one full year of eligibility across all three seasons of competition.

Earlier this month, The Stride Report broke the news that Asekol had entered the transfer portal. The versatile distance star is a two-time All-American on the grass, placing 29th at the 2021 NCAA Fall XC Championships and then 14th at the 2022 NCAA XC Championships. She was also the 3rd place finisher in the mile at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships and she holds a 4:32 PR in that event.

With this move, Asekol will be reunited with her former distance coach from Alabama, Will Palmer, who left the Crimson Tide for the University of Florida earlier this year.

The Florida women just landed a massively valuable transfer prospect who could significantly alter the outlook of the Gators' 2023 cross country season. The Gainesville-based distance program is headlined by megastar Parker Valby who will now have a legitimate, high-octane secondary scorer in Asekol to pair with her.

Coach Will Palmer also added Allison Wilson to his program earlier this year, a former Alabama runner who ran 16:05 (unattached) for 5000 meters back in April.

With two true low-sticks, a rising middle-lineup contributor and a decent slew of still-developing young talents, the Florida women suddenly have a realistic opportunity to qualify for the NCAA XC Championships later this year.

Admittedly, limited depth, uncertainty about Valby's health and Wilson's unknown upside still leave us with significant questions about the potential of this team. Even so, the idea that the Gators could win the SEC title, the South regional title and/or finish inside the top-25 at the national meet is now fairly realistic thanks to the recent introduction of Asekol.

However, the value that Asekol brings on the oval may be just as impactful.

The Florida women are consistently one of the top overall track and field programs in the NCAA on an annual basis. Having a national meet scorer in the distance events (other than Valby) could prove to be massively valuable to a team that will likely be in the hunt for an indoor or outdoor national title come 2024.