GRAD TRANSFERS: Abdullahi Hassan Signs With Mississippi State & Bennett Booth-Genthe Joins Villanova, First Reported via Joshua Grenade

Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
Jul 13, 2024
2 min read

Earlier this week, Joshua Grenade first reported that the Villanova men have signed NCAA D3 mile champion, Bennett Booth-Genthe (via Pomona-Pitzer), as a graduate transfer. The Stride Report has independently verified the transfer.

Grenade also contributed to an announcement where Abdullahi Hassan (formerly of Wisconsin) announced that he was transferring to Mississippi State (as a graduate transfer).

Both men are expected to have one season of outdoor track eligibility remaining as well as one season of indoor track eligibility remaining.

At first glance, Hassan's decision to join Mississippi State may come as a bit of a surprise. Madison, Wisconsin and Starkville, Mississippi could not possibly be more different, at least geographically speaking. It's also a bit atypical of the Bulldog men to land high-octane transfers in the offseason. Instead, they have traditionally established their middle distance success via the JUCO ranks or through the internal development of their recruits.

But when it comes to producing true 800-meter superstars, very few programs have been able to match what Mississippi State has accomplished. Men such as Brandon McBride, Marco Arop and Navasky Anderson were superstar-caliber half-milers during their time in the NCAA. It also doesn't hurt that Tyrese Reid just ran 1:45 (800) earlier this spring.

The other connection, which may not be as obvious, is the fact that both Brandon McBride and Marco Arop are Canadian -- just like Hassan. Those two men were truly elite middle distance stars during their time in the NCAA and they both later became Olympians.

In fact, Arop is one of the best overall 800-meter runners in the world right now.

Those two men were (or are) coached by Chris Woods, the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Mississippi State.

If Woods is able to refine Hassan's middle distance talent in the same way that he did for McBride, Arop and Anderson, then this former Wisconsin star could go from being an All-American contender to a legitimate national title threat.

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We then come to Bennett Booth-Genthe, a guy who was arguably the best overall distance runner at the Division Three level this past winter and spring. Not only did the former Pomona-Pitzer runner win the NCAA D3 title in the mile this past winter, but he also went on to record marks of 1:48 (800) and 4:00 (mile).

On paper, Booth-Genthe makes perfect sense for the Villanova men. The Wildcats have been known to develop numerous upper-tier milers throughout the years. Many of those same men have also displayed excellent turnover when stepping down in distance to the 800 meters.

With at least some semblance of tactical know-how, Booth-Genthe looks like a high-upside miler who can score plenty of points for Villanova at future BIG East Championships. And if the regional rounds break in his favor, then he could potentially sneak his way into the outdoor national meet come next spring.