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Transfer Market (Part 16.5)
- Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
- Apr 1, 2022
- 5 min read
Have a transfer tip? Send us an email at contact@thestridereport.com and we'll look into it.
Another week, another batch of transfers to report. Admittedly, this update isn't quite as extensive as our last Transfer Market article, so I am appropriately calling this article Transfer Market (Part 16.5).
Have a transfer tip? Don't be afraid to shoot us an email at contact@thestridereport.com or send us a Direct Message on our social media channels! We'll look into it and verify.
Alright, let's get started...
Emmy van den Berg (Netherlands to Florida State)
Earlier this weekend, Florida State announced that Dutch middle distance runner Emmy van den Berg will be joining the program. While not made clear in the announcement, TSR is anticipating that van den Berg will join the Seminoles next fall.
The 19-year old from Netherlands is a promising middle distance talent, specifically in the 1500 meters. The soon-to-be Seminole owns a personal best of 4:23 for 1500 meters. She has also run 2:11 for 800 meters and 9:29 for 3000 meters.
While van den Berg may favor the mile-centric distances, her prowess in the 3000 meters is equally as promising. Over the last few seasons, the Florida State women have begun to see many of their elder and more established scorers fall off of their roster due to expired eligibility and graduate transfer scenarios.
Although van den Berg won't be expected to contribute as a cross country scorer immediately, her value on the grass should not be ignored. Over the long term, she could give the FSU women a potential piece for their top-seven varsity lineup.
Regardless, van den Berg's accolades will pair nicely with the 1500 meter prowess of her future teammates like Yasmine Abbes, Jennifer Lima and Alyson Churchill. In a few years time, the 'Noles could have the deepest -- and possibly the best -- 1500 meter contingent in the ACC.
Ben Nagel (Indianapolis to Virginia Tech)
After we initially reported that Ben Nagel was on the transfer portal as a graduate transfer, the Indianapolis Greyhound star decided to make his decision fairly quickly.
On Wednesday, Nagel announced that he will be attending Virginia Tech as a graduate student starting next fall. He is expected to have one year of eligibility remaining in all three seasons of competition when he arrives in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Nagel has been one of the more underrated middle distance talents in Division Two. The Indianapolis standout has run 1:49 for 800 meters, was a 4th place All-American last spring, owns two GLVC titles and was also a national qualifier for the 2021 indoor national meet.
This is now the second-straight D2 All-American middle distance standout that Virginia Tech has landed in the last few months. Back in January, The Stride Report learned that Seb Anthony, formerly of Queens (NC), was joining the Hokies this past winter.
History suggests that Nagel will find even more success in Blacksburg come 2023. The Virginia Tech men (and women) have developed a strong reputation as one of the most elite middle distance programs in the country. The Hokies have often built some of the fastest and deepest contingents of 800 meter runners and milers in NCAA each and every year.
Since joining Virginia Tech, fellow D2 alum Seb Anthony has become a top talent in the ACC. This past winter, he ran a jaw-dropping mark of 2:20 for 1000 meters to take down a strong field and later ran a 3:59 mile.
With many of Virginia Tech's top middle distance talents nearing the end of their eligibility or exploring options as graduate transfers, Nagel's future introduction to this program will be massive.
Not only will he offer potential as a scorer, but he'll also help the Hokies' middle distance group transition to a different (and promising) era.
Olivia Johnson (Boise State to Oregon State)
Another previously reported transfer portal name is on the move.
Boise State's Olivia Johnson will be joining the Oregon State women starting next fall as a graduate transfer. She is expected to have one year of eligibility remaining in all three seasons of competition by the start of next fall.
Johnson is a high-quality distance runner who can offer value in all three seasons of competition. The long-time Boise State runner has posted times of 4:19 for 1500 meters, 9:26 for 3000 meters and 16:21 for 5000 meters.
However, when she's at her best, Johnson can be a team-altering cross country runner.
During the altered cross country season, which took place in the winter of 2021, Johnson finished 7th at the Silver State XC Challenge, 7th at the Battle Born XC Challenge, 5th at the Mountain West XC Championships and 52nd at the NCAA Winter XC Championships.
To put it simply, Johnson was fantastic over those two months of competition. While she never cracked our top-50 individual rankings, the Boise State ace did appear as a "Just Missed" name in multiple updates.
Since then, Johnson has proven to be a solid and reliable talent, running two of her personal bests last spring. She has continued to hold her own on the grass, but her accolades during the winter of 2021 are the clear highlights of her resume.
Johnson's introduction to this Oregon State team could change the landscape of the West region during the 2022 cross country season. The Beavers are set to return two distance running stars in Kaylee Mitchell (8:58 / 16:00) and Grace Fetherstonhaugh (9:00 / 15:58). Both women are top-tier steeplechasers while Mitchell is also a cross country All-American.
With the rise of women like Meagan Lowe and Christina Geisler, the overall structure of this Oregon State team looks incredibly promising. Johnson's introduction to this cross country lineup theoretically bridges the gap between Oregon State's low-stick scorers and backend supporting runners.
As a result, Johnson's addition to this Oregon State roster minimizes the amount of excess scoring that can sometimes plague incomplete lineups.
Bradley Makuvire (Southeast Louisiana to Tulane)
If you thought Tulane was done signing new distances after our last Transfer Market article, then you are mistaken. The Green Wave track and cross country program recently signed Bradley Makuvire, a runner at Southeastern Louisiana who will be transferring into the program.
Makuvire is easily the best new addition that the Tulane coaching staff has recently introduced to their roster. The Southeastern Louisiana runner, who previously attended El Paso Community College earlier in his collegiate career, owns personal bests of 8:17 (3k), 14:04 (5k) and 29:36 (10k), the latter mark recently coming at the Raleigh Relays.
There is clearly tons of untapped firepower and scoring potential within Makuvire that could make him a dangerous name in the longer distances. That can be seen in his cross country performances.
Last fall, Makuvire earned four-straight wins (including the Southland Conference XC Championships) leading up to the South Central Regional Championships. Once he was there, he placed 11th overall, which was enough to earn him a spot to the NCAA XC Championships where he placed 182nd overall.
For a program like Tulane that is trying to instantly establish an identity under a new coaching staff, having a national-caliber name leading your lineup surely helps. Makuvire is someone who this Tulane team can rally around and hopefully build something sustainable with over the long term.
Previously Unreported Transfers & Additions:
Shanley Koekemoer (Campbell to Syracuse)
Noah Carey (Penn to Syracuse)
Grace Brock (Boise State to Syracuse)
Assaf Harari (Israel to Syracuse)
