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Transfer Market (Part 46): Notre Dame Lands Key Names, Perez to Wake Forest & Mackinnon to Syracuse
- Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
- Jul 7, 2023
- 11 min read
Have a transfer tip? Send us an email at contact@thestridereport.com and we'll look into it.
NOTE: The Stride Report is aware that there are multiple athletes who have announced their transfers who are not mentioned in this article. Those athletes will be highlighted in a future Transfer Market piece. The Stride Report is also aware that there are multiple top-caliber names currently in the transfer portal. However, out of respect for athlete privacy, TSR will not report on certain transfer portal entries until commitments are made public or approvals of publishing are granted.
Ericka VanderLende (Michigan to Notre Dame)
The Stride Report has confirmed that Ericka VanderLende is transferring to Notre Dame as a graduate student. The former Michigan ace is expected to hold one full year of eligibility across all three seasons of competition upon arriving in South Bend, Indiana.
During her time with the Michigan women, VanderLende emerged as a crucial piece in the overall success of the Wolverines, specifically on the cross country course.
As a freshman, VanderLende had a fantastic rookie season, ultimately finishing 25th at the 2019 NCAA XC Championships to earn All-American honors. However, as the rest of her career progressed, the Michigan distance star has been unable to find the same postseason success that she had four years ago.
But while VanderLende has been unable to return to her All-American level of fitness with Michigan, the long distance talent has still finished 76th, 108th and 65th, respectively, in her last three national meets on the grass.
And with a streak of mostly-excellent regular season results, this former BIG 10 ace looks like she could be Notre Dame's perfect replacement for the now-graduated Katie Thronson.
With personal bests of 9:12 (3k), 15:41 (5k) and 33:12 (10k), VanderLende should also pair nicely with Andrea Markezich, another incoming graduate transfer who is at her best in the longer distances. While both women have had moments of inconsistency throughout their collegiate cross country careers, their combined scoring value and upside could put the Fighting Irish on the podium come November.
And if both women deliver on their full potential later this fall, then the idea of Notre Dame entering the national title conversation as a team isn't ridiculous to suggest.
At the very least, the Notre Dame women should be thrilled. While some of her races are better than others, VanderLende is going to offer tremendous scoring stability to a well-rounded team that simply needs to plug one or two gaps in their lineup.
The Michigan women, however, will now find themselves in a bit of a scoring jam.
After an underwhelming 2022 cross country season, losing a top scorer like VanderLende (as well as a few other key veterans) will leave the Wolverines with limited options and a wide-open backend in the fall.
Tyler Berg (Columbia to Notre Dame)
Back in February, Tyler Berg announced that he is transferring to Notre Dame as a graduate student. According to TFRRS, the former Columbia standout is expected to have at least one full year of eligibility across all three seasons of competition once he arrives in South Bend, Indiana.
The Fighting Irish men had moments of brilliance last year, although their postseason endeavors ultimately fell short of expectations. And with former freshman standout Izaiah Steury now out of the program, the Notre Dame men were likely looking for a distance talent of Tyler Berg's caliber for this fall.
On the grass, Berg finished 3rd at the 2022 Northeast Regional XC Championships and later secured a promising 78th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships. The Ivy League distance talent eventually ran 7:54 (3k) and 13:41 (5k) on the indoor oval. In the spring of 2022, he ran 28:55.99 for 10,000 meters.
Yes, it's true, Berg doesn't have nearly the same long-term value that Steury does as far as eligibility and upside are concerned. Even so, adding this Ivy League transfer to Notre Dame's roster should establish far greater scoring stability than we expected this group to have three months ago.
And admittedly, the departures of Matthew Carmody, Izaiah Steury and Kevin Berry would usually leave us concerned about the upside of a team like Notre Dame.
However, when pairing Berg with incoming graduate transfers Vinny Mauri and Rishabh Prakash, as well as a loaded group of returners and rising sophomores, the Fighting Irish may have a chance to be noticeably better than what their finish at the 2022 NCAA XC Championships suggested.
On paper, their floor should be higher than it was last year.
And when it comes to success on the track, Berg seemingly fits the long distance ethos that Carter Solomon has popularized in South Bend, Indiana throughout the last year. That, in turn, could lead this former Columbia Lion to a significant 10k PR and a potential dip into the 13:30s range over 5000 meters.
Perry Mackinnon (Cornell to Syracuse)
Earlier this week, Cornell distance standout Perry Mackinnon announced via Instagram that he will be finishing his eligibility with Syracuse as a graduate transfer. According to TFRRS, the former Big Red distance talent is expected to have at least one full year of eligibility remaining across all three seasons of competition.
The Canadian distance runner was undoubtedly one of the most improved long distance runners in the NCAA this past spring.
On the outdoor oval, Mackinnon produced incredible times of 13:33 (5k) and 28:33 (10k), eventually qualifying for the outdoor national meet in the latter event. The former Cornell runner also ran 7:57 for 3000 meters.
But where Mackinnon will be the most valuable for Syracuse is on the grass. Before his monster spring campaign, the incoming graduate transfer finished 13th at Paul Short, 6th at the Ivy League XC Championships and 4th at the Northeast Regional XC Championships. He would later end his fall season with a decent, but unexciting, 124th place finish at the cross country national meet.
On paper, Mackinnon is exactly what the Orange men need. Last year, Syracuse thrived with depth, holding nearly zero weak points in their lineup. And while the team's overall firepower could have been better, the rise of Nathan Lawler in that low-stick role proved to be plenty effective.
But in 2023, things may get a bit tricky for the Orange.
According strictly to TFRRS, the upstate New York squad is losing Paul O'Donnell, Nathan Henderson and Noah Carey from a 2022 cross country lineup that finished 12th at the NCAA XC Championships. Those three men were the 2-3-4 runners for Syracuse that day.
Nathan Lawler is set to return and so are fellow teammates, Sam Lawler (his brother) and Assaf Harari, two men who finished in the top-125 at last year's national meet. And while breakout steeplechaser Kevin Robertson could emerge as a varsity talent, it's Mackinnon who fills a key scoring hole that most returners on this team couldn't.
If Mackinnon is able to fully translate his recently-realized upside to the grass later this fall, then the Orange men may have a second low-stick who can potentially soften the blow of losing O'Donnell, Henderson and Carey.
Angelina Perez (Florida to Wake Forest)
Earlier this week, former high school phenom Angelina Perez announced via Instagram that she will be transferring to Wake Forest.
After not competing during her first year at Florida, the rising redshirt freshman is expected to have a full slate of eligibility upon joining the Demon Deacons. However, Perez will be taking a gap year between now and the fall of 2024 before she ventures to Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
As a prep distance talent, Perez was beyond phenomenal. In a world without Natalie Cook, one could argue that Perez would have been the most sought-after long distance recruit (within the United States) from the Class of 2022.
Perez, a New Jersey native, joined the Gators last year with personal bests of 4:48 (1600), 9:15 (3k), 9:53 (3200), 9:56 (two miles) and 16:44 (5k track). She also finished runner-up to Natalie Cook at the 2022 Eastbay XC Championships during her senior year.
However, a series of personal challenges, which Perez has publicly documented via her Instagram page, ultimately kept this young distance star out of collegiate competition in the fall of 2022 and throughout 2023.
While still acknowledging that the overall health of athletes is the greatest priority, the split between Perez and Florida seemingly makes sense for both sides, logistically.
Following a massive haul of standout transfers this summer, the Gators are in "win now" mode, something that Perez's (presumably now unallocated) scholarship money was going to be helpful towards.
Meanwhile, Perez can focus on her own recovery without the pressure of contributing to a team is looking to consistently reach the national podium. And once she returns to top form, Perez has the chance to be the leading face of a Wake Forest women's team that needs her clearly-elite scoring potential.
Cruz Gomez (Texas to Ole Miss)
Last week, Ole Miss announced that Cruz Gomez will be joining the Rebels as a graduate transfer. According to TFRRS, the former Texas runner is expected to hold one full year of eligibility across all three seasons of competition.
Gomez, on paper, is a perfect fit for an Ole Miss program that has established a formidable middle distance identity, but still aims to be competitive in cross country.
On the oval, the former Longhorn has run times of 1:49 (800), 3:39 (1500) and 3:57 (mile). And while certain cross country seasons of his are better than others, this is also someone who has finished as high as 109th at the 2021 NCAA Fall XC Championships.
In fact, during that same cross country season, Gomez also finished 29th at the Cowboy Jamboree, 11th at the BIG 12 XC Championships and 9th at the South Central Regional XC Championships.
The incoming graduate transfer will now join an Ole Miss program that is hoping they will have the 2021 version of Gomez rather than what he produced in 2022. And with Cole Bullock recently confirmed to be returning to the Rebels later this fall, the idea that this team can return to the national meet feels increasingly more likely.
Of course, trying to figure out their ceiling come November remains a challenge.
Even so, Gomez will be a great name to add to Ole Miss' track roster. With top names like Baylor Franklin, Anthony Camerieri, Shane Bracken and potentially Tiarnan Crorken now out of eligibility, the need for a competitive middle distance runner feels like a necessity in the always-loaded SEC.
And while Gomez can't replace all of that lost scoring potential, he does allow the Rebels to maintain their reputation as a middle distance force while Coach Adam Smith develops the promising youngsters on this roster.
Gomez also complements the long distance prowess of incoming transfer Toby Gillen who is more of a 5k specialist, effectively offering balance between the entire spectrum of middle and long distance events.
Florian Le Pallec (California Baptist to Butler)
Last week, Butler University announced via Instagram that former California Baptist distance standout Florian Le Pallec will be joining the Bulldogs as a graduate transfer. The former Lancer has one full year of eligibility across all three seasons of competition.
Arguably one of the most underrated collegiate distance talents on the west coast, Le Pallec is may still be realizing his full potential. The 24-year old Frenchmen just ran an outstanding personal best of 13:29 for 5000 meters in Belgium back in May, hinting at his clearly-lethal firepower that he has flashed over the last few seasons.
And if you're wondering if that race was an outlier, then you'll be pleased to know that Florian Le Pallec also ran 13:30 (5k) back in June.
The incoming Butler graduate student has always been a reliable and valuable scorer on the grass, although his 2022 cross country campaign was the best of his career. The former CBU runner placed 10th at the Griak Invitational, was 11th at the Weis-Crockett Invite (Pre-Nats), settled for 5th place at the WAC XC Championships and later finished 19th at the West Regional XC Championships.
Despite not advancing to the national meet last fall (largely due to an unlucky Kolas scenario which wasn't in favor of the Lancers), Le Pallec showed the potential to be a high-impact scorer on the grass.
And now, armed with two recent 5k marks of 13:29 and 13:30, it seems fair to suggest that this France native can be a legitimate low-stick in the BIG East later this fall.
Plus, the Butler men have proven to be an ideal landing spot for international talents, specifically from Europe. Recent overseas distance standouts such as Barry Keane, Simon Bedard and Evan Byrne have all produced top marks under the direction of Coach Matt Roe.
Yes, it's true, the Indianapolis-based men may be returning six of their seven runners from last year's lineup, but their biggest loss, Barry Keane, means that their newest transfer star will have a heavy scoring responsibility set upon his shoulders come November.
If Le Pallec can evolve into an All-American-caliber low-stick for Butler this fall, then he could prove to be the difference maker who sends the Bulldogs back to the national meet.
Ruby Smee (San Francisco to Northern Arizona)
The Stride Report has confirmed that Ruby Smee is joining Northern Arizona later this fall. She is expected to be a graduate transfer. According to TFRRS, the former San Francisco runner has one season of cross country eligibility remaining as well as two seasons of indoor track eligibility and outdoor track eligibility remaining.
It may be fair to argue that Smee is one of the more underrated long distance talents on the west coast. Between her 5k and 10k success, as well as her proven All-American value on the grass, this former San Francisco runner feels like a massive transfer win for the Northern Arizona women.
On the track, this former Don runner has posted quality marks of 9:04 (3k), 15:36 (5k) and 32:30 (10k). She has also qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships twice in her career, both times over 5000 meters.
Of course, it's the cross country course where this Aussie ace will likely have the biggest impact. In the fall of 2021, Smee finished runner-up at both the West Coast Conference XC Championships and the West Regional XC Championships. She would later place 34th at the NCAA XC Championships to earn All-American honors.
Last fall, the incoming Lumberjack finished 30th at the Joe Piane Invitational, 6th at the West Regional XC Championships and 56th at the NCAA XC Championships.
The Northern Arizona women were a pleasant surprise during October and November of last year. Numerous women ended up having breakout seasons, giving the team an outstanding balance of depth and firepower.
The good news is that in 2023, the Lady Lumberjacks return their top-three scorers from the national meet, strictly according to TFRRS. The bad news, however, is that they are expected to lose women from the 4-6-7 slots of that same lineup.
But by introducing a low-stick talent like Ruby Smee, the overall firepower of this team may be able to make up for whatever backend deficiencies that the NAU women were originally expected to have this fall. And if their projected top-five can all run at their best on the same day, then a podium spot is well within reach for this team in November.
Juan Diego Castro (Oklahoma State to Azusa Pacific)
The Stride Report has confirmed that Juan Diego Castro will be finishing his eligibility with the Azusa Pacific men later this year as a graduate transfer. According to TFRRS, the former Oklahoma State middle distance standout has zero indoor track eligibility remaining. He does, however, have two seasons of cross country eligibility and outdoor track eligibility remaining.
With personal bests of 1:48 (800), 2:20 (1k) and 3:57 (mile), this Cowboy-turned-Cougar runner has instantly become a Division Two All-American favorite in multiple events. And in a perfect world, Diego Castro could also emerge as a national title favorite depending on which men return (and don't return) in 2024.
When it comes to the middle distance events within the Division Two realm, Azusa Pacific has been a quietly-excellent program. Under the guidance of Coach Sean Smith, the Cougars have produced outstanding depth over 800 meters in recent years.
Women such as Marian Ledesma, Mikayla Akers, Philippine de la Bigne and Briseida Garcia Meza have all run under 2:10 for the half-mile distance over the last two years. Meanwhile, Ben Sumner has evolved into one of the best D2 middle distance runners in the nation.
In a world where Wes Ferguson decides to turn pro, one could argue that the Azusa Pacific men may actually have two national title contenders in the middle distance events next year between Sumner and now Juan Diego Castro.
And if this former BIG 12 standout had any remaining indoor track eligibility, which he seemingly does not, then the Cougars could have fielded one of the more imposing DMR lineups in the nation come the winter of 2024.
