Transfer Market (Part 63): Evan Dorenkamp to Oregon, Lucy Jenks to Georgetown & a Whole Lot More

Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
Jul 1, 2024
7 min read

Covering transfers is one of the more enjoyable pieces of content for The Stride Report each and every summer. Of course, trying to keep track of the numerous on-the-move names can sometimes be an exhausting exercise.

In order to efficiently track and cover each and every name, we're opting to do a much larger "Transfer Market" article today where the list of transfers is far longer than usual. That, however, means that we will need to implement our "three sentences or less" rule when it comes to offering analysis on each of these men and women.

And don't worry, we have ANOTHER long list of transfer names coming tomorrow or Wednesday. But for the sake of time and content, we're opting to publish only 20 names today.

Don't see a certain name? Make sure to check out TRANSFERS page to make sure we didn't already report it. If we didn't, then don't hesitate to shoot us an email at contact@thestridereport.com and we'll look into it!

So with that, let's begin with our lengthy discussion piece on transfers...

Evan Dorenkamp (Penn State to Oregon)

With a 3:55 (mile) PR, sneaky-good cross country credentials, impressive finishing speed and veteran racing IQ, Evan Dorenkamp is the perfect fit for the Oregon men. The now-former Penn State runner can bolster the depth of the Ducks' 2024 cross country team while beautifully complementing the speed-based skillset of focal star, Elliott Cook.

Jake Allen (Kentucky to Penn State)

While Jake Allen won't necessarily be able to replace the scoring prowess of Evan Dorenkamp (based on his current resume), the Kentucky graduate transfer should still offer great value for Penn State across all three seasons of competition. Allen should be able to contend for points at future BIG 10 Championships in the 1500/mile as well as the 3k, although that task won't be any easier with the introduction of Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC to the conference this year. Even so, that scoring potential, along with having a possible top-20 finisher at this year's BIG 10 XC Championships, makes Allen a fairly underrated asset for the Nittany Lions.

Zach Jaeger (Georgia Tech to Tennessee)

With personal bests of 3:43 (1500) and 8:40 (steeple), Tennessee is likely hoping that Georgia Tech graduate transfer Zach Jaeger will be able to translate that fitness to the grass. While the incoming Volunteer runner hasn't been able to be as effective during cross country as he has been on the oval, his steeplechase success signals that he can be a scorer for the Tennessee men this fall if everything breaks in his favor.

Megan Johnson (Central College to Oklahoma)

After a breakout year on the track where she won the D3 steeplechase title with a personal best time of 10:13, Megan Johnson is a great transfer win for Oklahoma. The Sooners now have someone who can earn them conference meet points across multiple seasons, especially on the outdoor oval. Not only that, but Johnson has the potential to be a Division One national meet qualifier in the spring of 2025 if she's able to further capitalize on her incredible momentum from earlier this year.

Lucas Florsheim (Pomona-Pitzer to Minnesota)

While his track times of 13:59 (5k) and 29:50 (10k) are relatively unexciting, it's clear that Lucas Florsheim is at his best on the grass. The three-time top-16 finisher at the NCAA D3 XC Championships will head to a Minnesota program that is trying to find ways to stay competitive in a BIG 10 conference that has become significantly stronger with the introduction of Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC. Thankfully, the Golden Gophers have proven to be fairly effective as of late when it comes to developing veterans and graduate transfers, specifically those who focus in the longer distances.

Jonathan Carmin (New Mexico to Portland)

A highly underrated piece of New Mexico's success at the 2023 Mountain West XC Championships, Jonathan Carmin can be a great stabilizing scorer for Portland this fall. The now-former Lobo has run 13:52 for 5000 meters and was the 8th place finisher at the Mountain West XC Championships. For a Portland team that has often built their reputation around great depth, Carmin fits the Pilots' mold quite well.

Lucy Jenks (Stanford to Georgetown)

Potentially one of the more underrated pickups of the entire offseason, Georgetown signing Lucy Jenks is massive for what they are trying to do this fall. With two major All-American threats in Chloe Scrimgeour and Melissa Riggins set to return, Jenks gives the DC-based women a potential third All-American contender. The additional boost of firepower should be supported by a few sneaky-good additions who will keep the scoring stability of this team at a more-than-respectable level.

Fiona Max (Princeton to Georgetown)

While she hasn't quite replicated her fitness from the fall of 2021 (where she placed 84th at the NCAA XC Championships), Fiona Max is still an excellent pick-up for Georgetown. She's a three-time top-20 finisher at the Mid-Atlantic Regional XC Championships, giving the Hoyas a reliable backend support scorer behind their contingent of low-stick standouts. While Lucy Jenks is certainly the headline addition for Georgetown this fall, the introduction of Fiona Max to this squad is what makes their team look far more complete.

Charlotte Tomkinson (Duke to Georgetown)

There is no denying that Charlotte Tomkinson's greatest value comes on the track, especially after seeing her post personal bests of 2:02 (800) and 4:14 (1500) earlier this year. That middle distance skillset should mesh perfectly with a Georgetown squad that often thrives in the middle distance events during the winter and spring months. And after seeing Tomkinson finish in 62nd place at the Virginia Invitational last fall, we know that, at her best, she can at least provide some respectable depth on the grass.

Almi Nerurkar (United Kingdom to Georgetown)

Yet another crucial piece for Georgetown's 2024 cross country lineup, Almi Nerurkar is a major x-factor who could truly decide how high the Hoyas' ceiling rises this fall. With a 16:00 (5k) PR and a bronze medal at the 2024 British University & College Sports (BUCS) XC Championships, there is enough on Nerurkar's to believe that she could be a legitimate top-five scoring threat for Georgetown come October and November.

Evan Guzman (East Tennessee State to Furman)

One of the more surprising transfer developments of the offseason was seeing Evan Guzman venture to East Tennessee State's conference rival, Furman. Even so, this is a fairly strong fit for both parties. The Paladins will likely be happy to add someone who can be a legitimate impact scorer for them at the Southeast Regional XC Championships and it seems like there is potential for Guzman to be a solid miler under the direction of Coach Robert Gary.

Colin Kirkpatrick (Pomona-Pitzer to Georgetown)

Colin Kirkpatrick is the perfect runner for Georgetown as far as skillsets are concerned. The now-former Division Three star was briefly the NCAA D3 record holder in the steeplechase with his 8:43 PR and amassed six All-American honors with the Sagehens between all three seasons of competition (which includes a 10th place effort at the 2021 NCAA D3 Championships). Kirkpatrick will bring valuable steeplechase prowess to a school known for exactly that while also offering key scoring (assuming he's at his best) on the grass this fall.

Derek Fearon (Pomona-Pitzer to Georgetown)

A three-time All-American at the NCAA D3 XC Championships, Derek Fearon could be a sneaky-great pick-up for the Georgetown men going into this fall. Fearon has finished 10th, 12th and 24th place (not necessarily in that order) in his three appearances at the D3 cross country national meet. At the very least, the best version of Fearon can give the Hoyas a key scorer to lean on, especially as key underclassmen on this team transition into becoming more established veterans.

James Dunne (Adams State to Georgetown)

While he's not expected to play much of a role in cross country, James Dunne is a huge transfer win for a Georgetown squad that prides itself on having outstanding middle distance runners. With a 3:57 mile PR, as well as the ability to move up to 3k where he has run 7:54, Dunne could be a huge asset at the BIG East Indoor & Outdoor Championships. Dunne could also act as a key member for a future DMR lineup that will likely make the 2025 indoor national meet.

Kyle Reinheimer (North Carolina to Washington)

While the Washington men often put their focus on the mile and the 1500 meters, it's not uncommon for the Huskies to add one or two high-impact half-milers to their roster each year. And while Kyle Reinheimer hasn't surpassed the 1:48 (800) mark yet, he has been a multi-time scorer at the often-loaded ACC Championships. In our eyes, he is better than what his 1:48 personal best would suggest.

Nyah Hernandez (Arkansas to Syracuse)

With her Instagram bio now reading, "@cusexctf," it seems safe to say that Nyah Hernandez is now officially headed to Syracuse (TSR had originally confirmed that she was in the transfer portal). While her track times may not be super flashy, Hernandez did prove that she could be a respectable cross country scorer after placing 17th at the South Central Regional XC Championships last fall. The now-former Razorback will be a nice addition for the Orange's cross country team, especially given how effective they have been with capitalizing on their transfers who they add each and every year.

Mary Ellen Eudaly (Transfer Portal)

One of the more underrated names to enter the transfer portal, Mary Ellen Eudaly could be a big pick-up for the right team. This past year, Eudaly ran a strong 4:36 mile PR and had a great cross country season where she placed 20th at the SEC XC Championships, 6th at the South Central Regional XC Championships and 139th at the NCAA XC Championships. Expect teams such as Tennessee, Florida, Texas and/or North Carolina (among others) to potentially sign the Florida native.

Heidi Nielson (Transfer Portal)

With times of 4:18 (1500), 4:44 (mile), 9:21 (3k) and 16:02 (5k), Heidi Nielson is a very solid name who could be a great complementary piece for the right team. While her last year of performances have left us wanting more, the best version of Nielson could allow her to be a scorer for a cross country team looking to quickly close out their top-five later this fall. Expect Nielson to (possibly) consider the same schools mentioned above with Mary Ellen Eudaly.

Caroline Wells (Stanford to Florida)

Admittedly, the two years that Caroline Wells spent at Stanford didn't quite match up with her outstanding high school career. Even so, Wells has flashed brief moments of promise during her time with the Cardinal such as placing 55th at the 2023 Virginia XC Invitational and finishing 64th at the 2022 Cowboy Jamboree. Now, she'll return to her home state where she'll aim to contribute to a Florida cross country team that is attempting to reload instead of rebuild.

Brendan Gomez (Transfer Portal)

Despite only competing for one season at Tennessee, Brendan Gomez was able to finish 48th overall at the 2023 SEC XC Championships. That result may not catch much attention now, but over the long-term, Gomez may hold respectable value for a team that is still young and in the developmental stages of their roster.