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Transfer Market (Part 67): Oklahoma, Virginia Tech & UCLA Bolster Rosters, Phoebe Anderson & Adam Burlison Enter Transfer Portal
Updated: Dec 16, 2024
Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen!
Our transfer analysis has returned for the winter months. And despite December and January not holding quite as many headlines as the summer, there is still plenty of movement and a still-growing number of new additions which deserve recognition.
Below, we offered some analysis on just a few of the soon-to-be-many transfers and international recruits. The latter names don't necessarily qualify as "transfers," but it would have felt odd if we omitted them.
Let's begin, shall we?
Phoebe Anderson (Transfer Portal)
The Stride Report has confirmed that Columbia's Phoebe Anderson has entered the transfer portal as a graduate student. The current Ivy League star does not have any cross country eligibility remaining. However, if we assume that she will not compete for Columbia this winter or spring, then she will still have one year of indoor track and one year of outdoor track eligibility remaining.
Over the last few years, Anderson has emerged as one of the most reliable and consistent national-caliber long distance talents in the NCAA. On the track, the veteran has posted excellent times of 4:35 (mile), 8:59 (3k), 15:29 (5k) and 32:54 (10k). It should also be noted that Anderson ran a flat-track converted time of 15:26 (5k) last winter.
Across all three seasons, the Columbia ace has made six appearances on the national stage. In her last two races at the NCAA XC Championships, Anderson earned All-American finishes of 26th place (2024) and 29th (place). Last year, she qualified for the indoor and outdoor national meets over 5000 meters.
As we think of potential landing spots for the English distance star, one team immediately comes to mind: Providence.
The Lady Friars are located in the Northeast region just like Columbia is. And although Anderson doesn't have any additional cross country eligibility, her endurance-based skillset would be incredibly valuable. Not just because she's insanely talented, but because Providence's best women have historically focused on the mile and 1500 meters (Alex Millard will likely contest a variety of events).
However, maybe more importantly, nearly all of the Friars' top women are from overseas. Just like Anderson, both Shannon Flockhart and Alex Millard hail from England.
Speaking of Northeast-based, aerobic-centric distance programs, the Syracuse women could be an option for Anderson is she wants to remain in the same part of the country. However, the Orange women haven't necessarily landed many big-time stars from the transfer portal in recent years.
Teams such as Oregon, Florida, Notre Dame and Washington have not been afraid to aggressively pursue top names in the transfer portal, especially the latter. Washington, in particular, has a history of taking on top international names. Could Anderson be a potential target for the Huskies?
Adam Burlison (Transfer Portal)
The Stride Report has confirmed that current freshman and former high school star, Adam Burlison, has entered the transfer portal. The current Texas rookie holds a full slate of eligibility on the track and three seasons of cross country eligibility.
During his days as a prep runner, Burlison was an electric and a dynamic distance talent. With marks of 4:03 (mile), 8:54 (3200) and 14:28 (5k track), the current Longhorn youngster was viewed as one of the more valuable three-season threats among recruits in the Class of 2024. And despite a few struggles in the cross country postseason, Burlison was still among the most elite athletes in his class on the grass.
Unfortunately, a few of those struggles in cross country carried over to the NCAA. Earlier this season, Burlison placed 71st at the Cowboy Jamboree, 34th in the "Open" race at Pre-Nationals and settled for 75th place at the SEC XC Championships.
As we survey which teams could possibly be in contention to sign the high-ceiling distance star, it's impossible to not think of Oregon. Prior to signing with Texas, Burlison actually committed to join the Ducks! Could the Lone Star native set his sights on Eugene, Oregon in the coming weeks/months?
Other Southwest programs such as Oklahoma State and Arkansas haven't necessarily shied away taking on high-ceiling youngsters. And from a geographic perspective, those two schools would be solid fits for Burlison.
It's also hard not to think about Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons have a ton of elite underclassmen. Few teams are better positioned for future success in the distance events than them. Coach John Hayes has also been willing to add a variety of different recruits in terms of skillset and, on paper, Burlison would fit the profile of a current Wake Forest runner.
Ronald Ngetich (Kenya to Oklahoma)
Shadrack Kiptoo (Kenya to Oklahoma)
Evans Biwott (Kenya to Oklahoma)
Last week, the University of Oklahoma announced that they have signed three distance runners from Kenya -- Ronald Ngetich, Shadrack Kiptoo and Evans Biwott. Each of those men will join the Sooners for the upcoming semester. Per TFRRS, each of the incoming Kenyans will hold freshmen eligibility.
According to Oklahoma, Ronald Ngetich holds personal bests of 8:00 (3k) and 13:48 (5k), Shadrack Kiptoo has produced times of 13:41 (5k) and Evans Biwott boasts PRs of 8:46 (steeple) and 13:51 (5k).
The new era of "Name, Image and Likeness" (NIL) has led to a variety of changes around the NCAA. One of those changes is an increased investment in international recruits.
And the latest team to join that roster-building method? Oklahoma.
The Sooners already boast a strong low-stick in Thobias Cheruiyot who, despite placing 104th at the NCAA XC Championships, made a brief appearance in our top-50 individual rankings this past fall. The Oklahoma talent was 18th at the Joe Piane Invite, 6th at the Arturo Barrios Invite and 10th at the SEC XC Championships.
By adding three additional men to the Sooners' distance roster, each of whom have run under 14:00 for 5000 meters (while two have run under 13:50), the Oklahoma men have suddenly become a potential national-caliber team in cross country. That's a massive development for a men's distance program that has largely been a non-factor in the BIG 12 (and as of this season, the SEC) since 2015.
It will still take time for the men of Norman, Oklahoma to match the firepower of teams like Alabama and Arkansas in the SEC as well as Oklahoma State and Iowa State in the Midwest region. They did, after all, struggle with depth this past year and are expected to lose their 2-3-4 scorers, per TFRRS.
Even so, Oklahoma is the newest contender to enter the NCAA cross country hierarchy -- but they will certainly not be the last.
Linus Chepkochei (Kenya to Virginia Tech)
Late last week, Virginia Tech announced that they have signed Linus Chepkochei from Kenya. Despite not holding any formal results, The Stride Report has learned that Chepkochei has run 14:03 over 5000 meters at 7000 feet (filmed). The incoming Hokie will be joining the team for the upcoming semester.
It should also be noted that Chepkochei's 5k time converts to a head-turning mark of 13:33 when factoring in altitude.
Under the new direction of Ben Thomas, Virginia Tech has begun to invest in the longer distance events by going the international route. That was plenty evident during the summer when the Hokies signed Kenyan distance runner Nicholas Kipchirchir and former Charleston (WV) talent, George Couttie (who hails from Great Britain).
Now, Linus Chepkochei is the next overseas addition to join Coach Ben Thomas. He'll be added to a steadily rising Virginia Tech squad that surprisingly qualified for the NCAA XC Championships this past fall. In doing so, the Hokies may have three possible low-stick-caliber talents between Couttie, Kipchirchir and Chepkoechi
Does the ACC have yet another national-caliber cross country team on their hands? That certainly seems to be the case...
Jule Lindner (Germany to Virginia Tech)
Emma Lindner (Germany to Virginia Tech)
Late last week, Virginia Tech announced that they have signed sisters Jule Lindner and Emma Lindner from Bavaria, Germany. Both women are expected to hold freshman eligibility upon joining the Hokies. It is not yet clear if the Lindner sisters will venture to Blacksburg, Virginia for the spring semester or for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Per World Athletics, Jule Lindner holds personal bests of 4:24 (1500), 9:52 (3k), 6:30 (2k steeple) and 10:09 (3k steeple). Meanwhile, Emma Lindner has run times of 2:09 (800) and 4:23 (1500).
It is certainly possible that both of those women could contribute to Virginia Tech's cross country team (especially Jule Lindner). However, the greatest value of the two Bavarian sisters will likely come on the oval.
The skillset of Emma Lindner makes her a perfect fit for a Virginia Tech program that is among the best in the NCAA for developing middle distance runners. With Lindsey Butler set to come back for one more season and Star Price potentially primed for a statement year, the Hokies will be able to slowly introduce Lindner to the NCAA without the immediate pressure of her being a must-have scorer.
As for Jule Lindner, her 10:09 PR in the steeplechaser is quietly impressive. A mark as strong as that positions the German distance runner to potentially contend for a birth to the NCAA Outdoor Championships as soon as this spring (pending further improvement, of course).
Over the long-term, the Hokies may have a national-caliber 800-meter runner and a national-caliber steeplechaser, both of whom can drop down and effectively contest the 1500-meter distance. From a value perspective, that is big win for the women of Blacksburg, Virginia.
Bennett Booth-Genthe (Villanova to UCLA)
The Stride Report has confirmed that Bennett Booth-Genthe will venture to UCLA for the upcoming semester as a graduate student. The former Pomona-Pitzer runner is expected to have one year of eligibility in both indoor track and outdoor track.
Prior to joining Villanova, Bennett Booth-Genthe completed his undergraduate degree as Division Three powerhouse, Pomona-Pitzer. There, the former Sagehen produced times of 1:48 (800) and 4:00 (mile). He also secured the 2024 D3 mile national title last winter. In addition to that title, Booth-Genthe secured three separate D3 All-American honors.
After spending just one semester on the Main Line, Booth-Genthe has opted to return to the west coast despite being a Pennsylvania native. In doing so, he'll join a UCLA squad that is still aiming to rediscover their identity under their newest distance coach Andrew Ferris (who joined the Bruins in 2023).
Thankfully, there are a small handful of strong distance talents who currently reside on the Bruins' roster. Michael Mireles, for instance, placed 2nd at the BIG 10 XC Championships and has run 13:49 for 5000 meters. Angus Harrington, meanwhile, has run 1:47 for 800 meters and could be primed to qualify for this year's national meet(s).
By adding Booth-Genthe, UCLA now has a competitive (and tactically savvy) mile/1500-meter runner who rounds out their distance roster in a way that Harrington and Mireles weren't expected to. At the very least, Booth-Genthe can emerge as a scorer at the BIG 10 Indoor Championships and the BIG 10 Outdoor Championships. And as many BIG 10 fans know, the mile and 1500-meter finals of that conference meet are often among the most tactical battles in the NCAA.
Marie Celie Warneke (Germany to UCLA)
The Stride Report has confirmed that Germany native Marie Celie Warneke will venture to UCLA for the upcoming semester. The 19-year-old middle distance runner is expected to hold a full slate of eligibility upon joining the NCAA.
Warneke is a true speed-based standout, holding excellent times of 55.56 (400) and 2:02 (800). Back in August, Warneke competed at the U20 World Championships. There, she advanced to the 800-meter finals and placed 4th overall.
It should also be noted that Warneke won 800-meter titles at both the U20 German Championships and the U20 Australian Championships. The overseas standout has dual citizenship in both countries, but opted to represent Germany on the world stage.
The UCLA women have had subtly solid success in the middle distance events over the last few years. Last spring, Kate Jendrezak ran a converted 800-meter time of 2:01 and qualified for the indoor and outdoor national meets at that distance. Rose Pittman, meanwhile, ran an 800-meter PR of 2:03 and was the dreaded "First Woman Out" of the national meet in the West region.
However, Warneke comes in with credentials that are (roughly) just as good as Jendrezak and Pittman. And although she doesn't seem to have much experience on the indoor oval, any improvements that she makes during the spring could put her closer and closer to qualifying for the national meet as just a freshman.
Over the long-term, Marie Celie Warneke could be the marquee star of UCLA's program who the Bruins' coaching staff can build around.
