Transfer Market (Part Three)

Another week, another set of transfers. You can click here to view all of our (known) distance transfers for this summer so far...

Isaac Harding (Michigan to Grand Valley State)

Earlier today, The Stride Report confirmed with sources that Michigan's Isaac Harding will be finishing the rest of his collegiate eligibility as a graduate transfer at Grand Valley State next year. According to TFRRS, Harding has eligibility remaining in all three seasons of competition.

The former Michigan runner owns personal bests of 8:10 (3k) and 14:07 (5k). He also placed 16th at the BIG 10 Championships last fall before finishing just four spots out from All-American honors at the national meet (44th place).

Harding's move to GVSU will certainly hurt Michigan, but not as much as it will help Grand Valley State. The Lakers are expected to return Enael Woldemichael this fall and will introduce 2018 NAIA cross country national champion Colin DeYoung to the team as well. Having those two -- and then adding a near-D1 All-American to their team -- may give Grand Valley State enough firepower to compete with defending D2 national champions Colorado Mines later this fall.

Lauren Sapone (Dartmouth to Notre Dame)

Multiple sources have confirmed with The Stride Report that Lauren Sapone (formerly of Dartmouth) will be finishing her eligibility at Notre Dame as a graduate transfer. According to TFRRS, she has only one season of outdoor track eligibility remaining.

Sapone was a respectable and underrated distance talent during her time with Dartmouth. The soon-to-be Fighting Irish runner secured personal bests of 9:29 (3k) and 10:16 (steeplechase) while in the Ivy League. She also helped the Dartmouth women qualify as a team for the 2018 NCAA XC Championships after Sapone placed 11th at the Northeast regional meet.

Sapone will now join a plethora of former Ivy League runners at Notre Dame next year, including Katie Wasserman and Kyleigh Spearing (mentioned below).

Kyleigh Spearing (Cornell to Notre Dame)

The Stride Report has been able to confirm that Kyeligh Spearing (formerly of Cornell) will also be finishing her eligibility at Notre Dame next year as a graduate transfer. Like Sapone, she is expected to have one season outdoor track eligibility remaining (according to TFRRS).

Spearing owns personal bests of 9:45 (3k) and 17:03 (5k). She was part of the Cornell cross country team that stunned the nation and qualified for the National Championships last fall. She finished 27th at the Northeast regional meet in 2019.

The former Cornell runner is also an accomplished triathlete. Prior to joining the women in Ithaca, New York, Spearing placed 12th at the 2015 Junior World Triathlon Championships and was a three-time Junior Elite All-American. According to triathalon.org, Spearing is ranked 275th in the world for the triathlon.

Spearing will join Katie Wasserman and Lauren Sapone (mentioned above) as former Ivy League women who will be running for the Fighting Irish in 2021.

Awet Yohannes (Iowa Central CC to New Mexico)

Last week, Iowa Central announced that Awet Yohannes will be joining the New Mexico Lobos as a JUCO transfer. Yohannes is expected to have two seasons of indoor track and cross country eligibility as well as three seasons of outdoor track eligibility (all according to TFRRS).

Yohannes was the fastest NJCCA steeplechaser in the spring of 2019, running a personal best of 8:55. Yohannes also owns personal bests of 4:09 (mile), 8:18 (3k) and 14:39 (5k). He finished 14th at the 2019 NJCCA XC Championships and secured countless top-eight finishes at the NJCCA Championships on the track.

Pierre-Louis Detourbe (Simon Fraser to Butler)

Yesterday, Butler announced that Pierre-Louis Detourbe would be joining the Bulldogs as a graduate transfer. According to TFRRS, the former Simon Fraser runner has eligibility remaining in all three seasons of competition.

Prior to joining the men at Simon Fraser, Detourbe competed for California Baptist University. During his time with the Lancers, he became a D2 All-American in the steeplechase and secured a PR of 9:00 in the event. He would later join SFU and earn personal bests of 4:07 (mile) and 8:14 (3k).

Detourbe now joins a Butler roster that has introduced a handful of new names this year, including transfers Jonathan Besselink and Conor Naughton.