TRANSFER: XC All-American Samree Dishon to Colorado

Earlier today, the University of Colorado announced that Samree Dishon, formerly of New Mexico, will be joining the Buffaloes later this fall. She is expected to be a standard transfer who will hold two full years of eligibility across all three seasons of competition.

Last week, it was announced that New Mexico's head coach Joe Franklin was leaving the Lobos to take the Director role at Louisville. However, The Stride Report can confirm that Dishon was listed in the transfer portal prior to Franklin's departure.

Dishon should be considered a massive recruiting win for the Colorado women. The former Lobo runner holds personal bets of 4:18 (1500), 9:04 (3k), 15:54 (5k) and 33:09 (10k). However, it's her value on the grass that makes Dishon such a monumental pickup.

Last fall, Dishon finished 13th at Joe Piane, 8th at Nuttycombe, admittedly struggled at the Mountain Regional XC Championships and then earned All-American honors with a 37th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships.

At her best, Dishon is a legitimate low-stick star for almost any distance program in the NCAA. Not only that, but if there were ever any concerns about Dishon's ability to adjust to the altitude in Boulder, Colorado, then just know that she is coming from a program that was based at altitude already -- and she went to Niwot High School in Colorado.

Dishon will now join a Boulder-based program that has been extremely active in the transfer portal over the last two years. In the summer of 2022, Colorado added low-stick standouts Bailey Hertenstein and Ella Baran to their roster via the transfer portal. Both of those women are set to return in 2023. Not only that, but the Buffaloes also recently introduced Natalie Cook (via Oklahoma State) and Marlee Starliper (via NC State) as transfers earlier this year.

With Colorado expected to bring back low-stick ace Emily Covert as well as rising distance talent Hannah Miniutti later this fall, the Buffaloes are suddenly looking like a juggernaut squad capable of potentially winning a national title on the grass.

And with an All-American standout in Samree Dishon set to don the black and gold of Colorado in the fall, the idea that this team could win a national title in November has become increasingly more realistic.

There are, admittedly, still numerous questions and concerns about the overall health of this team four to five months from now. Covert, Starliper, Miniutti, Cook and (to a far lesser extent) Hertenstein have all had notable injury challenges within the last year.

Earlier this spring, Dishon raced once (in mid-April), but wouldn't toe the line for another race throughout the rest of the outdoor track season. It's unclear why has not competed since then.

Even so, Dishon gives the Colorado women yet another All-American distance standout to lean on. And despite major uncertainties about the health of this roster, the Buffaloes now have enough top-tier scoring options where they may not need every single woman to be at 100% in order to contend for NCAA gold in November.

But for as important as this incoming transfer was Colorado, the loss of Dishon could ultimately swing the national title race away from New Mexico.

Despite the recent departure of Coach Joe Franklin, the Lobos were expected to be national title favorites later this fall if Katelyn Tuohy ends up going pro this summer and steps away from NC State's program.

And while New Mexico can absolutely still contend for NCAA gold, especially if their four remaining All-Americans return as expected, their greatest threat on the national stage in November may be the team that their former scorer just joined.