Columbia Men’s Track and Cross Country Team Adds 11 New Athletes

Men’s Track and Cross Country Team Adds 11 New Athletes
Written By: Columbia University Athletics
Release: 07/01/2009

NEW YORK – Columbia men’s cross country and track will see 11 new members join their team this fall, with the arrival of the incoming class of 2013.

Head coach Willy Wood announced the incoming group, which hails from nine different states, including Washington, New York, Florida, Rhode Island, California, Michigan, Texas, New Jersey and Virginia.

“I am very pleased with our men’s incoming class,” Wood said. “They should allow us the opportunity to remain dominant in the middle distance events, and make progress towards our goal of a national cross country berth. We have added great quality and depth to the program.”

The incoming class features mostly distance runners, with two middle distance specialists: Liam Tansey has recorded PRs of 1:52.06 in the 800m, and 4:08.11 in the 1600m, while Evan Tsembelis has clocked 4:13.24 in the 1600m.

Three of the recruits have made names for themselves regionally: Mark Feigen comes to Columbia as the New England Cross Country Champion, with a PR of 4:14.68 in the mile; Joseph Dorfman finished third in the Florida State Cross Country Championships; and Michael Murphy came in third in the Michigan State Cross Country Championships, clocking a personal best of 9:22 in the 3200m.

The Lions will also welcome six other first-year athletes, who will hope to bolster the Lions in distance events: Paul Snyder (9:09.04 3200m), Leighton Spencer (9:11.48 3200m), Benjamin Veilleux (9:13.24 3200m), Blake Cowan (9:15.70 3200m, 14:56.70 5000m), Dominick DeMatteo (9:16.40 3200m) and Steven Iglehart (9:20.90 3200m).


Name
Events
Hometown
High School

Blake Cowan
Distance Puyallup, Wash.
Auburn Riverside
Domenick DeMatteo
Distance Dix Hills, N.Y.
Half Hollow Hills West
Joseph Dorfman
Distance Miami, Fla. Belen Jesuit Prep
Mark Feigen
Distance East Greenwich, R.I.
East Greenwich
Steven Iglehart
Distance San Francisco, Calif.
Branson School
Michael Murphy
Distance Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Brother Rice
Paul Snyder
Distance San Antonio, Texas Winston Churchill
Leighton Spencer
Distance Chester, N.Y.
Don Bosco Preparatory
Liam Tansey
Middle Distance
Rockaway, N.J. Morris Hills
Evan Tsembelis
Middle Distance
Grand Island, N.Y.
Grand Island Senior
Benjamin Veilleux
Distance Berryville, Va. Clarke County