ITHACA, N.Y. – Adrian Durant, The George Heekin '29 Head Coach of Men's Track and Field, has announced the addition of 17 newcomers to the roster in advance of the 2020-21 season.
 
Four student-athletes (Alex Ehrenthal, Rhys Hammond, Colden Longley, and Sam Young) join the Big Red men's cross country team as well, led by Mike Henderson, The Alan B. '53 and Elizabeth Heekin Harris Head Coach of Women's Track & Field/Men's and Women's Cross Country.
 
The diverse group of newcomers hails from 10 different states and Mexico and features four sprinters, three throwers, two multis, two distance runners, two middle distance runners, two hurdlers, one jumper, and one pole vaulter.

Meet the Newcomers

Drew Altemose
Throws / Swiftwater, Pa. (Pocono Mountain East HS)
Personal Bests: Javelin - 198' 7"
Altemose comes to Cornell from Pocono Mountain East High School where he was one of Pennsylvania's emerging elite javelin throwers. In just his first year competing in the event, Altemose saw rapid improvement in the javelin, throwing a personal-best 198' 7" at his district championships. He would go on to finish seventh at the PIAA State Championships.
 
Patrick Brewer
Multis / Belle Vernon, Pa. (Greensburg Central Catholic HS)
Personal Bests: Decathlon – 5,509 / Pole Vault – 14' 0" / Javelin – 151' 1"
Brewer showed great improvement over his high school career, boasting personal-bests of 5,509 points in the decathlon, 14-0 in the pole vault, and 151' 1" in the javelin. The Big Red men's track and field program looks forward to seeing what Brewer can accomplish in the Ivy League.
 
Angus Dove
Sprints / Goldsboro, N.C. (Eastern Wayne HS)
Personal Bests: 200-meter – 21.94 / 300-meter – 35.74 / 400-meter – 49.04
The Wayne County and ECC 3/A 4/A Conference Champion in the 400-meter, Dove adds to a young and talented long sprints group. Dove's range and versatility will make him a pivotal member of the Big Red's efforts in the sprints and relays. He has the ability to be a key player for Cornell, both indoors and outdoors.
 
Alex Ehrenthal
Distance (XC) / Concord, Mass. (Concord-Carlisle Regional HS)
Personal Bests: 1600-meter – 4:18.53
Ehrenthal joins the Big Red after a gap year at Northfield Mount Herman School. In his first year running cross country as a senior at Concord-Carlisle Regional High School, Ehrenthal finished eighth in the Northeast Region and qualified for Nike Cross Nationals. He also placed fifth at the Massachusetts state meet and ran 4:18.53 in the 1600-meter in 2019. Although Ehrenthal did not get a 2020 track season, he has a great combination of speed, endurance, and toughness and will be a valuable addition to the program.
 
Rodrigo Escotto
Multis / Mexico City, Mexico (University of Arizona / IMG Academy (Fla.))
Personal Bests: Decathlon – 6,330 / 100-meter – 11.03 / Pole Vault – 14' 5"
Escotto comes to Cornell after transferring from a Power-Five university. In high school, Escotto won the IMG Academy Invitational in the decathlon, scoring a personal-record 6,304 points. He also holds the junior decathlon national record for Mexico. He is a tremendous technical athlete that has the potential to develop into an outstanding decathlete.
 
Joshua Gittens
Sprints / Elmwood Park, N.J. (Paramus Catholic HS)
Personal Bests: 200-meter – 22.26 / 400-meter – 48.66
One of the top long sprinters coming out of northern New Jersey, Gittens adds depth to a young and enthusiastic long sprints group. Gittens is a 200-meter/400-meter specialist who will have an immediate impact in both the sprints and relays. Gittens and his classmates are eager to take a shot at the Cornell freshman 4x400-meter school record.
 
Rhys Hammond
Mid-Distance (XC) / Stonington, Conn. (Stonington HS)
Personal Bests: 800-meter – 1:53.96 / 1600-meter (indoor) – 4:19
Hammond is a very exciting middle distance runner. Having also played soccer in high school, he has never trained year-round as a runner, yet has still run 1:53.96 in the 800 and 4:19 in the indoor mile. As a senior, Hammond won the Connecticut state title in the 1k before going on to win the New England Championships in the event. A fearless competitor and great runner, Hammond will help the Big Red continue its recent success in the middle distance events.
 
Tomas Kersulis
Sprints / Pleasanton, Calif. / Foothill Pleasanton HS
Personal Bests: 100-meter – 11.07 / 200-meter – 22.27 / 300-meter 34.87 / 400-meter – 48.98
The East Bay Athletic League champion in the 200-meter and 400-meter, Kersulis joins the long sprints group as one of the top overall sprinters coming out of California this year. With his 200-meter and 300-meter speed, Kersulis will look to take the Ivy League by storm and hopes to help the Big Red reestablish its relay dominance.
 
Peter Levine
Jumps / San Anselmo, Calif. (Urban School of San Francisco)
Personal Bests: Long Jump – 22' 6"
The third place finisher in the long jump at the USATF Region 16 Junior Olympic Championships, Levine is the newest addition to the top long jump group in the Ivy League. Levine will look to make his mark on the Big Red squad and quickly join the seven meter club.
 
Colden Longley
Distance (XC) / Bloomington, Minn. (Thomas Jefferson HS)
Personal Bests: 3200-meter – 9:17.09
After a breakout fall of 2018 in which he was among the top-30 in the Heartland Region in cross country, Longley went on to run 9:17.09 and finish fifth in the state in the 3200-meter. Though the fall of his senior season was cut short by an injury and COVID cancellations slowed down his spring, Longley remained focused on and dedicated to his running and continued to improve. He posted an 8:32 3k time trial in the off season. Longley is a strong competitor and tough runner who will help the continued growth and improvement of our men's cross country and distance group.
 
Brad Morell
Throws / Oneonta, N.Y. (Oneonta HS)
Personal Bests: Discus – 167' 2" / Shot Put – 53' 3" / Weight Throw – 57' 1"
The New York native from Oneonta High School had a breakout year as a junior in 2019 and continued that success indoors in 2020. As a junior, Morell ended the season as the Division 2 New York State Champion in the discus with a personal-best throw of 167'2". As a senior, Morell saw solid improvements in the shot put and weight throw. At the 2020 Indoor State Championships, he recorded personal-bests in both events, finishing third in the shot put (53'3") and 14th in the weight throw (57'1"). Morell will be an instant contributor for the Big Red, both indoors and outdoors.
 
Shane Racey
Pole Vault / Ravena N.Y. (Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk HS)
Personal Bests: Pole Vault – 16' 6"
Racey finished his career at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk as one of the best high school vaulters in New York of all-time. He was a two-time New York state champion and the 2019 Penn Relays champion in the pole vault, boasting a personal-record of 16'6".  During his time at Cornell, the Big Red men's track and field program will aim to help him develop into one of the best vaulters in the NCAA.
 
Ryan Rendon-Padilla
Throws / Florence, Ore. (Siuslaw HS)
Personal Bests: Javelin – 191' 7"
Rendon-Padilla is another talented thrower hailing from the Pacific Northwest. Competing for Siuslaw High School, Rendon-Padilla broke the school record in the javelin as a junior. He had an outstanding junior season, taking home the win in 10 of his 12 competitions, highlighted by his victory at the Oregon 3A/4A State Championships. He showed great consistency throughout 2019 and boasts a personal-best throw of 191'7".
 
Semi Robertson
Sprints / Burlington, N.J. (Burlington Township HS)
Personal Bests: 55-meter – 6.64 / 100-meter – 11.00 / 200-meter – 22.30
The runner-up in the 100-meter at the Burlington County Championships and the Burlington County Divisional 100-meter champion, Robertson joins the Big Red short sprints group. Having been a multi-sport athlete in high school, Robertson is ready to focus on track and plans on making big contributions. He will help to bolster the Big Red's short sprints and is aiming for a spot on the defending 4x100-meter relay championship team.
 
Justin Wei
Sprints/Hurdles / Mount Sinai, N.Y. (Mount Sinai HS)
Personal Bests: 60-meter hurdles – 8.12 / 110-meter hurdles – 14.59 / Long Jump – 22' 1 ½" / High Jump – 6' 4" / Triple Jump - 45' ¼"
Wei joins the Big Red as one of the top hurdlers in New York with a personal best of 8.12 in the 60-meter hurdles. He will be an immediate contributor and will help to add depth to a hurdle group that is well on its way to becoming the strongest in the Ivy League. Wei is also an accomplished jumper, demonstrating his range of his athleticism.
 
Jeff Yang
Sprints/Hurdles / Plymouth, Mass. (Plymouth North HS)
Personal Bests: 300-meter – 35.31 / 400-meter – 50.21 / 400-meter hurdles – 54.77
As the runner-up in the 300-meter at the MIAA Division 2 Championship, Yang demonstrates excellent speed and speed endurance. Yang has the potential to quickly rise and become one of the top 400-meter hurdlers in the Ivy League. He will also play a key role in the Big Red's relay teams.
 
Sam Young
Mid-Distance (XC) / Solon, Ohio (Solon HS)
Personal Bests: 800-meter – 1:54.57
After placing in the 800-meter at the Ohio state meet with a 1:54.57 as a junior, Young was in the midst of a breakout senior campaign before the spring season was cancelled. In the fall of his senior year, he improved his cross country times by almost a minute and made the state cross country meet. During the indoor season, Young was running significantly faster than he had the year before and was poised for a fantastic spring. His leadership, work ethic, and great personality will make him a key contributor to the program during his career at Cornell. The Big Red men's track and field program is eager to get Young back to racing so that he can pick up where he left off and help the middle distance squad continue to develop and thrive.