TUCSON, Ariz. – With the track & field season on the horizon, get to know Arizona's 14 newcomers who will make their Wildcat debuts this indoor and outdoor season. During the offseason, the Wildcats added eight men and seven women to their 2025 roster.
"This 2024-25 newcomer class is small; however, it fills a number of needs we have going into our first season in the Big 12 conference," said the Director of Cross Country/Track & Field
Fred Harvey. "We've added potential point scorers in every event area, and they will have a major impact in our team goals this upcoming season."
Of the newcomers, 11 are freshmen and three are transfers. In terms of event groups, the Wildcats added five distance runners, three pole vaulters, two high jumpers, two multis/vertical jumpers, one hurdler, and one sprinter. The five distance Wildcats competed for the team during the 2024 cross country season. The majority of the remaining newcomers will kick off their Wildcat careers at the Red-White-Blue Challenge/All Comers Meet on December 14 at Drachman Stadium.
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
MEN
Ousman Jagne
So. / Sprints / Mankato, Minn. / Chandler High School (AZ) / Mesa CC
Prior to Arizona: Attended Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz. … Lettered in basketball, football, and track & field… Graduated Cum Laude from Hamilton HS in 2021… Attended Central Arizona College and Mesa CC before transferring to Arizona… Named to Mesa CC President's List in 2022 and 2023.
Personal: From Mankato, Minn. … Son of Abdoulie and Stephanie… Has one brother, Lamin… Pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering… Likes to box, ski, and snowboard in his free time… Chose Arizona because of the coaching staff and family-oriented program.
Kaleb Kimaita
Fr. / High Jump / Thornton, Colo. / Horizon High School
High School: Attended Horizon High School in Thornton, Colo. … Lettered in basketball, cross country, and track & field… 2x First Team All-State in the high jump… First Team All-Conference in the long jump… Second Team All-Conference in the high jump and the triple jump… 2x High Jump State Champion… 1x Triple Jump State Runner-Up… Finished sixth in the long jump at state twice… U20 US Olympic Trials participant… Holds school records in the long jump (22-9), triple jump (46-0), and high jump (6-10… His high jump school record broke his basketball coach's previous record that had stood for 30 years.
Personal: Born in Colorado Springs, Colo. … Son of Charles… Has one sister, Mukami… Pursuing a degree in Natural Resources… Aspires to break the Arizona school record in the high jump… Enjoys playing video games and watching cartoons in his free time… Chose Arizona because of the environment of the team, coaching staff, and supporting staff.
Jett Kinder
Sr. / Multis / Brentwood, Tenn. / Brentwood High School / Oregon
Prior to Arizona: Attended Brentwood High School in Brentwood, Tenn. … Four year letterwinner in football and track & field… 4x All-State… New Balance All-American in 2017 and 2019… 3x Track & Field Athlete of the Year in Tennessee… Wilco Track Athlete of the Year in 2019… Holds school records in the high jump (6-8) and long jump (23-8.75)… 3x team TSSAA State Champions… Graduated from the University of Oregon before transferring to Arizona… 2022 Pac-12 Runner-Up in the decathlon… Won the javelin at the Mt. SAC Relays in 2023… 3x scorer at the Pac-12 Championships (second in decathlon in 2022, sixth in javelin in 2023, sixth in decathlon in 2021).
Personal: Born in Nashville, Tenn. … Son of Gary, who was a U.S. Olympian in 1988 in the decathlon, and Stacie… Has one brother, Canon… Graduated with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Bioengineering from Oregon… Pursuing a Master of Real Estate Development at Arizona… Chose Arizona because of the great weather and the training group.
Gideon Mengich
Fr. / Distance / Eldoret, Kenya / Stephen F. Austin
Prior to Arizona: Competed for one season at Stephen F. Austin... Ran the 3000 steeplechase finishing 18th at the West First Round at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark... Ran personal bests of 3:52.07 in the 1500, 8:08.71 in the 3000, 14:11.20 in the 5000, and 8:51.55 in the 3000 Steeplechase... Finished third with a personal best in the 1500 (3:52.07) at the Texas Invitational on Apr. 26-27... Competed in the 5000 and the 3000 Steeplechase at the 64th Annual Mt. SAC Relays, finishing 12th in the 5000 and 10th with a personal best in the 3000 Steeplechase (8:51.55)... Won the 5000 with a time of 14:11.20 at the Carl Knight Invitational on Apr. 11-13.
Sylvan Osman
Fr. / Pole Vault / Lake Havasu, Ariz. / Lake Havasu High School
High School: Attended Lake Havasu High School in Lake Havasu, Ariz. … 2023 and 2024 State Champion in the pole vault… 2024 State Runner-Up in the decathlon.
Personal: From Lake Havasu, Ariz. … Enjoys weightlifting in his free time.
Mateo Pimienta
Fr. / Distance / Tucson, Ariz. / Rincon High School
High School: Attended University High School in Rincon High School in Tucson, Ariz. … Lettered in track & field, football, and cross country… Competed in the 400m, 800m, 1600m, 3200m, 4x100m, 4x400m, and 4x800m… 2023 Cross Country First Team All-Southern… 2023 Cross Country Southern Arizona All-Division I Runner of the Year… Placed fourth at the AIA DI Cross Country State Championships in 2023… Finished fifth in the 800m at the AIA Track & Field State Championships in 2024 and seventh in the 1600m… School record holder in the 800m with a time of 1:53.42… Football 5A Sonoran Conference Honorable Mention.
Personal: Born in Long Beach, Calif. … Son of Julian, a University of Arizona graduate, and Miki… Has two brothers, Benito and Isaac… Pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering… Enjoys reading and crochet.
Cameron Rohde
Fr. / Hurdles / San Diego, Calif. / International School Bangkok (Thailand)
High School: Attended the International School Bangkok in Thailand… Lettered in track & field all four years… 2022 400m Hurdles USATF All-American… Youth national record hold for Lithuania in the 110m hurdles… 400m Hurdles USATF Youth National Champion… Received the Outstanding Athlete Award from the International School Bangkok… Named the Interscholastic Association of Southeast Asia School's Most Valuable Track & Field Athlete… Holds school records in the 400m hurdles (53.20) and 110m hurdles (14.01)… Played soccer his whole life until his sophomore year of high school.
Personal: From San Diego, Calif. … Son of Chris and Jurgita… Has two brothers, Tadas and Magnas… His father, Chris, ranks in the top 10 all-time in the decathlon at the University of Maryland… His uncle, Ben, was an All-American JuCo soccer player at Shenandoah College… Has lived in five different places across the world including Estonia and Thailand… Pursuing a degree in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science… Likes to cook, bake, surf, and hangout with friends in his free time… Chose Arizona because of the coaching staff, campus, teammates, and weather.
WOMEN
Kelly de Jong
Fr. / Pole Vault / San Diego, Calif. / Maranatha Christian High School
High School: Attended Maranatha Christian High School in San Diego, Calif. … Lettered in track & field all four years of high school and lettered in volleyball three years… Competed in the pole vault, long jump, and high jump… Named the Pacific League Athlete of the Year her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons… Finished eighth in the pole vault at the 2024 California state meet… 2024 Maranatha Christian Athlete of the Year… 2024 CIF Division pole vault champion… Meet record holder in the pole vault at both the Costal Conference Meet and Jim Cervany Invite… 2022 CIF D3 high jump and pole vault champion… Holds school records in both the pole vault (12-8) and long jump (17-2).
Personal: Born in Escondido, Calif. … Daughter of Dorinda and Ned… Has two brothers, Trevor and Jason, and one sister, Emma… Pursuing a degree in Business Management… Likes to swim, hike, snowboard, and go to the beach in her free time… Chose Arizona because of how close the girls are on the team.
Laina Friedmann
Fr. / Distance / Smithtown, N.Y. / Smithtown High School West
High School: Attended Smithtown High School West in Smithtown, N.Y. … Competed in indoor track & field, outdoor track & field, and soccer… 2024 All-State Girls Soccer Division 1… 2024 All-State Indoor Track in the intersectional relay and 1000m and Outdoor Track in the 800m and 1500m… 2023 All-State Indoor Track in the 600m and 1000m and Outdoor Track in the 800m… 2022 All-State Indoor Track in the intersectional relay… 2x Newsday All-Long Island Team… 4x All-County in the 800m… 3x All-County in the 600m, 1000m, and 1500m… Holds six school records: 300m (42.85), 600m (1:35.20), 800m (2:09.55), 1000m (2:49.41), outdoor 1500m (4:28.83), and indoor 1500m (4:40.52)… All-State, All-County, and All-League for girls' soccer.
Personal: Born in West Islip, N.Y. … Daughter of Marion and Edward… Has three sisters, Kerri, Anna, and Kalle… Figure skated for 12 years… Enjoys going to the beach, skiing, and playing soccer… Chose Arizona because of the academic and athletic opportunities.
Brooklyn Hanania
Fr. / Distance / Phoenix, Ariz. / Desert Vista High School
High School: Attended Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Ariz. … Lettered in cross country, track & field, and springboard diving… All-District and All-City for cross country (2x), 3200m (2x), 800m (1x), and 1600m (1x)… All-State her junior and senior years for cross country… 2020 Desert Vista XC Rookie of the Year… 2021 Desert Vista TF Unsung Hero Award… 2021 Desert Vista XC Joe Sellah Award… 2022 Desert Vista TF Comeback Award… 2022 Desert Vista XC Becky Matthews Award… 2022-2023 Tempe Union Girls XC Runner of the Year… 2022-2023 XC/TF Team Captain… 2023 Desert Vista TF Outstanding Distance Runner of the Year… 2022-2023 Tempe Union TF Girls 3200m Runner of the Year… 2023 Desert Vista XC MVP… 2023-2024 XC/TF Team Captain… 2023-2024 Tempe Union Girls XC Runner of the Year… 2024 Desert Vista TF Hailey Paul Award… 2024 Desert Vista TF Outstanding Distance Runner of the Year… 2023-2024 Tempe Union Girls 800,1600, and 3200m runner of the year… 2x Sports360Az All-Academic Cross Country First Team… Ninth all-time in school history in the 1600m (5:00.50) and 10th in the 3200m (10:55.13)… Was a member of the 2020-21 state cross country championship team.
Personal: Born in Phoenix, Ariz. … Daughter of Rachael and Bryan, a University of Arizona graduate… Has one sister, Riley… Has three family members that were collegiate athletes… Enjoys playing the guitar, singing, and song writing… Pursuing a degree in Atmospheric Sciences with aspirations to become a meteorologist after school… Chose Arizona because of the team which she instantly clicked with.
Alexandra Johnson
Fr. / High Jump / Tucson, Ariz. / Tucson High School
High School: Attended Tucson High School in Tucson, Ariz. … Lettered in track & field all four years of high school… Finished runner-up in the high jump at both the D1 state meet and the All-Division state meet her senior year… Finished third in the high jump at the D1 state meet her junior year… Was a team captain… Senior Women's All-Around Athlete Award… Represented St. Lucia at the 2024 Carifta Games in Grenada where she competed in the high jump, pole vault, and mixed 4x400m relay… Set the U20 Mixed 4x400m Relay National Record.
Personal: Born in Tucson, Ariz. … Daughter of Kristel and Dominic, who are both University of Arizona graduates… Her father, Dominic, is Arizona's assistant coach in charge of pole vault, was a decathlete at Arizona, and competed in three Olympic Games for St. Lucia... Has one sister, Isabella… Pursuing a degree in Business Management… Likes to bake, workout, and hangout with friends in her free time… Chose Arizona because of the overall college and athletic programs.
Ellie Kortenkamp
Fr. / Distance / Oro Valley, Ariz. / Ironwood Ridge High School
High School: Attended Ironwood Ridge High School in Tucson, Ariz. … Lettered in cross country all four years and in track & field three years… Named her team's most valuable player in 2024… 2x Academic Scholar… Holds school records in the 800m (2:16.84), 4x800m, and distance medley relay.
Personal: Born in Tucson, Ariz. … Daughter of Steve and Jane… Has one brother, Oliver, and one sister, Eliza… Pursuing a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Criminal Justice… Likes to hike, cook, read, and sew in her free time… Chose Arizona because of the athletic department.
Charli Koseoglu
Fr. / Multis / Santa Fe, N.M. / Academy for Technology and the Classics
High School: Attended the Academy for Technology and the Classics in Santa Fe, N.M. … Lettered in track& field, basketball, and cross country… New Mexico First Team All-District 2AA her sophomore, junior, and senior years… 2x New Mexico Division 2 First Team All-State… 3x New Mexico 2A State Championship female high point scorer… 14x Individual New Mexico State Champion in the 100m, 200m, 100m hurdles, javelin, and long jump… New Mexico 2A State Championship record holder and school record holder in the javelin (137-9)… School record holder in the 100m (12.20)… 2024 Great Southwest Classic Heptathlon Champion… Voted the New Mexico Spring Athlete of the Year in 2023 and 2024… Voted ATC HS Athlete of the Year in 2024… Won two team state championships in track & field, two in cross country, and one in basketball.
Personal: Born in Los Angeles, Calif. … Daughter of Jennifer and Tolga, who won the discus at the NCAA Championships in 2001 while competing for Texas A&M… Has one sister, Willow… Involved in the Amnesty International Club, Class of 2024 Committee Club, and Future/College Prep Club, where she was the president, during high school… Got accepted into the W.A. Franke Honors College at Arizona… Pursuing a degree in Biology/Medical Studies… Interested in filmmaking, photography, hiking, and playing the guitar.
Jathiyah Muhammad
Fr. / Pole Vault / Pittsburg, Calif. / Pittsburg Senior High School
High School: Attended Pittsburg Senior High School in Pittsburg, Calif. … Competed in the pole vault… Won the pole vault at the Nike Indoor Championships… Cleared a personal best height of 14-9.
Personal: From Tracy, Calif. … Enjoys singing in her free time.
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