Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Men's XC and Track & Field Announce Class of 2014
June 14, 2010 | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field
PRINCETON, N.J. (6/8/10) – Princeton men's track & field and cross country coaches Fred Samara and Steve Dolan are proud to announce Princeton's 2010 recruiting class.
“We are very pleased with the variety of event areas in which this class excels,” head track & field coach Fred Samara said. “I'm confident that this group will play a major role in our team's future success.”
“This is an extremely talented group of student-athletes both in the classroom and on the playing field,” head cross country coach Steve Dolan said. “We're looking forward to helping them chase their potential here at Princeton.”
DISTANCE & MIDDLE DISTANCEThe Tigers will add seven talented runners to an excellent core of returners in this event group. The newcomers include: Chris Bendsten, Garrett Rowe, Tyler Udland, Jonathan Vitez, Michael Williams, Alejandro Arroyo Yamin and Jason Dzuranin.
Bendsten from Wolcott High School finished an impressive sixth place at the Nike Indoor Nationals and was a Footlocker National Finalist in cross country. He ran a personal best of 8:21.79 in the 3000 meter run at the Penn Relays.
Rowe has competed in both the Nike Indoor and the Nike Cross Nationals. A graduate of Mountain View High School, Rowe ran a personal best in the 3200 at the CIF California State Track & Field Championships with a time of 8:55.71.
A native of Millburn, N.J., Udland has competed in the Foot Locker Nationals in cross country and the Nike Indoor and Outdoor Nationals in the two mile. His personal best in the 3200 is 8:59.80 and he has run 4:13.83 for 1600 meters.
Vitez from Haddonfield Memorial High School holds the New Jersey Indoor State Meet record in the 3200. He ran 8:58.81 to win that event in 2010. He has a best of 4:15.92 in the 1600-meter event which he set at the NJSIAA Group Championships in 2009.
Williams from Bellevue in Washington specializes in the 800 and 1600. He recorded a personal best time of 1:53.69 at 800 meters to win the 2010 Washington State Championships. Williams also won the league title in the 1600 with a personal best time of 4:15.53.
Arroyo Yamin from Culver Academies in Indiana ran a PR of 15:10.88 in the 5000 at the Nike Indoor Nationals finishing in third place. Arroyo Yamin has a best of 9:08.40 in the 3200 from the Indiana State Meet this season.
Dzuranin, a graduate of Steinert High School in Hamilton, N.J., had an excellent spring season. He improved his 800-meter personal best to 1:54.22 and was a state finalist in that event. He has also run a number of sub-50 second splits in the 4x400 meter relay.
SPRINTSThe sprint crew should be a real force in 2011 with the addition of Tom Hopkins, Kyle O'Neil and Shane Molidor.
Hopkins from the Haverford School in Haverford, Pa., has personal bests of 10.65 and 21.56 in the 100 and 200 respectfully. He also ran 48.72 in the 400 at the 2009 AAU Junior Olympics. In addition to his sprint success, Hopkins has posted a personal best in the long jump of 23' 9”.
O'Neil of South Side High School in Rockville Centre, N.Y., will be a good addition to the long sprint group with a best of 50.4 and also has his sights set on running fast in the 400-meter hurdles on the collegiate level.
Molidor, a native of Downers Grove, Ill., has a personal best time of 10.73 in the 100-meter dash and is also an accomplished long jumper with a best of 23' 4”.
JUMPSJamaican triple jump champion, Damon McLean is clearly one of the headline performers in this class. He has a best of 50' 8.75” McLean is also a threat in the long jump with a best of 23' 3.25” in that event.
Brad Pelisek from Homestead High School in Mequon, Wis., has had great success on the high school level in the high jump and long jump with personal bests of 6' 7” and 22' 11”. Pelisek has very good potential in the multi-events in college.
Omar Jarrett from Ransom Everglades High School in Miami hopes to add his name to the distinguished list of great Princeton high jumpers. He joins the Tigers with a personal best mark of 6' 6.”
Joining the pole vaulters will be David Coneway of John Marshall in California. His best jump at this time is 14' 6”.
THROWSJake Taylor of Newport Harbor, Calif., will join already strong throwing unit. Taylor's primary event at the high school level was the shot where he has a personal best of 56' 7” at the California State Meet.
Alec Bingaman will be a great addition to the team in the javelin. His best while at Phillips Academy, Mass. was 181' 8”. Look for Bingaman to make an immediate impact for the Tigers.
| Name | High School (State) |
Event | Personal Bests |
| Alejandro Arroyo Yamin | Culver Academies (Ind.) |
3200 | 9:08.40 |
| 5000 | 15:10.88 | ||
| Alec Bingaman | Phillips Academy (Mass.) | Javelin | 181' 8" |
| Chris Bendtsen | Wolcott (Conn.) |
3000 | 8:21.79 |
| David Coneway | John Marshall (Calif.) | Pole Vault | 14' 6" |
| Jason Dzuranin |
Steinert (N.J.) | 800 | 1:54.22 |
| Tom Hopkins | Haverford School (Pa.) | 400 |
48.72 |
| 200 | 21.56 | ||
| 100 | 10.65 | ||
| Long Jump | 23' 9" | ||
| Omar Jarrett | Ransome Everglades (Fla.) | High Jump | 6' 6" |
| Damon McLean | Campion (Jamaica) | Triple Jump |
50' 8.75" |
| Long Jump | 23' 3.25" | ||
| Shane Molidor |
Downers Grove (Ill.) | Long Jump | 23' 4" |
| 100 | 10.78 | ||
| Kyle O'Neil |
South Side (N.Y.) | 400 | 50.3 |
| Brad Pelisek | Homestead (Wis.) | Long Jump | 22' 1" |
| High Jump | 6' 7" | ||
| Garrett Rowe | Mountain View (Calif.) | 3200 | 8:55.71 |
| Jake Taylor | Newport Harbor (Calif.) | Shot Put | 56' 7" |
| Tyler Udland |
Millburn (N.J.) | 3200 | 8:59.80 |
| 1600 | 4:13.83 | ||
| Jonathan Vitez |
Haddonfield (N.J.) | 3200 | 8:58.81 |
| 1600 | 4:15.92 | ||
| Michael Williams | Bellevue (Wash.) | 800 |
1:53.69 |
| 1600 | 4:15.53 |