Men's Cross Country 08.18.26

Men's Track & Field, Cross Country Announce 2026 Recruiting Class

Men's Cross Country 08.18.26

Men's Track & Field, Cross Country Announce 2026 Recruiting Class

DETROIT (8/18/2026) -- A mix of newcomers and veterans highlights the incoming recruiting class as the University of Detroit Mercy men's track and field and cross country programs will have 10 new faces on the roster in the 2026-27 season.

All 10 will run track, while three harriers will start their Titan careers in the fall with cross country.

"Another big class that has potential to make immediate contributions, fill some roster holes, and help us build on our Horizon League finishes," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Guy Murray '89.

Andrew Bayne * Distance * St. Catharines, Ont. * Eden

Lettered in hockey, cross country and track and field
Named the freshman and junior Athlete of the Year, and was the track and field MVP as a senior
A two-time OFSAA qualifier in cross country and track and field
Set school records in the 800m, 2,000m steeplechase and the 4x400
Won the 800 meters at the SOSSA Championships as a junior and senior
Tallied a pair of top-20 efforts in the 800m and 1,500m at the OFSAA Regional Championships
Ran club with Edge Sport and helped the team win the Ontario U18 cross country championships

Dawson Baker * Sprints * Upper Marlboro, Md. * Dematha Catholic (Florida A&M)

A graduate transfer from Florida A&M who competed for four years in track and field
Ran the 400m leg of the runner-up distance medley relay at the 2026 SWAC Indoor Championships
Posted several top-five finishes in the 200m, 400m, and 4x400 in his collegiate career
As a prep, he helped his school win three WCAC outdoor championships
Ran club with Full Speed Athletes and was an All-American and a seven-time junior Olympian

Teddy Ciarelli * Throws * Dearborn, Mich. * Divine Child

Lettered in football and track and field
Helped Divine Child to a state title in football and multiple Catholic and regional titles in track and field
Was named the Track and Field MVP and Thrower of the Year as a senior
Part of the Michigan Elite Throws Club

Mason Depas * Sprints * Rochester Hills, Mich. * Rochester (Oakland CC)

A four-year letterwinner in track and field in high school who spent his freshman year at OCC
Was a three-time All-Region performer and two-time All-League and All-County runner
Helped his team break the school 4x400 record as a senior
Ran club with the Breen Track Club

Joel Johnson ll * Distance/XC * Detroit, Mich. * Fredrick Douglass

Earned two letters in basketball and four in cross country and track and field
Was nominated for the Detroit Public School Male Athlete of the Year
All-State as a senior - the first in 18 years at the school - and tabbed All-City and All-Region three times
Won back-to-back city championships
In track and field, was All-State twice in the 800 and 1,600 meters and a member of the state champion 4x400 relay as a senior
Won a regional title in the 4x400 as a sophomore and senior, as well as the 1,600m as a junior
All-City three times in the 800m and all four years in the 1,600m and 3,200m, as well as All-Region in the 800m and 1,600m
Qualified for the Junior Olympics in the 1,500m three times
Ran with the Motor City Track Club

Brodie Licata * Distance/XC * Fenton, Mich. * Lake Fenton

A four-year letterwinner in cross country and track
A two-time state qualifier in cross country
Claimed Second Team All-County and was the team MVP in cross country as a junior
In track, he was a two-time state qualifier in the 3,200 meters and was a 1,600m qualifier as a senior
Was the Flint Metro League 3,200m champion as a junior and senior, and added the 1,600m title as a senior
A MHSAA Region 20-2 3,200m runner-up as a junior and senior, as well as in the 1,600m as a senior
Earned Academic All-State in both track and cross country

William Patterson * Hurdles * Oak Park, Mich. * Catholic Central

Earned four varsity letters in track and field
Was All-State as a junior, taking eighth in the 300-meter hurdles
Ran club with Magnify13 Track Club

Calvin Randolph * Jumps * Flint, Mich. * Carman-Ainsworth (Siena Heights)

A senior transfer from Siena Heights who ran track for three years with the Saints
Broke the school's record in the triple jump and was a NAIA National qualifier this past season
Tallied nine wins in the triple jump, nine runner-up marks and seven bronze efforts in three years
In high school, lettered in football, swimming, and track and field
Named the team's MVP as a senior in track and field

Grant Roberts * Sprints * Grand Blanc, Mich. * Flint Powers

Lettered in basketball, soccer, and track and field in high school
Earned All-American accolades on the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 at the Nike Outdoor Nationals
Was All-State in the 200 meters as well as the 4x100 and 4x200 as a junior and senior, and added All-State in the 4x400 as a senior
Won the 200m at the regionals and conference as a junior and back-to-back regional titles on the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 in his last two years
Helped break school records in the three relays and the 100m
Academic All-State twice and won the Flint Kiwanis Club Student Athlete of the Year and the Saginaw Valley League Male Student Athlete of the Year as a senior
In soccer, he was two-time All-State as a defender and helped his team with a league title as a senior

Thomas Tent * Sprints/Hurdles * Tecumseh, Ont. * Tecumseh Vista Academy

Earned letters in basketball, soccer, and track and field
Named the track and field MVP as a junior and senior
Won the OFSAA 400-meter hurdles as a senior
Ran club with Border City AC and was an All-American at the Adidas Nationals and runner-up at the Legion Canadian U18 Nationals

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Players Mentioned

Brodie Licata: Distance; Freshman

Joel Johnson ll: Distance; Freshman

Andrew Bayne: Distance; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Brodie Licata
: Freshman
: Distance

Joel Johnson ll
: Freshman
: Distance

Andrew Bayne
: Freshman
: Distance

University of Detroit Mercy Athletics

Players Mentioned

Brodie Licata

Joel Johnson ll

Andrew Bayne

Players Mentioned

Brodie Licata

Joel Johnson ll

Andrew Bayne