Men's XC / TF Inks Donde, Kolodge to NLIs
4/3/2023 1:02:00 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field
SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga Men's Cross Country and Track & Field Head Coach Pat Tyson announced the addition of two more highly-touted distance standouts to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, with incoming freshman Jonah Donde and transfer Drew Kolodge set to join the Zags next fall as they seek a fourth-straight trip to NCAA Nationals.
The addition of two more runners brings the Zags up to nine newcomers this fall, with all eight freshmen having put down sub-15:30 5K times in their senior cross country seasons and Kolodge joining the Zags after a year in which he was a D-II XC All-American.
GU is coming off its best-ever performances at NCAA XC Nationals and NCAA West Regionals after placing 13th in the nation and second in the West Region.
Jonah Donde | Eugene, OR | Sheldon HS
A 12th-place overall finisher in the 3,000m at the 2022 OSAA Championships, Donde touts personal bests of 3:58.89 in the 1500m and 8:30.25 in the 3K. The Eugene, Ore. product out of Sheldon HS cracked the Top 50 individuals at the OSAA XC Championships last fall.
"I chose Gonzaga because I love the coach and the team atmosphere," said Donde. "It also provided me with the best opportunity to run in college at a high level. The small class sizes will supply me with the necessary tools to have a successful career."
Tyson on Donde: "Nice to get a Tracktown USA kid out of Eugene, Oregon! Coached by former Olympian Ian Dobson, his track marks from last spring show great promise and he is also a tremendous student. Excited for him to join one of, if not the, best freshman classes in Gonzaga cross country and track history."
Drew Kolodge | Houghton, MI | Michigan Tech
A Graduate Transfer by way of Michigan Tech, Kolodge was a D-II XC All-American in 2022 after placing 28th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Dec. 2, running 30:21.8 to help the Huskies to a best-ever 10th-place team finish on the national stage. He brings personal bests of 29:43.24 (10K) and 14:22.65 (5K) to the Bulldogs program.
"I chose Gonzaga because the team culture was amazing, and I connected really well with everyone," said Kolodge. "I truly believe in Coach Tyson and that he can take me and the team to the next level. The team is on the rise to do big things in the next few years, and I feel I can be a big contributor."
Tyson on Kolodge: "Drew will bring great energy and maturity to the Gonzaga XC/TF program. In May he will have graduated with an engineering degree in just 3 years from Michigan Tech and he was also an All-American cross-country runner in Division II. A great midwestern, hardworking young man, and in my opinion, a guy who will really help this team as we look to continue the success that we have had the past few years."
The addition of two more runners brings the Zags up to nine newcomers this fall, with all eight freshmen having put down sub-15:30 5K times in their senior cross country seasons and Kolodge joining the Zags after a year in which he was a D-II XC All-American.
GU is coming off its best-ever performances at NCAA XC Nationals and NCAA West Regionals after placing 13th in the nation and second in the West Region.
Jonah Donde | Eugene, OR | Sheldon HS
A 12th-place overall finisher in the 3,000m at the 2022 OSAA Championships, Donde touts personal bests of 3:58.89 in the 1500m and 8:30.25 in the 3K. The Eugene, Ore. product out of Sheldon HS cracked the Top 50 individuals at the OSAA XC Championships last fall.
"I chose Gonzaga because I love the coach and the team atmosphere," said Donde. "It also provided me with the best opportunity to run in college at a high level. The small class sizes will supply me with the necessary tools to have a successful career."
Tyson on Donde: "Nice to get a Tracktown USA kid out of Eugene, Oregon! Coached by former Olympian Ian Dobson, his track marks from last spring show great promise and he is also a tremendous student. Excited for him to join one of, if not the, best freshman classes in Gonzaga cross country and track history."
Drew Kolodge | Houghton, MI | Michigan Tech
A Graduate Transfer by way of Michigan Tech, Kolodge was a D-II XC All-American in 2022 after placing 28th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Dec. 2, running 30:21.8 to help the Huskies to a best-ever 10th-place team finish on the national stage. He brings personal bests of 29:43.24 (10K) and 14:22.65 (5K) to the Bulldogs program.
"I chose Gonzaga because the team culture was amazing, and I connected really well with everyone," said Kolodge. "I truly believe in Coach Tyson and that he can take me and the team to the next level. The team is on the rise to do big things in the next few years, and I feel I can be a big contributor."
Tyson on Kolodge: "Drew will bring great energy and maturity to the Gonzaga XC/TF program. In May he will have graduated with an engineering degree in just 3 years from Michigan Tech and he was also an All-American cross-country runner in Division II. A great midwestern, hardworking young man, and in my opinion, a guy who will really help this team as we look to continue the success that we have had the past few years."
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