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On continues to make major waves. That's because on Wednesday, the Swiss athletic apparel company announced that they have add four highly elite NCAA distance running superstars to their pro roster.
Those names include Yared Nuguse, Courtney Wayment, Mario Garcia Romo and Hannah Steeman.
Yared Nuguse was a megastar during his time at Notre Dame, evolving alongside the Fighting Irish into a national power. The Kentucky native has run 3:34 for 1500 meters, a time which briefly held the collegiate record. Nuguse has also run 7:38 for 3000 meters, barely snagging the collegiate record in that event.
The newly-signed On superstar was also an Olympian in the 1500 meters last summer before an injury held him out of competition. Nuguse ultimately won national titles in the 1500 meters and the DMR.
Courtney Wayment has become one of the most dominant long distance runners in the NCAA over the last few years. The BYU veteran has been part of one of the best collegiate distance programs of this era and has flexed her strength across a variety of events.
Wayment placed 5th at the 2019 NCAA XC Championships and eventually went on to secure mind-boggling personal bests of 4:12 (1500), 4:30 (mile), 8:50 (3k), 15:15 (5k) and most recently 9:16 (steeple). That latter mark is now a collegiate record.
Wayment has secured a national title in the 3k, the 5k, the DMR and now the steeplechase. She has become, aerobically, one of the most overwhelmingly challenging names to defeat in the NCAA over the last few years.
Mario Garcia Romo has emerged as one of the most elite and versatile middle and long distance runners throughout the country. Capable of thriving in tactical or all-out aerobic settings, the Ole Miss ace has run 1:46 (800), 3:35 (1500), 3:53 (mile) and 7:47 (3k). He was also the winner of the 2020 SEC XC Championships.
The Rebel standout has earned seven All-American honors, including multiple national finishes within the top-three. He was also the NCAA champion in the mile this past winter.
Finally, there is Hannah Steelman, the Wofford-turned-NC State runner who actually spoke to The Stride Report earlier this year.
Steelman was one of the most underappreciated distance runners in the NCAA throughout her career. The distance and steeplechase ace has contested 12 different NCAA Championship finals races between cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.
In those 12 efforts, she earned an incredible total of seven All-American honors, including a 5th place finish at the 2021 NCAA Winter XC Championships and a 3rd place finish in the steeplechase at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Steelman ended her collegiate career with personal bests of 9:05 (3k), 15:30 (5k), 33:28 (10k) and 9:43 (steeplechase). Steelman also sustained a significant injury earlier this year, causing her to miss the entire indoor track season.
With these four collegiates now signed, On has effectively doubled down on their efforts to break into the competitive distance running scene at the professional level. This incoming class of collegiate superstars mimics the same firepower-laden class that On brought in back in the summer of 2020.
On currently sponsors On Athletics Club (OAC), a Boulder-based professional training group that features numerous former collegiate superstars. Those names include Morgan McDonald, Ollie Hoare, Alicia Monson, Sage Hurta, Joe Klecker, Leah Falland, Carmela Cardama Baez, Geordie Beamish and a few others.
It should, however, be noted that only Nuguse and Garcia Romo have been specifically mentioned as athletes who will join On Athletics Club. It is not entirely clear where Steelman will be training.
Wayment, however, will be staying with Coach Diljeet Taylor at BYU and will be training alongside former teammates and current Adidas pro runners, Whittni Orton-Morgan and Anna Camp-Bennett.
On is also sponsoring former Reebok Track Club runner and Michigan alum Ben Flanagan who spoke to The Stride Report about his signing earlier this year. He now trains in Ann Arbor, Michigan with the Very Nice Track Club.
On is now entering territory that puts them amongst the best collegiate groups in the world. They have also expanded their presence within the United States as only one of their newest four members (Garcia Romo) isn't a US citizen.