By Citius Mag Staff
October 29, 2024
Nike has announced it has signed nine NCAA athletes to NIL deals ahead of the 2024-2025 track season.
The signing class is comprised of Oregon’s Elliott Cook, Matti Erickson, Maddy Elmore and Klaudia Kazimierska; BYU’s James Corrigan, Meghan Hunter and Jenna Hutchins; North Carolina’s Parker Wolfe and Ethan Strand
“Nike has always been honored to partner with athletes who share its belief that sport can break barriers, push limits, spark change and contribute to creating a more equitable future,” the sportswear company said in a statement. “Just as we support them in pursuing their goals, they push us to think even bigger about the change we can create together.”
Previous Nike NIL athletes includes Stanford’s Charles Hicks (who went on to sign a pro contract with Nike and joined the Bowerman Track Club), Florida’s Parker Valby (who became the first major NCAA track star to break from their NIL sponsor and signed a lucrative pro contract with New Balance) and Mia Brahe-Pedersen (who is now attending USC).
Get to know the NIL signees:
Elliott Cook | Oregon
Elliott Cook returns to Oregon for his senior year after finishing runner-up in the 1500m at the NCAA Championships. At the U.S. Olympic Trials, Cook ran a personal best of 3:33.84 to finish 8th in the 1500m final. Some of Cook’s other personal bests include 1:46.64 for the 800m and 3:55.34 for the mile. Prior to joining the Ducks, Cook was the 2020 Ohio State Indoor Champion in the 1600m.
Courtesy Oregon Athletics
James Corrigan | BYU
U.S. Olympian James Corrigan is coming off an incredible track season, highlighted by competing at the Paris Olympics in the 3000m steeplechase. Corrigan finished third at the U.S. Olympic Trials, but without the 8:15.00 Olympic standard, his spot on the team was not a sure thing. Fortunately, Corrigan ran 8:13.87 shortly thereafter to knock almost 15 seconds off his previous PB and secure his spot on Team USA. Just prior to the Olympic Trials and Games, Corrigan placed ninth in the steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Corrigan’s other personal bests include 4:01.14 for the mile, 8:05.66 for the 3000m, and 13:30.67 for the 5000m.
Maddy Elmore | Oregon
Oregon Duck and Eugene native Maddy Elmore is having a stellar cross country season, having won the Dellinger Invite in 19:40.2. In the spring, Elmore placed eighth in the 3000m at the NCAA Indoor Championships for her first All-American finish. Elmore holds personal bests of 4:08.87 for the 1500m, 8:50.43 for the 3000m, and 15:15.78 for the 5000m. Before her time with the Ducks, Elmore was the 2019 OSAA 6A State Champion in the 1500m.
Courtesy Oregon Athletics
Matti Erickson | Oregon
Matthew Erickson is in his third season with the Oregon Ducks. Erickson qualified for the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 800m and holds a personal best in the event of 1:45.74. Before his time at Oregon, Erickson represented Canada in the 800m at the 2021 World U20 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya.
Meghan Hunter | BYU
Meghan Hunter’s career at BYU is highlighted by her podium finish in the 800m at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships where she ran 2:02.15 for third. At the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships, Hunter placed fourth in the 800m. Prior to BYU, Hunter was an eight-time USHAA State Champion. She holds personal bests of 2:00.75 for the 800m and 52.59 for the 400m.
Courtesy BYU Athletics
Jenna Hutchins | BYU
Jenna Hutchins enters her sophomore year at BYU after a stellar freshman season that resulted in an All-American finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where she ran a personal best of 32:44.05 for sixth in the 10,000m. Three months earlier, Hutchins ran 15:31.42 for ninth at the NCAA Indoor Championship 5,000m, just shy of her personal best of 15:30.99. She has also run 8:55.50 for the 3000m. Prior to BYU, Hutchins was a two-time Tennessee Gatorade Athlete of the Year in both track and cross country (2020 and 2019).
Klaudia Kazimierska | Oregon
Oregon’s Klaudia Kazimierska is coming off a remarkable outdoor season where she reached the Olympic final in the 1500m, running 4:00.12 to place 10th for Team Poland. To cap off her historic season, Kazimierska ran 3:59.95 to break four minutes for the first time in the 1500m at the Silesia Diamond League.
During the 2024 collegiate season, Kazimierska secured a podium finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, running ran 4:08.22 for third in the 1500m. Three months earlier, she earned another All-American finish by running 4:30.65 for seventh in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Kazimierska’s standout year built off her impressive 2023 season, where she placed fourth in the 1500m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Prior to joining the Ducks, she placed seventh at the 2021 European U23 Championships in the 1500m.
Ethan Strand | North Carolina
UNC’s Ethan Strand kicked off his senior year with the Tar Heels by winning the 8K at the Princeton Classic and placing seventh at the Nuttycombe Invite a few weeks earlier. This spring, Strand ran 3:40.90 to place ninth in the 1500m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and was a finalist in the 1500m at the Olympic Trials. Three months earlier, Strand received All-American honors in the mile by running 4:02.44 for fourth. Strand holds personal bests of 3:54.62 for the mile, 3:35.60 for the 1500m, 7:46.48 for the 3000m, and 13:36.57 for the 5000m.
Parker Wolfe | North Carolina
UNC’s Parker Wolfe enters his senior year with the Tar Heels after a phenomenal track season that culminated in him placing third in the 5000m at the U.S. Olympic Trials in a personal best of 13:10.75. Before the Trials, Wolfe won the 5000m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, earning him his eighth All-American career finish. Wolfe’s other personal bests include 3:36.25 for the 1500m, 7:37.41 for the 3000m, and 29:15.12 for the 10,000m. Before his time at UNC, Wolfe was the 2020-21 Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Player of the Year as a high schooler in Colorado.
Justin Britton / @justinbritton
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Citius Mag Staff