Alma Mater: Columbia University '07
Seasons as Head Coach: 5 (including 2020-21)
Track & Field All-Americans: 5 (3 men, 2 women)
Erison Hurtault was named head coach of the men’s and women’s cross country and track & field teams in June 2016 following a two-year stint as an assistant coach with the Violets.
The 2019-20 campaign included a great deal of success during the cross country and indoor T&F seasons (the outdoor season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic).
In cross country, freshman Siena Moran burst onto the scene and earned University Athletic Association (UAA) Rookie of the Year honors, was a United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Atlantic Region performer, qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship, and was selected Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Runner of the Month (September). She also won individual titles at the Ramapo Season Opener and the Paul Short Invitational.
Two more of Hurtault’s cross country runners, freshman Leah Haley and junior Dillan Spector, also qualified for the NCAA Championship.
Senior Evelyn Nkanga earned another NCAA All-America honor and was an All-Atlantic Region performer in the triple jump, while also winning the UAA 200-meter title in an NYU-record time (25.21). Freshman Isre’al Conerly, had a sterling debut campaign as she won the 400-meter title and was named UAA Indoor Rookie of the Year. In addition, the Violets’ distance medley relay team of Haley, Moran, sophomore Gabby Lozano, and graduate student Rebecca MacLeod also earned All-Atlantic Region distinction.
The teams’ “feats” within the classroom were also well-documented. A total of 15 cross country runners earned UAA Fall Sport All-Academic honors, while 36 received both UAA Winter and Spring Sport All-Academic accolades.
The 2018-19 season was highlighted by a pair of All-America performances from Hurtualt’s sprinter Malcom Montilus. Competing in the 400 meters, he took sixth indoors and eighth outdoors at the respective NCAA Division III Championships. Younger brother Julian Montilus qualified for the 400m hurdles outdoors, while both siblings, along with Brett Asay and Daniel Devine, qualified for the outdoor 4x400m relay.
On the woman’s side, Nkanga qualified for the Indoor NCAA Championships in the triple jump and just missed earning All-America honors by one place. However, she did capture the ECAC Indoor Triple Jump Championship.
During the 2018 cross country season, Ben Haderle earned NCAA All-Atlantic Region honors and qualified for the NCAA Championship while Valentina House was named ECAC Metro Rookie of the Month for September. The Violets also produced good results in the classroom as a total of 16 student-athletes earned UAA All-Academic honors for cross country, 21 were recognized during indoor season and 25 were honored for outdoor track, while Malcolm Montilus was selected CoSIDA (College Sports Information Director of America) All-Academic District 3.
The 2017-18 men’s season was highlighted by Neil Saddler earning All-America honors (third place) in the 3,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Malcolm Montilus, who also qualified for the NCAA indoors, garnered USTFCCCA All-Atlantic Region honors. During the cross country season, Saddler earned First Team All-UAA and USTFCCCA All-Atlantic Region honors, while Brandon Shirazi received Second Team All-UAA and USTFCCCA All-Atlantic Region accolades.
On the women’s side, the Violets’ cross country team was led by Sabrina Hermann, who captured First Team All-UAA and USTFCCCA All-Atlantic Region accolades. The indoor track & field season was capped by Nkanga earning an All-America honor (fourth place) in the triple jump at the NCAA Championships while Justina Sanders-Schifano also qualified for nationals. Both Nkanga (triple jump) and Sanders-Schifano (400 meters) were UAA Champions in their respective events. The outdoor track & field season saw both Nkanga and Sanders-Schifano earn USTFCCCA All-Atlantic Region accolades, while Nkanga also took Second and Third Team All-UAA honors. Additionally, Morel Malcolm earned USTFCCCA All-Atlantic Region accolades in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
Both the men’s and women’s cross country and track & field squads earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team awards in ’17-18. The men had 13 team members named UAA Fall Sport All-Academic while seven women’s cross country runners received the same honor. For the indoor track & field season, 18 men and 11 women made the UAA Winter Sport All-Academic list. Outdoors, 19 men earned UAA Spring Sport All-Academic honors while eight women were also recognized.
Both teams had successful campaigns in Hurtault’s first season as head coach in 2016-17.
On the men’s side, Saddler and Jorge Maldonado qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Caleb Su broke the 60m indoor school record, William Lee was the UAA Outdoor high jump champion and tied the 68-year-old school record, and the cross country team finished 32
nd at the NCAA Championship.
For the women, Dana Placentra tied the indoor pole vault school record, Nkanga was the UAA triple jump champion and competed at the NCAA Indoor Championships while Mimi Conti broke the 400m outdoor school record and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The performance of Hurtault’s athletes extended to the classroom, as well, as both cross country teams earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors. Individually, four cross country team members (Saddler, Nick Karam, Max Mudd, Karn Setya) received USTFCCCA All-Academic accolades.
As an assistant coach in 2015-16, Hurtault helped produce five All-America honors. Budd Brown finished eighth in the 400m at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships, while the women's 4x400-relay team (Conti, Ireland Gibson, Sanders-Schifano, and Drew Washington) finished fifth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Additionally, Lily Corsaro finished 29th at the NCAA Cross Country Atlantic Regional and earned a spot at the National Championship. The men’s team placed third at both the Indoor and Outdoor UAA Championships, while the women finished sixth at both meets. Three members of the women’s team (Washington, Lydia Guo, Sarah Sisk) and two men (Karam, Matthew Powers) earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.
In Hurtault’s first NYU campaign as an assistant in 2014-15, two runners qualified for their respective NCAA Cross Country Championships. Sebastian Oja of the men’s team and Sara Czuprynski of the women’s squad each represented NYU following strong showings at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. Hurtault’s first indoor track season at NYU was highlighted by a fourth-place finish by the men’s team at the UAA Championships.
The outdoor season was also a success in ’14-15, as two members of the men’s team qualified for the NCAA Championships. Brown competed in the 400m while Johnny Lake represented NYU in the 3,000m steeplechase. The women’s season was highlighted by second-place finishes from Kristina Harris in the 100m and 200m sprints at the UAA Championships.
A two-time Olympian, Hurtault represented the Commonwealth of Dominica in the 400 meters at both the Beijing (2008) and London (2012) Olympic Games.
A 2007 graduate of Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, Hurtault joined NYU after spending the previous three seasons as a volunteer assistant coach with his alma mater. Prior to his time with the Lions, Hurtault spent three seasons serving in the same capacity with Florida State University.
Hurtault began competing professionally in 2007, focusing on the 400 meters. In addition to his Olympics participation, Hurtault also competed in three World Championships (2009, 2011, 2014), finishing as a semifinalist in 2009 and 2011. Hurtault also ran at the Commonwealth Games (2010, 2014) and finished as a finalist in 2010.
Prior to his time in the professional ranks, Hurtault was an 11-time First Team All-Ivy League performer for the Lions. During his undergraduate career, Hurtault went undefeated within Ivy competition and was an eight-time champion in the 400 meters. As a senior, he served as a team captain, earned the Connie S. Maniatty Award as Columbia’s Most Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete and earned NCAA Division I All-America honors for indoor and outdoor track & field.
A native of Aberdeen, NJ, Hurtault resides in New York City.
