Zurich, Switzerland, August 4th, 2025 – Swiss sportswear brand On is proud to announce the signing of six exceptionally talented former NCAA athletes to professional contracts, marking a significant step in their athletic journeys from collegiate dominance to the global stage.
The six athletes joining the On professional roster are: Tapiwanashe Makarawu, Nathaniel Ezekiel, Johnny Brackins Jr., Max Thomas, Ceili McCabe, and Samirah Moody.
“We’re incredibly proud and excited to welcome these six exceptionally talented athletes to the professional side of the On family as they transition from their impressive collegiate careers into professional track and field,” said Kevin Quadrozzi, Athlete Manager at On. “Each of these athletes embodies the spirit of innovation and elite performance that defines On, and we look forward to supporting them as they achieve even greater heights on the world stage.”
Meet On’s newest professional athletes:
Tapiwansashe Makarawu
Zimbabwean sprint sensation Tapiwanashe Makarawu rapidly rose through the ranks, dominating the collegiate scene with multiple NJCAA championships before breaking the Zimbabwe national record on his University of Kentucky debut. He captured both the 2025 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor 200m titles, setting a new national record in the latter. Makarawu also notably placed sixth in the 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and is set to represent Zimbabwe at the upcoming World Athletics Championships.
Nathaniel Ezekiel
Nigerian record holder Nathaniel Ezekiel, a standout from Baylor University, has consistently impressed on both collegiate and international stages. He shattered the Nigerian 400m hurdles record as a freshman and reached the semi-finals at both the 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships, as well as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Most recently, Ezekiel claimed the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships 400m hurdles title, setting a new national record and earning the prestigious men’s track athlete of the year award. On his professional debut at the Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon, he secured a third-place finish in the 400m hurdles.
Johnny Brackins Jr.
Leaving behind a successful long jump career, including crowning himself the 2024 USA Indoor Track and Field champion, Johnny Brackins has excelled in the hurdles, winning silver at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships and ranks second on the all-time 60m hurdle list at USC. Brackins competed for Baylor in his freshman year of college before transferring to the University of Southern California ahead of his sophomore year.
Max Thomas
Originally a football (soccer) player on the verge of committing to play D1, he made the decision to pursue track full-time. He became a key member of the USC Track and Field team, contributing to USC’s second-fastest 4x100m relay in school history. He earned All-American honorable mention in the 100m and 200m NCAA semifinals. He set personal records of 10.13 in the 100m and 20.28 in the 200m, placing second in both at the Pac-12 Championships. He announced in June of 2025 that he would forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility to turn pro.
Ceili McCabe
Canadian middle and long-distance runner Ceili McCabe is primarily focused on the 3000m steeplechase event. She competed for West Virginia University, earning multiple All-American honors. She set the Canadian record in the 3000m steeple chase in 2024 and has represented Canada internationally, competing at the World Athletic Championships in 2022 and 2023 as well as at the 2024 Olympic Games. She claimed the Canadian championship in 2022 and 2024 and will now transition from university athlete to professional.
Samirah Moody
A dominant force for the University of Southern California (USC) track and field team, Samirah Moody is bringing her exceptional record to the professional ranks. She departs USC as the indoor school record holder in the 60m dash (7.07), and ranks fourth all-time in the outdoor 100m (11.02 PR) and seventh in the outdoor 200m (22.50 PR). Her impressive collegiate career includes earning honorable mention All-American status in the 100m and 200m at the 2023 NCAA semifinals. In her final collegiate season, she notably placed third in the 100m at the Pac-12 Championships and contributed to USC’s Pac-12 champion 4x100m relay.
