@MIZ_TrackField Welcomes Seven with 2015-16 Signing Class
11/23/2015 10:09:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The first round of commitments for the 2016-17 season brings in some of the biggest names in high school track
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Track and Field is proud to welcome seven members to its 2015-16 signing class, as released by Head Coach Brett Halter and the rest of the staff last week. Some of the most highly touted high school athletes in the U.S., the group brings with them an impressive list of accomplishments, including:
> One World Youth Champion
> Four top 20 rankings in the U.S. for 2015
> One NJCAA National Champion
> Two New Balance National Champions
> Two U.S. Junior National Championship qualifiers
> Nine state champions
> 23 All-State honors
"I am absolutely thrilled for our student-athletes and assistant coaches for having attracted such an extraordinary group of men and women to join our Tiger Family next year," Head Coach Brett Halter, currently in his sixth year at the helm of the Track & Field program, said. "Each of these young men and women obviously bring some outstanding accomplishments on the track and in the field, but they are also even better people who will contribute far beyond their athletic performances. I speak for the entire staff and team when I say that we are certainly looking forward to the future with these terrific individuals."
| NAME | EVENT GROUP | HOMETOWN // HIGH SCHOOL |
| MEN | ||
| Dylan Quisenberry | Mid-Distance | Wildwood, MO // Lafayette HS |
| Reinhard Van Zyl | Javelin | Hoedspruit, South Africa // Cloud County CC |
| Ja'Mari Ward | Horizontal Jumps | Cahokia, IL // Cahokia HS |
| WOMEN | ||
| Michaela Hackbarth | Mid-Distance | Downers Grove, IL // Downers Grove South HS |
| Karina Liz | Mid-Distance | Aurora, IL // Aurora Central Catholic HS |
| Emily Stauffer | Throws | Reinholds, PA // Cocalico HS |
| Allie Webb | Javelin | Platte City, MO // St. James Academy (KS) |
Certainly one of the headlines of this signing class is Cahokia, Ill. (Cahokia HS), native, Ja'Mari Ward. One of the top long and triple jumpers at the high school in recent years, Ward is only one of two athletes to hold top ten marks in both events for the nation since 2000. Leading the nation last year in the triple jump (15.82m // 51-11), and No. 2 in the long jump (7.79m // 25-6.50), Ward brings with him two New Balance Indoor titles, four IHSA titles, six All-State finishes, and two USATF Junior Championship qualifications.
"We are honored to welcome Ja'Mari Ward, one of the most decorated high school athletes in the nation!" Iliyan Chamov, assistant coach in charge of the jumps, said. "His athletic talent and hard-working personality will be a great addition to our track family. I am excited for the years ahead to help Ja'Mari reach his full potential both athletically and academically."
Another headliner for this recruiting class is Reinhard Van Zyl, a javelin-specialist from Hoedspruit, South Africa, who has been competing at Cloud County CC in Concordia, Kan., since 2014 and will join the Tigers for the 2016 outdoor season. The 2011 World Youth Champion and the 2014 NJCAA National Champion, he holds a PR of 82.96m (272-2).
"Reinhard has had an extraordinary journey to this point," Halter said. "He is a mature and well-rounded individual who fits our value system. I am looking forward to having him join us in January to continue that journey."
Rounding out the trio of men set to join the Tigers next year is Missouri-native Dylan Quisenberry. One of the top 800m and 1600m specialists in the state, Quisenberry hails from Wildwood, Mo. (Lafayette HS). He was the 2014 MSHSAA Champion in the 800m run, and holds seven MSHSAA All-State finishes. A force to be reckoned with on the cross country course, as well, with three top-15 finishes at the MSHSAA Championships, he currently holds PR's of 1:54.07 (800m) and 4:11.70 (1600m).
"Dylan comes from a strong program in St. Louis and his upside is huge," Marc Burns, assistant coach in charge of the mid-distance and distance groups, said. "He has great range from 800m up to cross country. We feel like he can be a sub-4 minute miler, and help us continue to build our great middle distance tradition."
The four incoming women add to the list of top-20 rankings in the U.S. for 2015, starting with Emily Stauffer, who threw the ninth-best mark in the shot put last year (14.47m // 47-5.50). The Reinholds, Penn. (Cocalico HS), native is a two-time New Balance Outdoor Championships qualifier in the shot put and discus (2015), and a three-time PIAA All-State finisher, including as runner-up in the shot put in 2013. She owns a PR of 40.59m (133-2) in the discus, and 14.47m (47-5.50) in the shot put.
"Emily is a terrific fit for our program. She is a selfless athlete who will always put team first while understanding, embracing, and appreciating the value of hard work," Halter said. "Emily's leadership over the next several years will be fun, and I am looking forward to having her as a Tiger!"
Joining Stauffer in the throws group is another top-20 ranked high school athlete, Allie Webb (Platte City, Mo. // St. James Academy, Kan.). Ranked No. 17 in the U.S. last year for her PR toss of 43.33m (142-2), Webb was a three-time KSHSAA Championships qualifier in both the javelin and discus, and earned the javelin title in 2014.
"Allie is a well-rounded athlete who is relatively new to the throws. Recently she began to emphasize her throwing, and she has seen terrific results," Halter said. "Coach Butterfield has done a great job with her in a short period of time. Allie will be a significant contributor to our program both in the javelin, as well as in other throwing events."
A pair of middle distance-specialists from Illinois rounds out the list of signees thus far. First up is Michaela Hackbarth (Downers Grove, Ill. // Downers Grove South HS), who held the top 800m run time in Illinois last year with her 2:11.24 PR. The 2015 IHSA 3A Champion, and runner-up in 2014, Hackbarth was also a New Balance Outdoor Championships qualifier in the 800m, and was third in the event at the 2015 Nike Festival of Miles. She owns PR's of 57.74 in the 400m dash and 2:11.24 in the 800m run.
"Michaela brings a wealth of experience to our program. She is a well-rounded individual who is both a fantastic student and person," Burns said. "Last spring, she won the Illinois 3A State Championship in the 800m run, so she knows how to win those big races. She fits in well with the girls on the team, and has really good range from the 400m to the 800m. She will be another important piece to our middle distance crew and national-caliber DMR. It is exciting to recruit such a strong person, athlete, and great overall person to our program."
Karina Liz, an Aurora, Ill. (Aurora Central Catholic HS), native was a state Champion in her own right, earning titles at the 2014 and 2015 IHSA 2A Championships in the 800m run. Holding the No. 2 time in the state (2:11.45) in 2015, Liz was also fourth in the 400m dash at the 2015 IHSA Championships, second in the 800m in 2013, and 12th during the 2014 IHSA Cross Country Championships. A two-time qualifier for both the New Balance Championships and Nike Festival of Miles, she holds PR's of 56.18 in the 400m dash and 2:10.73 in the 800m run.
"Karina is an important addition to our program. She has great range and will help us continue to develop our middle distance crew," Burns said. "She has experience at the highest level and knows how to win championship races. One of our goals is to compete for a national title in the Distance Medley Relay, and Karina has the ability to help us make that happen. She is a super student and fits in very well with the girls on the team. We are thrilled to have her wearing the black and gold next year!"
For the latest on your Tigers, including updates on the 2015-16 signing class, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MIZ_TrackField.
