@MIZ_TrackField Adds Nine to Recruiting Class in Early Signing Period
11/29/2016 2:30:00 PM | Track & Field
All-American Mollie Gribbin and Missouri State Record Holder Austin Hindman Highlight Class
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Track and Field head coach Brett Halter added eight future Tigers to his program's Class of 2017 recruiting class on Friday. The group of four transfers and four high school prospects have decided to continue their athletic and academic careers at the University of Missouri.
"Our initial 2017 class reflects the terrific job our staff has done in attracting not only elite student-athletes but terrific people," Halter said. "Our staff and student-athletes are excited to welcome these quality individuals into the Tiger family and will anxiously await their arrival to campus."
Mollie Gribbin | Jumps
Previous School: Nebraska // South Burlington High School
Hometown: Montpelier, Vt.
Triple Jump: 43'3.7"
An NCAA All-American and All-Big Ten Second Team selection at Nebraska, Mollie Gribbin (Montpelier, Vt.) joins Mizzou as a graduate transfer for the 2017 spring semester. Gribbin excelled in the triple jump and long jump for the Huskers, setting her triple jump personal-record with a second-place jump of 43-3.75 at the 2015 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Gribbin would go on to finish 12th in the triple jump at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships to earn All-America honors. In addition to athletic success, the Montpelier, Vt., native excelled in the classroom as well in Lincoln as she was named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll a total of six semesters while also earning Academic All-Big Ten (2015) and USTFCCCA All-Academic honors (2014-15).
"Mollie was exposed to the highest level of competition while at Nebraska," said jumps and multi-events assistant coach Iliyan Chamov. "I am looking towards her experience in Lincoln being a stepping stone for her future realization as a leader and an athlete."
Austin Hindman | Distance
Previous School: Lafayette (Wildwood) High School
Hometown: Wildwood, Mo.
5K Cross Country (Missouri State Record Holder): 15:22.30
3,200m: 9:03.37
A three-time Missouri State Champion, Austin Hindman (Wildwood, Mo.) joins the Tigers as one of the most distinguished distance runners from Missouri in the Class of 2017. Hindman captured back-to-back state titles in the 3,200m at the 2015 and 2016 Missouri State Track and Field Championships. Hindman set his 3,200m personal-record in the 2016 meet, finishing at 9:03.37. At the 2016 MSHSAA State XC Championships, Hindman set the cross country state record in the 5K, winning the state title in the process with a time of 15:22.30. Over the summer, Hindman won the International Triathlon Union's Junior World Championship in Cozumel, Mexico. Hindman finished the 750-meter swim, 20K bike ride and 5K run with a time of 54 minutes and two seconds.
"Austin is an incredible young man and happens to be one of the most decorated high school runners to ever come out of the state of Missouri," said Cross Country Head Coach Marc Burns. "He has shown to be very team-oriented throughout his high school career and very loyal to his teammates and coaches. We are thrilled to have Austin join our program as we feel he will elevate in all aspects moving forward. When you listen to an interview with Austin, you hear him talk about all the things that we believe in here at Mizzou. These include being team-oriented, focusing on the process, a strong work ethic, resiliency and battling to the bitter end of each race. He is about all of these things and we are pumped to have him be a Tiger."
Rauno Liitmae | Decathlon
Previous School: Tallinn University
Hometown: Estonia
Decathlon: 7509
Javelin: 217'11"
A graduate transfer from Estonia, Rauno Liitmae (Estonia) competed in the decathlon for Tallinn University, posting a score of 7,509 at the Estonia-Finland-Sweden Combined Events Match. Liitmae, who already possesses an undergraduate law degree from Tallinn, has posted a javelin throw of 66.46m.
"Coming from Estonia in January, Rauno will compete immediately for us and continue building the great history we have with the multi-events," Chamov said. "Rauno's poise, hard work and love of the sport are few of the things that will make him successful in SEC and on the national stage."
Stephen Mugeche | Distance
Previous Schools: Arkansas // Blue Springs High School
Hometown: Blue Springs, Mo.
5K Cross Country: 15:06.70
3,200m PR: 8:58.87
2014 MSHSAA State Cross Country Champion Stephen Mugeche (Blue Springs, Mo.) joins Mizzou after transferring from Arkansas and will be eligible for the 2017 fall semester. At Blue Springs High School, Mugeche recorded three top-five finishes at the Missouri XC Championships, cultivating in a state championship as a senior. In track, Mugeche finished runner-up in the 3,200m as a senior and finished fourth in the 1,600m as a sophomore and junior. At the Arcadia Invitational in 2014, Mugeche recorded a time of 8:58.87 in the 3,200m.
"We are very excited to have Stephen joining our program," Burns said. "He was the top distance runner to come out of Missouri in 2014 and has the ability to help our program get to the next level. He is a talented student-athlete who believes in hard work and the team concept. He has the potential to be one of the great ones here at Mizzou in the next three years."
Arielle Mack | Jumps
Previous School: El Paso Burges High School
Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Triple Jump: 40'6"
Long Jump: 18'10"
A three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball, track & field) at El Paso Burges High School, Arielle Mack (El Paso, Texas) finished runner-up in the triple jump at the 2015 Texas 5A Track & Field State Championships. She advanced to the state championships following a first-place finish at the regional meet where she recorded her triple jump personal-record with a jump of 40-6. In the long jump, Mack finished third as a junior with a jump of 18-10. The elite jumper was chosen to train with Project Triple Jump, one of the nation's exclusive jumping club, after being noticed by Coach Macka Jones. At Project Triple Jump, Mack trained alongside current Mizzou freshman Ja'Mari Ward.
"Arielle is a well-rounded athlete who participated in three different sports while in high school. Being exposed to basketball, volleyball and track has allowed her to develop great agility and coordination," Chamov said. "Triple jump and long jump are Arielle's passion and we are very excited to dive deep into the events. Arielle possess athletic tools that are very rare to find. With her determination and the program we have established at Mizzou, we believe she will be a very successful athlete at this level."
Shannon Browning | Distance
Previous School: Lake Braddock High School
Hometown: Burke, Va.
1,600m: 4:58.51
Shannon Browning (Burke, Va.) will join Mizzou as a distance runner for the fall semester of 2017. Browning finished fourth in the 1,600m at the VHSL Group 5A/6A State Track and Field Championships with a time of 4:58.51 and has been an integral part of the Lake Braddock High School Cross Country Team which has won back-to-back state titles.
"Shannon is an all-around great recruit for the Tigers," Burns said. "She is a gifted student and athlete, and is also a great person. We look forward to working with her and helping her grow in all of these areas in the coming years."
Jake Wirthwein | Throws
Previous School: Warrensburg High School
Hometown: Warrensburg, Mo.
Discus: 166'0"
Shot Put: 54'6"
Jake Wirthwein (Warrensburg, Mo.) will join the program for the 2017 fall semester and will compete in a variety of throws events for the Tigers. At the 2016 Missouri State Track and Field Championships, Wirthwein posted top-10 finishes in the discus and shot put. His discus personal-record was a throw of 166-0 in a third-place finish at the 2016 Missouri Class 4 Sectional 4 event, while his shot put record is 54-6, which occurred at the Raymore-Peculiar Varsity Invitational.
"Jake is a fine young man who brings lots of potential to our program at the throws rings and in the classroom," Richardson said. "Jake has great size and is a multi-sport athlete coming out of high school. As he matures and focuses only on track, I think his throwing will go to another level. His enthusiasm for the University and the track program was evident from the moment he walked on campus. He is coached by one of Coach Halter's Missouri throws alumni, Lindsey Markworth, so I know he has great throwing fundamentals and respects the history Coach Halter built here in the throws program."
For all the latest on Mizzou Track & Field, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (MIZ_TrackField).
