Nov. 28, 2000

COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri head track and field coach Rick McGuire announced the signing of five athletes during the early signing period Nov. 8-15.

Jefferson City's Christina Gilpin will compete in the pole vault for the Tigers next season. She finished second in the pole vault at the 2000 state championships. Her personal best in the pole vault is 11-3 and her career high in the 100-meter hurdles is 15.01. Her brother, Jared, is a senior punter on the MU football team.

Lindsey Markworth of Lexington, Mo., is a three-time state champion in the shot put and is the current state champion in the discus. Her mark of 149-3 is the Missouri Class 2A record and her personal best. Markworth's career high in the shot put is 42-2.

St. Charles, Mo. native Jackie Pirtle is one of three distance runners. Pirtle, who prepped at Frances Howell North, finished third in cross country and third in the mile at last year's state championships. Her career highs are 5:02.74 in the mile run, 11:07 in the two-mile run and 18:25 in the 5000-meter run.

Jill Peterson, who hails from O'Fallon, Mo., comes to MU as the 2000 cross country state champion. She recorded a third-place finish in the two-mile run at the 2000 state championships and a fourth-place finish at the 1999 meet. Peterson's career bests are 5:07.58 in the mile and 11:09.75 in the two-mile run.

Lesley Smith, the only out-of-stater in the class, competes at Iowa City (Iowa) West HS. She has been a member of three cross country state championship teams. Smith also placed first at the 1999 AAU Championships in the 3000m run. She was also runner-up in the 3000 at the 1999 and 2000 Iowa State Championships.

"This is by far the best early recruiting class I have had here," remarked McGuire. "These athletes will have an immediate impact on the track and field program at the University of Missouri."