Nov. 20, 2003
COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri Head Track and Field Coach Rick McGuire is happy to announce that 10 student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Missouri Track and Field squad for the 2004-05 season. The collection that signed in the early, fall period is comprised of seven women and three men and are diverse in both hometown and talent.
"This is by far the most successful early signing in Missouri history," said McGuire. "Not only are these kids a group of exceptional athletes, but they are also excellent students and great people. They will provide a perfect complement to the team we will be returning for the upcoming seasons. We've never come close to signing this many kids this early in the year."
None will be closer to home than Kaela Rorvig who will come from Columbia's Hickman High School, and will provide noticeable athleticism to McGuire's squad in the immediate future. Rorvig is the defending MSHSAA Class 4 Champion in two events. A two-time winner of the 400-meter dash at the state meet, Rorvig will be defending a championship in the long jump event as well this upcoming May. Rorvig has also shown great talents on the basketball court as she was named all-state in the 2002-03 season with the Kewpies.
"We are very excited to add Kaela to our group," McGuire added. "Kaela's talents and achievements in both track and field and basketball makes her a great fit as a heptathlete. Having a long tradition of excellent multi-event student-athletes here at Missouri made Kaela a priority for me and our staff. We are excited for her and the community as it will be fun for everyone to cheer her on and follow her career closely. This is a kid I really want to coach. I think that she is going to be great."
Joining Rorvig in the multi-event category will be Rukayatu (Ruky) Abdulai. A native of Ghana, Abdulai currently lives in Den Haag, Netherlands where her father is a diplomat. Ruky holds Ghana's records in both the 400-meter hurdles and the high jump.
"Ruky has excellent marks across the board and will also be an added force in our multi-event crew," McGuire added. "As she is so talented in the hurdle and jumping events, she may focus on those events in her career at Missouri. She and Kaela will not only be a force in the heptathlon, but will also combine to strengthen our 4x400-meter relay team."
Missouri will add three extraordinary throwers in Elisha Hunt, Elizabeth Robe, and Nate Englin.
Nate Englin will come to Mizzou from Shoreview, Minn., as one of the top prep throwers in the nation, and will be a headliner for the Tigers' in the near future. Englin has the second longest shot put throw for high schoolers entering his 2003-04 senior season. His personal best of 65 feet, 6 inches is the longest mark for any Missouri newcomer in history. Englin also has one of the longest throws in the nation in the discus with a personal best of 194 feet, 7 inches.
"Nate's personal best in both the shot put and discus makes him, in my opinion, the best combination thrower in high school today," said Brett Halter, assistant coach in charge of throws. "Nate shares the same common goals of our throwers currently on the team. He has also identified the passion and energy that comes with our program, and will equal the academic and athletic spirit of our team. We can't wait to see him on campus."
Another local athlete to sign with Halter and McGuire's bunch is Linn, Mo., resident Elisha Hunt. Hunt won the shot put at last year's state championships with a throw of 45 feet, 8? inches, and is part of an interesting fact of Missouri history as she is the third generation of Tiger shot put throwers to have broken the MSHSAA Class 2 shot put record in their high school career. Hunt joins current Tiger Lindsey Markworth and former Tiger from the late 80's Mitzi (Noelker) Clayton on that list.
"Elisha is a natural fit for Mizzou," said Halter. "Being able to see Elisha at our camps throughout her career, I was given the opportunity to get to know her family real well. I was thrilled to have Elisha become a part of the Mizzou family, and often I feel as though Elisha is already on this team."
Elizabeth Robe is the third addition to the thrower's group. Robe hails from Waukesha, Wis., home of current Mizzou All-Region cross country runner Serena Ramsey. Robe had the best mark in the state of Wisconsin in the 2002-03 season with a throw of 45 feet, 1 inch.
"Elizabeth will share the same passion to be great with the rest of the throwers in our group," Halter said. "Elizabeth is very accomplished already athletically, and will also standout academically as she has demonstrated by ranking No. 1 in her class. She's a great person and has been a real treat to recruit."
The team will add three middle- and long-distance runners for track and field and cross country teams for the upcoming seasons in Carolyn Rauen, Summer Owens, and Brian Graybill.
Carolyn Rauen will come to Missouri from Cincinnati, Ohio and will add to the both middle- and long-distance running groups for Mizzou. Her times in the mile and two-mile of 4:56 and 10:51, respectively, will make her a great addition to the team. Rauen is also an accomplished cross country runner as she won the Mideast Race of Champions.
"We are excited to add Carolyn to the team," said Head Cross Country Coach Jared Wilmes. "In our program Carolyn will flourish as a person and as an athlete and will keep our distance group and cross country team strong. It's great to know she already has some experience in big time competition under her belt and will be ready to add to our team."
A native of Mt. Vernon, Ill., Summer Owens will come to Missouri as mainly a middle-distance runner, but will also run in some cross country events. An all-state runner in Illinois, Owens ownes a personal best of 2:14.5 in the 800-meter run.
"Summer is a very quick and smooth runner," Wilmes added. "She'll be another in a long line of great student-athletes who will combine a middle-distance background with cross country."
Brian Graybill, a native of Liberty, Mo., will come to Missouri as one of the best high school runners in the state. Graybill led his Blue Jay team to a first place finish in the MSHSAA Class 4 Cross County Championships earlier this month.
"From a coaching standpoint, it's great to see a student-athlete give forth the effort and sacrifice to lead a team to a state title, and Brian did that for his high school," Wilmes said. "Brian is a bright, nice, young man who will add his talents in many ways to our Missouri squad."
Jason Miller of Stafford, Va., adds his high jump talents to the Mizzou track and field team. Miller was fifth in last year's ADIDAS AOC Nationals. His personal best in the high jump is 6 feet, 10? inches.
"Jason is a fabulous example of a student-athlete," said Matt Candrl, assistant coach in charge of jumps. "Jason gets it done in both the classroom and on the track. His interest in both Mizzou's track team and the bio-chemistry department makes him a perfect complement to us."
Pole vaulter Tommie Powers from North Richland Hills, Texas has proven herself as one of the top-20 junior vaulters in the nation. Her 12-foot vault last year earned her second in the state of Texas. Powers has an interest in the natural sciences and will be another benefactor of Missouri's academic and athletic prowess.
"Tommie will be a great addition to the pole vaulting core we have here at Missouri as both an athlete and as a person," said Dan Lefever, assistant coach in charge of pole vaulters. "Her addition couldn't be a better fit for our program."