COLUMBIA, Mo. – Austin Hindman, Mizzou Track and Field signee for the class of 2017, was named the 2016-17 Gatorade Missouri Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, announced by the organization on Jan. 30. Hailing from Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri, Hindman signed his National Letter of Intent in November to attend the University of Missouri this fall.
A three-time Missouri State Champion, Hindman most recently captured the MSHSAA Class 4 Cross Country State Championship in November, setting the course-record with a 5,000m time of 15:22.30. Hindman would go on to set his 5,000m personal record at the Nike Cross Nationals Midwest Regional Championships with a time of 15:04.40 before racing in the Foot Locker Midwest Regional Championships, where he finished 27th.
Hindman captured back-to-back state titles in the 3,200m at the 2015 and 2016 Missouri State Track and Field Championships, setting his 3,200m personal-record in the 2016 meet, finishing at 9:03.37. Over the summer of 2016, he 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 54:02.
In addition to an outstanding athletic career, Hindman was also recognized as Gatorade's award winner for his exemplary achievements in the classroom, as well as within the community. The Lafayette High School senior is a certified Eagle Scout who has volunteered many hours of his time back to the community, including to the Humanitarian Aviation Organization, Wings of Hope.
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