Columbia News

Mizzou Track & Field has expanded its roster with the addition of 20 new student-athletes to its 2020 recruiting class. Head coach Brett Halter announced that the incoming group includes athletes from five U.S. states and three international countries, with nine signees hailing from Missouri. The class is composed of 18 freshmen and two transfers.

Several recruits have achieved notable results in previous competitions. Seven members of the class finished in the top ten at state cross country or track and field meets, while all three international signees have secured U18 or U20 championships in their respective countries.

"We are looking forward to welcoming our newcomers to campus in a few weeks," said Halter. "It has been a long and unusual summer and I know everyone is looking forward to engaging in the process of developing their craft. The 2020 class reflects the efforts of the staff to create much needed depth to our men's distance while adding a few key athletes in our other event areas. Certainly, the accolades of the 2020 class are many but, the character of each signee is more impressive. We look forward to watching each and every student-athlete grow on and off the field while wearing the Black & Gold."

The men's signees include Angus Beer from Australia, who has been runner-up at both U20 New South Wales events and holds national U18 titles; Nathan Hall, a transfer from Southern Indiana with NCAA Division II experience; Davis Helmerich from Colorado; Ryan Mata from Missouri; Jackson McAlister from Illinois; Michael Moriarty also from Illinois; Blake Morris from Missouri who placed seventh at state cross country championships; Rece Rowan, a thrower ranked nationally in discus from Colorado; William Sinclair and Mitchell Small from New Zealand with national-level achievements; Jack Warner, Luke Winkler, and Quentin "Bret" Worley—all distance runners with top-10 finishes at Missouri state meets.

On the women's side, Mira Baccile joins as a sprinter/hurdler out of Iowa who medaled at state high jump events; McKenna Butler brings distance running credentials from Missouri; Claudina Diaz arrives as an accomplished high jumper from Mexico; Mya Drayton is a sprinter based locally in Columbia, Mo.; Kaesha George comes as one of the nation's top-ranked javelin throwers and two-time Missouri state champion; Elsa Neubauer brings distance talent from New York; and McKenna Revord rounds out the group as an Illinois athlete with several top-10 finishes at her state's championship meets.