Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger --- A private verbal commitment made before Christmas was officially made public last Friday when Belton senior cross country and track record-holder Regan Tindell signed a national letter of intent to run for the Division I University of Missouri Tigers next fall. The announcement came before a roomful of classmates, teammates, coaches and family members at the athletic fieldhouse.

The middle daughter of Alan and Kristi Tindell chose Mizzo over other Big 12 Conference schools and will receive a full athletic scholarship. Instead of a college just down the road, It just happens that the school she selected from offers just happens to be the furthest away from home.

“A lot of things went into my decision,” she explained. “Mostly, I feel like I’m coming into a family and I’ll feel at home when I get there. On my visit, I met with coach Rebecca Wilmes and her coaches and all the girls on the team  and liked them.  I competed at nationals with one of my future teammates.”

Her high school track and XC coach Denise Petter commented that it’s a good pick for Tindell. “We’re very excited that she is going to Missouri. It’s a sound program that is going to get a little better now. She will be one of their core runners. This is a great day for Belton High School and Regan,” Petter stated.

Among her high school accomplishments: Regan has qualified for Nationals four times and has won two TAAF State Championships; Regan has finished sixth or better at the 5A State Cross Country meet  in each of the past three years. She is one of only four girls in the history of XC to accomplish this feat and one of just two girls in the past 10 years; Regan has qualified individually for Region four consecutive years in cross county and three successive years in track; Regan led the Belton Cross Country team to state in 2008 for only its second time in school history and its highest state and region ranking in program history; Regan holds five cross country course records; Regan has won four District Championships (three in Cross Country and one in Track); Regan has 16 individual gold medals in Cross Country and 21 in Track. 

Tindell’s high school career by years includes: (Freshman) 14U TAAF State Champion 1600m; Region II 5A Qualifier, 11th place; USATF National Qualifier Cross Country; 13-5A All-District Cross Country; All-Region Cross Country CCCAT; All-State Cross Country TGCA; Regional II 5A Qualifier 1600m and 3200m Track; All-District 13-5A Track. (Sophomore) AAU National Qualifier 2000m Steeple; 13-5A District Champion Cross Country; Region II 5A Cross Country Qualifier, fifth place; 5A State Meet Qualifier, fifth place; 13-5A All-District Cross Country; All-Region Cross Country, CCCAT; All-State Cross Country, TXrunning.com, CCCAT, TGCA, Inside Texas Track; District Champion  3200m; Regional Qualifier 1600m and 3200m; State Qualifier 3200m, fourth place finish; 13-5A All-District; All-State Track TGCA. (Junior) TAAF 16U State Champion 3200m Track; District 12-5A Champion Cross Country; Region II 5A Cross Country Qualifier, second place; 5A State Cross Country Qualifier, third place; 12-5A All-District Cross Country; All-Region Cross Country CCCAT; All-State Cross Country, TXrunning.com CCCAT, TGCA, Inside Texas  Running; Footlocker All-South Region, 11th place; Nike Nationals Qualifier, 12th place; Regional Qualifier 1600m, 12-5A All-District Track. (Senior)  District 12-5A Champion Cross Country; 3rd place finish Region II 5A Cross Country; 6th place finish 5A State Meet; 12-5A All-District Cross Country; All-Region II 5A Cross Country CCCAT; Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year, Killeen Daily Herald; All-State, TXrunning.com, CCCAT; Footlocker All-South Region, 12th place finish; Footlocker First Place Team Award;  Nike Nationals Qualifier and her senior track season set to start.

Tindell holds five Belton High School Records: 3000m Indoor (10:35.68); Mile Indoor (5:26.00); 3200m Outdoor (10:47.28, which is also the Centex record); 2 Mile Cross Country (10:51); and 5K Cross Country (17:34).

Tindell holds four course records, also; Belton Invitational at Long Branch Park (11:08); Temple Early Bird Meet at Sammons Golf Course (11:30); Giddings Invitational (11:16); Georgetown Invitational (11:23; and the Baylor Meet record (11:40).

Regan is the middle of the three Tindell children. Older sister, Sarah, attends Texas State and younger sister, Bailey, is a fourth grader who has already staked her claim to Regan’s room when she heads off to MIzzou, but admits that shes “going to miss her!”

“I’m very excited for her,” said Dad. “I went on a visit with her and we got to meet the coaches and girls. The coach took us on a tour and we loved the school and campus. It’s a great place to train with good temperatures, a great outdoor facility, lots of places to run and it has the coaching philosophy we were looking for. I think she made the best choice”.

Mom is going to miss Regan. “I remember the 12-year-old, scrawny kid when she was at a point where she had to make a choice. She said: ‘When people think of me, I want them to think of me as an athlete!’” Kristi Tindell recalled, chuckling, “And after sacrifice and dedication, here she is --- an athlete”!

As for Regan, she is looking forward to going to Missouri and doing well. She plans to pursue a degree in education with thoughts of becoming a coach someday --- but not before her final season on the Lady Tigers track team and the possibility of a BHS State Championship!