MSU Signs Standout, Record-Breaking Speedster

STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Tavaris Tate could have taken his track & field skills nearly anywhere he wanted to go, including SEC and national powerhouses Florida, LSU and Arkansas.

But when it came time to sign on the dotted line, the heralded Starkville High School standout followed his heart and chose to stay home.

On Friday, Mississippi State track and field coach Al Schmidt announced the signing of the speedy Tate, an all-American prepster whose times in the 400- and 200-meter dashes are tops nationally this year at 45.78 and 20.89, respectively.

Known worldwide as a specialist in the 400, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Tate has been compared to the likes of LaShawn Merritt, who won gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in both the 400 and 4x400.

“Mississippi State is getting a class athlete as far ability and a person,” longtime SHS coach Cleveland Hudson said. “He’s one that’s going to make Mississippi State proud, and one that’s going to make Starkville High and the city of Starkville proud. He’s the best track athlete that’s ever come out of Starkville High. He’s the real deal.”

Last season as a junior in leading the Yellowjackets to the Class 5A crown, Tate claimed individual titles in both the 400- and 200-meter dashes en route to garnering USA Today All-USA honors, while his 4x400 meter-relay team also finished first. At the state meet next weekend in Pearl, he looks to become the first male athlete in the Magnolia State to capture the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes.

“We’ve had a lot of great sprinters, including two national champions (Pierre Browne and Lorenzo Daniels) and many other all-Americans, but Tavaris Tate is as important of a signing as Mississippi State has ever had,” Schmidt said.

Back in March, Tate won the 400-meter dash at the Nike Indoor Meet in Boston with a time of 47.84. He nearly won the 200, but finished second at 21.55, .02 seconds short of the gold. In early April, he was also the gold medalists at the Mobile Challenge of Champions in the 200 (20.89) and 400 (46.74).

“The biggest advantage that I have is that Mississippi State is home and where all my family is,” Tate said. “Having support from my family is something I’ve always needed and have always wanted. A lot of people who have supported me over the years will get a chance to see me run. I’ve grown up here and have seen a lot of great runners compete at Mississippi State, and now I’m a proud Bulldog looking to do great things.”

Tate first turned eyes at the age of 10 at the Junior Olympic Nationals when he snatched the 400 with an eye-popping time of 1:03 and finished second in the 200, running 25-seconds flat.

“Adding the No. 1 high school 200- and 400- meter sprinter in the country is not only big for Mississippi State but also for the state of Mississippi,” MSU associate head coach Steve Dudley said. “Tavaris is a very dedicated and talented student/athlete that I very much look forward in working with during his career. His father’s leadership and coaching has brought Tavaris to a level very few have ever accomplished in the state of Mississippi, and we can't wait to have him in the Mississippi State uniform.”

Mississippi State University Athletics

MSU Signs Standout, Record-Breaking Speedster