Apple ready for new hurdle, opportunity with Missouri S&T track

By Andy Brown
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Updated: June 22, 2023

Louisburg’s Nathan Apple will join the Missouri S&T track and field program next season after earning three state medals as a Wildcat.

When Nathan Apple was introduced to the hurdles in the seventh grade, he had no idea at the time how that event would become a big part in his life.

Since that time in middle school, Apple turned into one of the top hurdlers in school history and was a part of trio of hurdlers that helped the Wildcats to a state championship in 2021, a third place finish in 2022 and a state runner-up performance in 2023.

Apple played a role in all of those trophies, and those successes have now given him another opportunity to continue growing in the sport of track and field.

The recent Louisburg graduate signed his letter of intent to compete for the Missouri S&T track and field program next season.

“Signing for track was a fairly new dream for me,” Apple said. “It wasn’t until my sophomore or junior year that I realized that I could go somewhere with track and college athletics hadn’t even been a thought before. It means a lot to me to be able to continue doing something that I’m passionate about at a higher level of competition.”

Apple made significant strides as a hurdler, including when he qualified for state as a sophomore in the 110 meters. He went on to medal fourth in that event as a junior, and again this past season as a senior.

Louisburg senior Nathan Apple signed his letter of intent to join the Missouri S&T track program. Sitting next to Nathan are his parents Nate and Cindy Apple. Standing (from left) is Louisburg coach Leanna Willer, Nathan’s sisters Erin and Caroline Apple, along with boys head coach Andy Wright.

He picked up his third state medal in the 300 hurdles in May as he finished fourth in that event as well.

“I’ve been hurdling for the past six years and I’ve made a lot of progress in both the form and speed of the race,” Apple said. “Ms. (Leanna) Willer was my first coach in high school and she taught me a lot about how to approach and go over hurdles while, coach (Andy) Wright was responsible for my growth in speed. I owe both of them a lot as I never would have reached this point without them.”

Apple is looking forward to joining a Miner team that will compete at a high level. Missouri S&T is a Division II program based in Rolla, Mo. and competes in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Before he even accepted the Miners’ track offer, Missouri S&T was already the school of choice for Apple after high school.

“I was already planning on attending S&T for engineering and the ability to run for them was a welcome surprise,” he said. “I haven’t heard a lot about what I’ll be doing there other than hurdles, but I’m looking forward to trying new things.”

Apple is ready to take that next step in his track career, while getting a good education in the process. It is all he wanted.

“I’m looking forward to this next step in my life and I can’t wait to experience it,” Apple said. “I hope to do much better in college both athletically and academically than I did at home. My education is my top priority, but I feel that I can run better, and with the help of a collegiate training program I know that my times will improve.”