From freshman to record-setter, Drew Rogers builds his legacy

On a basking September greeting astatine nan Mizzou XC Opener successful 2022, Drew Rogers crossed nan decorativeness statement for nan first clip successful his collegiate profession arsenic a promising freshman successful a caller program. Three years later, astatine nan aforesaid meet, he returned arsenic a winner, rubbing first pinch a blazing clip of 14:48.1.

A standout, seven-time authorities champion successful some transverse state and way and section astatine Herscher High School, he was calved Feb. 26, 2004, successful Kankakee, Ill., to Daryl and Jenny and has 2 sisters, Mady and Laney.

“Drew was nan first jock I met erstwhile I sewage here,” Levermore said. “I was technically his coach erstwhile he won nan US nether 20 title successful 2023, arsenic a freshman, but he was nan young prima erstwhile I sewage nan occupation here.”

On nan track, Rogers’ emergence from 2023 done 2025 tells nan communicative of an jock moving from elite younker occurrence into top-tier SEC contention. In 2023, he was already competing astatine a nationalist level, capturing nan USATF U20 5,000-meter outdoor title and establishing himself arsenic 1 of nan strongest under-20 region runners successful nan country.

“I deliberation immoderate coach that steps into a caller programme successful this time and property successful college, is going to show you, there’s nary guarantee anyone’s going to enactment erstwhile you get there,” Levermore said. “He didn’t transfer, he didn’t mobility thing he’s been through, has done everything without questioning a azygous point since nan time I sewage here, and I deliberation astatine nan aforesaid time, he shared nan passion that I person for this program, and so, yeah, he intends a batch to me.”

The pursuing year, he adapted moreover much pinch his moving abilities, earning All-SEC Second Team honors successful transverse state while besides landing a spot connected nan All-Midwest Regional team, signaling his increasing beingness successful NCAA racing.

By 2025, that progression turned into dominance. Rogers became an Indoor SEC Champion successful nan 3,000 meters, and clocked a 13:41.63 astatine nan Virginia Challenge successful nan men’s 5,000 meters to group a caller No. 1 programme grounds astatine Missouri.

“The first autumn I coached him, he conscionable had a horrible SEC championship, for illustration he wanted it truthful badly,” Levermore said. “And that full play it conscionable didn’t ever afloat click coming disconnected his freshman year, which is my first autumn here. And he stepped disconnected nan course, he was successful tears, conscionable truthful frustrated, and I said to him, I was like, ‘Look, dude, it’s not going to beryllium cleanable each nan time, but I’m going to fig this out, and we’re going to fig this retired together.’ And you know, 15 months later, he won an SEC title.”

Rogers’ upward trajectory continued into 2026, wherever he elevated his bequest moreover further, earning further All-SEC First Team nickname and capturing nan SEC Indoor Championships mile title successful 4:02.42. He besides collapsed nan Missouri indoor 3,000-meter programme grounds pinch a 7:48.11 connected February 13, 2026, and earlier group nan No. 3 all-time indoor mile people astatine 4:00.33 astatine nan Dr. Rick McGuire Invitational.

“He conscionable grew,” region coach Tanner Anderson said. “And nan biggest point that I saw is besides a displacement successful his mentality. I dream I tin win, too. I’m going to win, and I deliberation nan biggest point is his ain belief successful himself is truthful precocious that if he’s anyplace adjacent nan decorativeness pinch a lead group, he’s going to win.”

Across each season, Rogers has evolved from a promising freshman into 1 of nan defining region performers successful Missouri programme history.

Beyond his stellar results connected nan track, Rogers has been a reliant teammate, 1 that strives for nan occurrence of nan full team, alternatively than conscionable himself.

“He’s my mentor and he was telling maine that if you’re running, return it arsenic training and don’t put a batch of unit connected yourself,” Elijah Limo said. “He’s a bully guy, [who’s] usually encouraging me.”

Alongside his relationship pinch Limo, Rogers and teammate Ryder James came to Mizzou together, and their relationship has flourished.

“I deliberation nan communicative of him and Ryder James is 1 that can’t get overlooked,” Levermore said. “They were precocious schoolhouse rivals, but besides really bully friends, and they wanted to travel present together. And I’ve watched him beryllium a support strategy provider. I’ve watched Ryder beryllium a support strategy for him as, like, really adjacent friends. And I think, you know, successful different times, successful their journeys, they’ve some had to thin connected each other.”

Rogers has made a immense effect connected some transverse state and way & section for Mizzou, breaking schoolhouse programme records and building connections pinch his unit and teammates. Although this is not his past year, his effect complete these 4 years has to beryllium recognized.

“I’m really gladsome I person different twelvemonth pinch him adjacent year, because I deliberation he’s been nan bosom and psyche of what this programme has been built connected for nan past 3 years, ” Levermore said. “And astatine nan aforesaid time, he’s been 1 of our highest performers.”

Rogers will hopefully proceed his outdoor play starting pinch nan SEC Outdoor Championships Thursday done Saturday, May 14-16. Through nan postseason, he will beryllium capable to showcase his talent arsenic he has done successful past years astatine a overmuch higher level.

With records surgery and memories made, Rogers has knowledgeable it each and will proceed to impressment Tiger fans connected and disconnected nan track.