BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ole Miss track & field secured 11 event victories and showcased impressive performances early in the indoor season at Birmingham’s Ice Breaker meet on Friday. Junior and current NCAA shot put champion Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan quickly made his case for a successful title defense, dominating his first competition with a throw of 20.30m/66-07.25 – […]
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ole Miss track & field secured 11 event victories and showcased impressive performances early in the indoor season at Birmingham’s Ice Breaker meet on Friday.
Junior and current NCAA shot put champion Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan quickly made his case for a successful title defense, dominating his first competition with a throw of 20.30m/66-07.25 – the longest by a collegiate in December, as per available records dating back to 2008. Three of his four legal throws surpassed the 20-meter mark, and his fifth-round winning throw currently places him at the peak of the NCAA rankings in this early phase of the indoor season.
Another junior, Mason Hickel, also had a commendable performance as the runner-up, achieving a personal best of 17.85m/58-06.75, now standing as the fifth-best mark in Ole Miss indoor history.
In the weight throw category, Robinson-O’Hagan spearheaded a formidable group of Rebels, all of whom surpassed 65 feet, taking the top five positions. He clinched the event with a throw of 22.88m/75-00.75, which marks the best collegiate result in December since 2020. The performances on Friday set a strong foundation for Robinson-O’Hagan in 2025, as he already ranks as the third-best performer in collegiate history for the shot put and weight throw, only behind North Dakota State’s Payton Otterdahl and Ohio State’s Dan Taylor.
Junior Bryson Smith had a standout day, finishing second with an impressive personal best of 21.16m/69-05.25, placing him second all-time at Ole Miss. Following Smith were Costen Campion (third, 20.51m/67-03.50), Mason Hickel (fourth, 20.25m/66-05.25), and Jake Dalton (fifth, 19.99m/65-7; personal best, No. 10 in Ole Miss history).
Sophomore Akaoma Odeluga led the female throwers in her first event since capturing the World U20 gold medal in the shot put last August. Odeluga returned to the shot put ring victoriously on Friday with a five-foot indoor personal record of 17.60m/57-9, which elevates her to fourth in school history.
Odeluga was also the top finishing collegiate participant in the weight throw, following former Rebel NCAA Champions Janeah Stewart (23.84m/78-02.75) and Jalani Davis (23.14m/75-11), securing third place with a nine-foot advancement to 20.88m/68-6 (No. 7 in Ole Miss history). In her freshman year in 2024, Odeluga didn’t exceed 60 feet in the weight throw, but on Friday, all her throws were above the 63-foot mark.
Another sophomore, Skylar Soli, finished in fourth place right after Odeluga, achieving a distance of 19.57m/64-02.50.
Ole Miss showcased two impressive performances in both categories of pole vault, highlighted by remarkable debut performances from freshmen Katie McFarland and Lily Beattie in the women’s event.
Both McFarland and Beattie were flawless over their first three heights in their collegiate competition, with McFarland claiming victory by staying clear at a fourth height of 4.00m/13-01.50 (No. 9 in Ole Miss history). Senior Samara McConnell also cleared this height but placed second based on total misses, while Beattie finished third at 3.85m/12-07.50, which is good for No. 12 in the Rebel indoor record books.
Sophomore Mary Cate Doughty also set an indoor personal record in fourth place with a jump of 3.70m/12-01.50, bringing her to No. 14 in Ole Miss all-time.
On the men’s side, junior Logan Kelley won with a solid season-opening clearance of 5.20m/17-00.75. Sophomore transfer and Oxford native John Kendricks was the runner-up while senior Ford Maberry placed third, both at the same height of 4.85m/15-11, which ties them for 14th in Ole Miss records.
Other highlights in the field events included a 1-2 finish in the men’s triple jump from senior (and returning NCAA Outdoor qualifier) Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley (15.05m/49-04.50) and senior Gavin Nembhard (14.82m/48-07.50; indoor PR).
On the track, Ole Miss logged victories by sophomore Connor Henson in the men’s 1000-meter (2:28.26) and men’s 3K (8:21.13), a win from Hannah Ielfield in the women’s 3K (9:52.41; PR), and a 1-2 finish in the men’s 800-meter by freshman Max Armstrong (1:49.65; No. 14 in Ole Miss history) and sophomore Jonathan Stock (1:51.79; indoor PR).
The Rebels concluded the day with a win in the men’s 4×400-meter relay. The freshman quartet of Jordan Urrutia, Wesley Todd, Caughran Fowler, and Max Armstrong passed the baton in 3:14.88 to clinch the victory.
Ole Miss will be back in action on January 10-11, when the Rebels split between the Rod McCravy Invitational in Louisville and the Commodore Challenge at Vanderbilt.
REBELS IN COMPETITION
Women’s 60-Meter Dash (Prelims)
6. Zion Lockette – 7.74q – Collegiate Debut
Women’s 60-Meter Dash (Final)
6. Zion Lockette – 7.78
Men’s 60-Meter Dash (Prelims)
18. Jordan Urrutia – 6.99 – Collegiate Debut
21. Caughran Fowler – 7.00 – Collegiate Debut
28. Tarique Wright – 7.05 – Collegiate Debut
Women’s 300-Meter Dash
6. Zion Lockette – 40.94 – Collegiate Debut
Men’s 300-Meter Dash
3. Jordan Urrutia – 34.17 – Collegiate Debut
12. Tarique Wright – 35.96 – Collegiate Debut
Men’s 800-Meter
1. Max Armstrong – 1:49.65 – Collegiate Debut, No. 14 Ole Miss History
2. Jonathan Stock – 1:51.79 – Indoor PR
DNF Cole Piotrowski
Men’s 1000-Meter
1. Connor Henson – 2:28.26
4. Cole Piotrowski – 2:30.81
Women’s 3K
1. Hannah Ielfield – 9:52.41 – PR
7. Samantha Ouellette – 10:22.13 – PR
Men’s 3K
1. Connor Henson – 8:21.13 – First Collegiate 3K
Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
28. Nyajah Gordon – 9.54 – Collegiate Debut
Men’s 4×400-Meter Relay
1. Jordan Urrutia, Wesley Todd, Caughran Fowler, Max Armstrong – 3:14.88
Men’s High Jump
2. Arvesta Troupe – 2.05m/6-08.75
T3. Guy Bond – 2.00m/6-06.75
Women’s Pole Vault
1. Katie McFarland – 4.00m/13-01.50 – Collegiate Debut, No. 9 Ole Miss History Indoors
2. Samara McConnell – 4.00m/13-01.50
3. Lily Beattie – 3.85m/12-07.50 – Collegiate Debut, No. 12 Ole Miss History Indoors
4. Mary Cate Doughty – 3.70m/12-01.50 – Indoor PR, No. 14 Ole Miss History Indoors
T9. Aly Francolini – 3.40m/11-01.75
T9. Katelyn Hulsey – 3.40m/11-01.75 – Collegiate Debut
Men’s Pole Vault
1. Logan Kelley – 5.20m/17-00.75
2. John Kendricks – 4.85m/15-11 – Ole Miss Debut, T-No. 14 Ole Miss Indoor History
3. Ford Maberry – 4.85m/15-11 – Indoor PR, T-No. 14 Ole Miss Indoor History
4. Frankie Amore – 4.75m/15-7
Women’s Long Jump
9. Indya Dotson – 5.45m/17-10.75 – Collegiate Debut
19. Nyajah Gordon – 5.20m/17-00.75 – Collegiate Debut
Men’s Long Jump
32. Caughran Fowler – 6.10m/20-00.25 – Collegiate Debut
Women’s Triple Jump
5. Dieusi Armand – 11.86m/38-11 – Ole Miss Debut, No. 15 Ole Miss History Indoors
7. Indya Dotson – 11.61m/38-01.25 – Collegiate Debut
9. Kyla McLaurin – 11.50m/37-08.75
Men’s Triple Jump
1. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 15.05m/49-04.50
2. Gavin Nembhard – 14.82m/48-07.50 – Indoor PR
7. Mikoy Holmes – 14.32m/46-11.75 – Indoor PR, Ole Miss Debut
Women’s Shot Put
1. Akaoma Odeluga – 17.60m/57-9 – 5-foot Indoor PR, No. 4 Ole Miss Indoor History
6. Skylar Soli – 13.19m/43-03.25
Men’s Shot Put
1. Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – 20.30m/66-07.25
2. Mason Hickel – 17.85m/58-06.75 – Overall PR, No. 5 Ole Miss Indoor History
Women’s Weight Throw
3. Akaoma Odeluga – 20.88m/68-6 – Top Collegian, 9-foot PR, No. 7 Ole Miss History
4. Skylar Soli – 19.57m/64-02.50
Men’s Weight Throw
1. Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – 22.88m/75-00.75
2. Bryson Smith – 21.16m/69-05.25 – 5-foot PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History
3. Costen Campion – 20.51m/67-03.50
4. Mason Hickel – 20.25m/66-05.25
5. Jake Dalton – 19.99m/65-7 – 2.5-foot PR, No. 10 Ole Miss History
9. Keegan Wilfawn – 16.16m/53-00.25
