The University of Mississippi Athletics
Three Ole Miss Tracksters Head To NCAA Championships
5/28/2001 | Track and Field
May 28, 2001
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss seniors Teneeshia Jones, Tisha Parker and Savante' Stringfellow will be heading to Eugene, Ore., this week to participate in the 2001 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Jones will be competing in the 100 meters and 200 meters, while both Parker and Stringfellow will be competing in the long jump.
Jones, a Shannon, Miss., native, is a seven-time All-American, but will be searching for her first championship.
"My first goal is to make it to the finals of my events," said Jones, who will be competing in her third-straight outdoor championship. "I have not done very well at the outdoor championships in the past, so I am going to take it one step at a time this year."
Parker placed seventh at the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championships and is looking to finish higher in her final collegiate competition.
"I feel really determined to do well at this meet," said Parker. " I did not accomplish what I wanted to do at the SEC meet, so I have practiced really hard in preparation for the NCAA meet.
"It is my last chance to be an NCAA Champion and I want to go out with a bang."
Stringfellow is the reigning NCAA Outdoor Long Jump Champion and is looking to repeat the feat. He enters the meet with the top collegiate distance at 27-6.75, but will be challenged by SEC foes Walter Davis of LSU and Miguel Pate of Alabama.
"I know it is going to be a tough competition," said Stringfellow, who competed in the long jump at the 2000 Olympic games. "Both Walter and Miguel are capable jumpers, but if I do my best I think everything will work itself out."
Jones, Parker and Stringfellow have led Ole Miss to one of the most successful track and field seasons in school history. Twenty-one school records were broken during the 2001 season and several others had marks that were right near the top.
Jones set eight records on her own and was a part of two more. She set five indoor records (50 meters, 50-meter hurdles, 60 meters, 60-meter hurdles and 200 meters) and three outdoor records (100 meters, 100-meter hurdles and 200 meters). She was also a part of the 4x100-meter relay and 4x200-meter relay teams that set outdoor records.
Parker did not break her own outdoor long jump record of 21-9 this season, but was a member of the record setting 4x100-meter relay team and 4x200-meter relay team.
Stringfellow set both the indoor and outdoor long jump records in 2001. Other records set in 2001 were as follows: Stacy Andrews (indoor weight throw, outdoor discus, outdoor hammer throw), Brandy Barnett (outdoor high jump), Monique McClure (indoor shot put, indoor weight throw, outdoor shot put), Heather Swinney (outdoor hammer throw), Kendrick Triggs (indoor 200 meters), Wanikka Vance (4x100-meter relay, 4x200-meter relay), Willette Woods (4x100-meter relay, 4x200-meter relay).
"When a program is as successful and has been around as long as ours," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker, "it is hard to break that many records. It is just another indication of how phenomenal a year Ole Miss track and field has had."
Jones, Parker and Stringfellow will try to continue the record pace at the NCAA Championships. Parker kicks things off for Ole Miss. She will compete in the women's long jump at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30. Jones will also compete on Wednesday, as she will run in the 200 meters semi-finals at 8:55 p.m.
Stringfellow will vie for his second outdoor title in the men's long jump on Thursday, May 31, at 7 p.m. Jones will also compete on Thursday, as she will run in the 100 meters preliminaries at 7:30 p.m. If her times advance, Jones will continue running until Saturday's finals, which are scheduled for 7:45 p.m. (100 meters) and 8:30 p.m. (200 meters).