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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Flying To New Heights
4/8/2003 | Track and Field
April 8, 2003
By Nick Garrard
Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant
Most of the time you don't hear the words sophomore and All-American in the same sentence. Ole Miss track and field star Brandon Atkinson is working hard to change that.
Now in his second year on the track team, Atkinson says he isn't overly happy about his Verizon All-American honor that he earned by placing third in the triple jump at last summer's USA Track and Field's (USATF) Junior Nationals. He says getting honors like this is why Ole Miss wanted him on the team in the first place.
"I expect a little more from myself, just because I'm hard on myself," Atkinson said. "I'm grateful for [the honor], but not satisfied."
And that is what makes Atkinson different from most young athletes. He strives to get better even after a heartbreaking indoor season in which he provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships, but didn't quite get in. Where some athletes could let that get them down, it motivates Atkinson for the 2003 outdoor season that started Mar. 23. Atkinson placed second in the triple jump at the prestigious Texas Relays April 4, and will look to continue his fine outdoor campaign this Saturday (April 12) when the Rebels host the Ole Miss Invitational.
"It was very difficult because I had jumps that could have made it, but they were fouls," Atkinson said of his 2003 indoor season. "But it really makes me want to work hard, to beat everyone that thinks they are better than me."
Atkinson has goals outside of winning this year. He wants to help his team become closer and stronger.
"I want to become a team leader," Atkinson said. "We're real good but we're real young and we need a leader, so I am trying to step up."
At St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, Atkinson got the nickname "Flight" because of his leaping ability on the basketball court. But after track season started, the nickname fit nicely in that sport as well. For that reason, Atkinson said the nickname just stuck even when he came to Ole Miss. For a sophomore already with the goal of becoming an NCAA champion, Atkinson might just "fly" in to the Ole Miss record books.
Atkinson and his teammates will christen the new Ole Miss Track and Field Complex Saturday, April 12 when they host the Ole Miss Invitational, which is an all-day event. Saturday's meet will be Ole Miss' first at home since the 2000 outdoor campaign.
