The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Track ? Just The Facts
7/9/2007 | Track and Field
Ole Miss track and field had perhaps its most successful season ever in 2006-07. The Rebel men’s and women’s teams both recorded their highest finish ever at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Rebels finished in a tie for 12th in the nation, while the Lady Rebels finished in a tie for 27th. Barnabas Kirui won the 10th national title in school history when he claimed the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the outdoor championships.
Kenyata Coleman, Brittney Reese and John Yarbrough joined Kirui in earning All-America honors at the outdoor championships. Coleman finished 8th in the women’s 400 meters, while Reese and Yarbrough finished runner-up in the women’s long jump and men’s 110-meter hurdles, respectively. Reese and Yarbrough also earned All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the women’s long jump and men’s 60-meter hurdles. On the year Ole Miss totaled six All-America selections.
Ole Miss won eight individual SEC titles in the year highlighted by Kirui’s three titles at the 2007 SEC Outdoor Championships. Kirui became the fourth runner in league history to win all three distance races (5,000 and 10,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase) at an SEC meet. Kirui was awarded the Commissioner’s Trophy as the meet’s highest point scorer. Also winning SEC titles in 2007 were Charles Bailey (men’s long jump), Brittney Reese (women’s long jump) and John Yarbrough (men’s 60-meter hurdles).
Kirui was named the SEC Runner of the Year for his accomplishments, while Yarbrough was honored as the NCAA MidEast Region Runner of the Year. Reese was selected as the SEC Field Athlete of the Year and NCAA MidEast Field Co-Athlete of the Year.
Kirui also won the 2006 SEC Cross Country Championship and the NCAA South Regional Cross Country Championship. He was named SEC Cross Country Runner and Freshman of the Year as well as NCAA South Regional Runner of the Year.
Academically, 27 Rebels and Lady Rebels were named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Kirui was also selected as a first team Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine and named the Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
2006-07 Ole Miss Track & Field ... Just the Facts:
NCAA CHAMPIONS:
Barnabas Kirui 3,000-meter Steeplechase
NCAA RUNNER-UPS:
Brittney Reese Long Jump
John Yarbrough 110-meter Hurdles
NCAA OUTDOOR ALL-AMERICANS:
Kenyata Coleman 400 meters
Barnabas Kirui 3,000-meter Steeplechase
Brittney Reese Long Jump
John Yarbrough 110-meter Hurdles
NCAA INDOOR ALL-AMERICANS
Brittney Reese Long Jump
John Yarbrough 60-meter Hurdles
RECORD 9 ATHLETES ADVANCE TO SEMIS/FINAL ROUND OF NCCA:
NCAA
John Yarbrough 110-meter Hurdles
NCAA
Brittney Reese
NCAA MidEast REGIONAL CHAMPIONS:
Brittney Reese Long Jump
John Yarbrough 110-meter Hurdles
NCAA ALL-MIDEAST TEAM:
6 women:
Brittney Reese Long Jump
Kenyata Coleman 400 and 4 x 100 relay
Marlee Kevech Javelin
Cachet Murray 4 x 100 relay
Kim Mulkey 4 x 100 relay
Kadeshia Fortune -- 4 x 100 relay
5 men:
John Yarbrough 110-meter hurdles
Justin Gunn Long Jump
Charles Bailey Long Jump
Barnabas Kirui 3,000-meter Steeplechase
Derek McGuire Shot Put
21 ATHLETES ADVANCE TO NCAA FIRST ROUND
TEAM NCAA FINISH:
National:
Men: 12th
Women: 27th
(Both the men and women record their highest outdoor finish ever)
Men: 6th
Women: 10th
(There are 81 women’s teams and 78 men’s teams in the MidEast Region)
SEC OUTDOOR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:
Brittney Reese - Field
Barnabas Kirui - Runner
SEC COMMISIONERS TROPHY:
Barnabas Kirui 30 points
SEC OUTDOOR CHAMPIONS:
Charles Bailey Long Jump
Barnabas Kirui 5,000 and 10,000 Meters and 3,000-meter Steeplechase
Brittney Reese Long Jump
SEC OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM FINISH
Men: 7th (65 points)
Women: 9th (39 points)
Both totals were the second points scored in an outdoor SEC meet by men and women. It was the highest finish for the men since 1997.
SEC INDOOR CHAMPIONS:
Brittney Reese Long Jump
John Yarbrough 60-meter Hurdles
SEC MALE CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETE OF THE YEAR:
Barnabas Kirui
SOUTH REGION MALE CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD:
Barnabas Kirui
SEC MALE FRESHMAN OF THE YEARCROSS COUNTRY:
Barnabas Kirui
SEC ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS:
Brittney Reese 3 Times
Barnabas Kirui Twice
DRAKE RELAY INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS:
John Yarbrough Won 2nd 110 hurdle title
Barnabas Kirui 3,000-meter Steeplechase
Brittney Reese High Jump
Brittney Reese Long Jump
DRAKE RELAYS RELAY RUNNER-UP:
Distance Medley Relay: Gabriel Ngwiri, Rodney Lockhart, Devin Darnall, Barnabas Kirui
Brittney ReeseLong jump 2nd place
(The equivalent of making the Olympic team)
Kenyata Coleman
Brittney Reese
John Yarbrough
Davina Orieukwu Shot Put
WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES:
Barnabas Kirui -
OUTDOOR SCCHOOL RECORDS:
Davina Orieukwu Shot Put48’1.75”
Brittney ReeseLong Jump 22’00.25”
Brittney Reese High Jump 6’ 00”
4 x 100 Relay (Kadeshia Fortune, Cachet Murray, Kim Mulkey, Kenyata Coleman) 44.49
Kenyata Coleman 400 Meters 52.19
Barnabas Kirui 3,000-meter Steeplechase 8:20.36
Marlee Kevech Javelin 148’6”
INDOOR SCHOOL RECORDS:
Davina Orieukwu Weight 58’ 4”
Brittney Reese Long Jump 21’ 9.25”
Brittney Reese High Jump 5’ 11.5”
Brittney Reese Triple Jump 41’ 7.75”
Barnabas Kirui 3000 8:08.32
ESPN The Magazine Academic All American:
Barnabas Kirui First Team
(Only sophomore and one of only 14 athletes on the first team)
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team
Barnabas Kirui Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year
Carmia Carroll
Marlee Kevech
Zuzana Legatova
Wale Odetunde
ARTHUR ASHE SPORTS SCHOLARS:
Carmia Carroll
Wale Odetunde
SEC COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAMTRACK AND FIELD:
Charles Bailey
Marlee Kevech
OLE MISS ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT CROSSING THE LINES AWARD:
Charles Bailey