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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Track And Field Heads To NCAA Mideast Regional
5/29/2008 | Track and Field
Action kicks off Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. with the women’s hammer throw, while running events begin at 3:00 p.m. with the women’s 4x100 meter relay.
The women’s team is sending a total of 11 athletes to the regional that is broken down into seven runners and four field competitors. Junior Kadeshia Fortune will compete in the 100 meters looking to improve her top time of 11.74 she posted at the Drake Relays. She is currently ranked 106th in the nation in the event.
In the 400 meters, the Lady Rebels feature a pair of runners scheduled to compete beginning with senior Kenyata Coleman. An All-SEC First Team selection, Coleman is ranked seventh in the nation in the event after setting the school record with a time of 52.09 at the SEC Outdoor Championships en route to the individual title in the event. Freshman LaJada Baldwin joins Coleman in the 400 meters as she enters the weekend ranked 18th in the nation.
Senior Kasey McDaniel will compete in the 100 meter hurdles as she is currently ranked 23rd in the nation with her top time of 13.39. Also in hurdles, freshman Sofie Persson is slated to compete in the 400 meter hurdles. Persson is ranked 51st in the nation following her fastest time of 59.79 set at SEC Outdoor Championships.
Both of the Lady Rebels’ relay teams will also compete this weekend at the regional. The quartet of Fortune,
In field events, junior Brittney Reese will take part in both the long jump and high jump. Reese, who has won the long jump in every meet in which she has competed this season, is ranked first in the nation in the event following setting the world’s longest mark this season of 22-09.00 at the LSU Alumni Gold. The
Sophomore Davina Orieukwu will compete in the shot put as she is currently ranked 42nd in the nation with her top distance of 49-06.00. Freshman Betty Williams will also compete in the shot put before also taking part in the discus. Williams owns the school record in both events and is ranked 41st in the shot put and 84th in the discus.
On the men’s side, the Rebel will feature 14 participants broken down into eight runners and six field competitors. Senior Rickie Bratton is slated to take part in both the 100 meters and 200 meters. Nationally, Bratton is currently ranked 24th in the 100 meters and 42nd in the 200 meters. Fellow senior Anka Autman will also run in the 100 meters, opening the weekend ranked 89th in the event.
Barnabas Kirui, the reigning NCAA champion in the 3000 meter steeplechase, is ranked fifth in the nation in the event following his top time of 8:52.56. Senior John Yarbourgh, who is ranked ninth in the country in the 110 meter hurdles, looks to improve his time in the event. Fellow senior Derek Johnson will also compete in the 110 meter hurdles as he is currently ranked 89th in the country in the event. Freshman Lee Ellis Moore is slated to compete in the 400 meter hurdles as he is ranked 32nd in the nation. In addition, the 4x100 meter team of Joe Walker, Autman, Bratton and Michael Coleman will compete.
Sophomore Justin Gunn is scheduled to compete in the long jump in hopes of improving his top mark. Gunn is currently ranked 17th in the country with a distance of 25-07.50 at the SEC Outdoor Championships. Junior Wale Odetunde will compete in both the triple jump and long jump. Odetunde is ranked 21st in the nation in the triple jump and 34th in the long jump.
Thrower Derek McGuire will take part in the shot put as he is ranked 85th in the nation, while senior James Maloney will participate in the hammer throw ranked 76th. Sophomore Bryce Willen, who owns the school record in the javelin, will compete in the event ranked 72nd in the nation. Sophomore Colin Moleton is also slated to take part in the javelin throw. Moleton is ranked 82nd in the country in the event.
