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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Track Team Hosts Mississippi Open, Shoe Drive Saturday
4/30/2009 | Track and Field
The Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will also host the Rebel ReRuns Shoe Drive during the meet. Fans are asked to bring retired spikes and running shoes to the meet for donation. The shoes will be shipped to
Competition begins at 11:30 a.m. with the men’s hammer throw and the women’s javelin. Admission to this year’s Mississippi Open will be free of charge.
Since Saturday is the second and final home meet of the season, the Rebels will honor their senior class in the middle of the infield during the 5000 meter races.
Several teams from around the region are expected to compete this weekend, including
“This is our last regular season meet, and we are excited to be on our home track,” Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker said. “We have always competed very well here at home. We have a very good group of collegiate and unattached athletes competing, and we encourage fans to come and enjoy this great competition.”
Individually, the Rebels feature some of the top talent in the nation and all will be in action Saturday. Sophomore LaJada Baldwin ranks as one of the fastest sprinters in the nation and stands third in the country with a time of 52.27 in the 400 meters. She also ranks 62nd in the nation in the 100 meters with a top time of 11.68 she set at the Alabama Relays.
Freshman Kristin Bridges is another strong sprinter for the Rebels and ranks 28th in the country in the 100 meters following her top time of 11.54 set at the Ole Miss Invitational. Senior Kadeshia Fortune stands 36th in the nation in the event with a top time of 11.60 also set at the Ole Miss Invitational.
In the 400 meter hurdles, sophomore Sofie Persson ranks 28th in the nation with a top time of 59.46 set at the Ole Miss Invitational. She also ranks 54th in the 400 meters (54.50) and 34th in the 800 meters (2:07.68).
Freshman jumper Aria Gaines is the Rebels’ top triple jumper and ranks 65th in the nation with a top mark of 40-06.00 set at the Ole Miss Invitational. Thrower Davina Orieukwu stands fourth in the nation in the shot put with a top mark of 55-03.00. In the hammer throw, Juliana Smith is 34th in the country with a top distance of 189-10.00.
On the men’s side, freshman sprinter Keith Brown stands 65th in the nation in the 100 meters with a top time of 10.54 he set at the Ole Miss Invitational. Sophomore Lee Ellis Moore stands eighth in the country in the 400 meter hurdles with his top time of 50.38. Freshman Carson Blanks is also one of the top hurdles in the nation, as he ranks 36th in the 400 meter hurdles with his top time of 51.67.
Jumper Brian Knight ranks 36th in the high jump with a top height of 6-10.75. Fellow freshman Caleb Lee is 15th in the nation in the long jump with a top distance of 25-03.50 he posted at the Alabama Relays.
Senior Wale Odetunde ranks 17th in the country in the triple jump with a mark of 51-06.25, while also ranking 51st in the long jump with a distance of 24-05.00.
Derek McGuire is 29th in the nation in the shot put with a top distance of 162-09.00 he recorded at the Ole Miss Invitational.
The Rebels also feature of pair of javelin throwers who rank among the top-50 in the nation. Junior Colin Moleton is 45th in the nation with a distance of 211-11.00, while fellow junior Bryce Willen ranks 47th with his mark of 211-06.00.
In the first installment of the Rebel Reruns project, Ole Miss student-athletes gathered 165 pairs of shoes from charitable fans prior to the Dec. 3 men’s basketball game against
