The University of Mississippi Athletics
Reese To Be Honored Tuesday On Campus
9/14/2009 | Track and Field
OXFORD, Miss. - Former Ole Miss All-American jumper Brittney Reese will be recognized by Chancellor Dan Jones here Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. in the Lyceum.
Reese recently won the long jump at the World Championships in Berlin after posting a personal best distance of 23-03.50, defeating defending champion Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia in the process.
"We are excited that the Chancellor and the university are recognizing Brittney for the accomplishments, particularly her world championship," Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker said. "She has always been a great ambassador for Ole Miss and the state of Mississippi."
One of the most decorated athletes in school history, Reese competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and finished fifth overall and was the top American finisher in the long jump with a mark of 22-02.25. She became just the sixth Ole Miss track and field athlete to compete in the Olympic Games.
In 2008, her final season in an Ole Miss uniform, Reese put together one of the greatest individual seasons in school history. She set a new school and collegiate record in the long jump with a distance of 22-06.50 at the SEC Indoor Championships en route to a conference title in the event.
Reese also set a new indoor school record in the triple jump at the SEC Championships with a mark of 42-08.75 to help her win the Commissioner's Trophy with the most points scored at the meet. Her 31 points scored were the most in school history.
Reese became the first female in school history to win an individual NCAA championship as she accomplished the feat in the long jump with a mark of 22-02.25 to give Ole Miss its 11th track and field national championship in school history.
At the conclusion of the year, Reese was selected as the SEC Indoor Female Field Athlete of the Year, named All-SEC first team, was an NCAA All-American and was the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association south region Women's Field Athlete of the Year.
During the outdoor season, Reese won the Commissioner's Trophy at the SEC Championships as she won the long jump and finished second in both the high jump and triple jump. In addition, she became just the third track and field athlete in school history to win back-to-back individual titles at the SEC Championships.
At the MidEast Regional, Reese set the meet record in the long jump with a mark of 21-10.75 and also posted the school record in the high jump with a height of 6-00.50. For her efforts, she was named to the All-MidEast Regional team. Days later, she won her second NCAA title in the long jump as she recorded a distance of 22-09.00.
She also set a new school record in the long jump at the U.S. Olympic Trials with a mark of 22-09.75 as she earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
Reese was once again SEC Outdoor Female Field Athlete of the Year and was also selected as the National Women's Field Athlete of the Year by the USTFCCA.