The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Tyson Invitational
Persson, Granger Lead Rebels On Day One Of Tyson Invitational
2/12/2011 | Track and Field
Feb. 12, 2011
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Sofie Persson won the 800 meters and Mike Granger shattered his personal best in the 60 meters to finish second on the first day of the prestigious Tyson Invitational Friday.
Ole Miss is competing in its final meet before the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships, which will also be hosted by Arkansas at the Randal Tyson Track Center, Feb. 25-27.
The Ole Miss men, ranked No. 28 in the nation, are running, jumping and throwing against an elite field that includes 13 of the top 25 nationally ranked teams - No. 1 Florida, No. 2 LSU, No. 4 Texas Tech, No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Oregon, No. 8 Penn State, No. 9 Florida State, No. 11 Auburn, No. 12 Arkansas, No. 15 Oklahoma, No. 21 Georgia, No. 22 Kansas State and No. 23 North Carolina.
The 32nd-ranked Rebel women are going up against 14 nationally ranked teams, including No. 1 Oregon, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Clemson, No. 6 Arkansas, No. 9 Auburn, No. 10 Florida State, No. 15 Oklahoma, No. 17 UCF, No. 18 Texas Tech, No. 19 Penn State, No. 20 Indiana, No. 21 South Carolina, No. 22 TCU and No. 23 Louisville.
On the first day of action, junior Sofie Persson claimed victory in the 800 meters with a season-best time of 2:05.81, which is just off the NCAA automatic qualifying time of 2:05.00 and just shy of the All-American's personal-best time of 2:04.64 from last year. She entered the meet ranked 11th in the nation in the 800 meters and will move up with Friday's season-best time.
Sophomore Mike Granger was sensational in the 60 meters, finishing second only to the nation's top 60-meter runner, Oklahoma's Rakieem Salaam. The Rebel All-American raced to a personal best of 6.62 in the finals, just .02 seconds off the NCAA automatic qualifying mark of 6.60. That time moves the Hickory, Miss., native into the nation's top 10 this season, and he continues to rank as the third-best 60-meter runner in school history.
At such a prestigious meet, many of the events are previews of the national championships, and that is true of the men's long jump. Junior Caleb Lee finished eighth with a leap of 25-01.25. He came into the meet ranked 11th in the nation in that event.
"Sofie had a great day, and Granger actually got a PR in the 60 twice today to finish second in a loaded field," Rebel head coach Joe Walker said. "Caleb jumped well in a loaded long jump field, and Tisher jumped well in the pole vault, too. I'm proud of our kids' resilience as well as their marks on the track today. We had a long day. The weather caused our trip to take 15 hours, and we didn't arrive in Fayetteville until 2:30 a.m. Our kids were warriors and didn't complain, though. They just stepped up and competed."
On the women's side, Neal Tisher made her presence felt in the pole vault when she cleared 13-03.50 to finish seventh. That height is just shy of her 13-03.75 school record from earlier this season.
Juliana Smith and Jazmin Miller posted solid showings in the weight throw. Smith placed third in the event with a distance of 60-01.00, and Miller turned in a seventh-place result with a distance of 55-05.75.
Also competing on Friday was former Rebel All-American and World Champion long jumper Brittney Reese. She was actually upset in the event by Adidas' Marshevet Myers (22-05.00). Reese finished second with a jump of 21-09.50, but she had a small foul on her last attempt that would have won the competition.
"Brittney jumped well, considering what she is up against," Walker said. "Like with our team, the weather has kept her from being able to jump outside in our pit. We don't have an indoor long jump pit to train on."
Competition continues with events all day Saturday.
AGATE
MEN
60 Meter Finals
2. Mike Granger - 6.62
60 Meter Semifinals
3. Mike Granger - 6.65q
18. Jonathan Juin - 6.82
60 Meter Prelims
8. Mike Granger - 6.74q
20. Jonathan Juin - 6.83q
62. Bradley Shields - 7.05
400 Meters
23. Carson Blanks - 48.02
61. Matt Daniels - 49.72
Dante Oliver - DQ
800 Meters
6. Riley Young - 1:54.70
14. Lee Ellis Moore - 1:56.84
5,000 Meters
7. Martin Kirui - 14:44.49
Long Jump Invitational
8. Caleb Lee - 25-01.25
Long Jump
3. Ras-Len Bully - 24-03.00
6. Ricky Robertson - 23-04.50
29. Morris Kersh - 21-00.00
WOMEN
60 Meter Prelims
54. Jasmine Williams - 7.69
55. LaJada Baldwin - 7.69
400 Meters
30. Kristin Bridges - 55.35
36. Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen - 56.08
800 Meters Invitational
1. Sofie Persson - 2:05.81
800 Meters
Tia Leake - DNF
1 Mile Run
14. Katie Breathitt - 5:07.06
Long Jump Invitational
19. Brittany Bozeman - 18-08.00
Long Jump
9. Marci Morman - 19-01.25
18. Fabia McDonald - 18-01.00
21. Alexius Hightower - 17-11.50
Pole Vault Invitational
7. Neal Tisher - 13-03.50
Weight Throw
3. Juliana Smith - 60-01.00
7. Jazmin Miller - 55-05.75
