The University of Mississippi Athletics
Several Rebels Earn National Indoor Rankings
1/25/2012 | Track and Field
Jan. 25, 2012
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss track and field team has several athletes ranked among the nation's top 48 in their respective events following two impressive showings to begin the indoor season.
The Rebel men, who are currently ranked No. 21 nationally by the USTFCCCA, are led by junior All-American Ricky Robertson. Robertson ranks second in the country and tops in the SEC in the high jump and earned an NCAA automatic qualifying bid with his mark of 7-04.25 at this past weekend's Auburn Invitational. The Hernando native also ranks 16th nationally in the long jump (24-05.50), fourth-best among SEC athletes, as well as 37th nationally in the triple jump (49-07.25), sixth-best among SEC athletes.
Fellow All-American Mike Granger ranks 10th in the 60 meters and fourth among SEC athletes after clocking a time of 6.68 at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener back on Jan. 14. Granger also ranks 48th nationally in the 200 meters (21.66). Senior Isiah Young also ranks among the nation's best in the 60 meters (6.71), as he currently holds a ranking of 15th in the event (fifth-best in the SEC). He also ranks 23rd nationally in the 200 meters and fifth among SEC athletes (21.45 at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener).
Freshman Sam Kendricks ranks 18th in the pole vault and fourth-best among SEC athletes after clearing 17-00.75 at the Auburn Invitational. That mark ranks him second in school history after only two collegiate competitions.
Sophomore Kentrell Sanders ranks 23rd in the NCAA with a triple jump of 50-00.75, which also ranks as the third-best mark among SEC athletes.
The Rebels' 4x400 meter relay team boasts a national ranking of 21 (3:12.23). The relay team consists of Carson Blanks, Brian Word, Creighton Serrette and Montez Griffin. Meanwhile, the Rebels' 4x400 meter relay team of Griffin, Word, Serrette and Dante Oliver ranks 35th (3:14.11).
For the Rebel women, Aria Gaines is currently ranked the ninth-best triple jumper in the nation (second among SEC athletes) after jumping a distance of 41-07.00 at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener, while three other Rebel women rank among the nation's top 20 in their respective events.
Senior Kristin Bridges is ranked 13th in the 400 meters (54.54), junior Neal Tisher ranks 14th in the pole vault (13-03.50) and junior Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen is ranked 16th in the 800 meters (2:11.25). Bridges ranks sixth among SEC athletes in the 400 meters, while Tisher ranks third in the pole vault and Hellberg-Jonsen seventh in the 800 meters among fellow SEC athletes.
The women's 4x400 meter relay team consisting of Lauren Hollingsworth, Taryn Hartfield, Hellberg-Jonsen and Bridges ranks 17th in the nation (3:41.01).
Junior Jazmin Miller ranks just outside of the top 20 in the weight throw (ranking 22nd with a throw of 61-11.50), senior Logan Waites is ranked 39th in the 3,000 meters (9:39.64) and junior All-American Marci Morman is 40th in the triple jump (40-04.25). All three rank fourth among SEC athletes in their respective events.
The Rebels will look to improve upon their individual national rankings this weekend at the Kentucky Invitational held in Lexington.
