The University of Mississippi Athletics
Who To Watch: Ole Miss Track & Field
1/30/2012 | Track and Field
Jan. 30, 2012
VIDEO: Coach Walker talks about the 2012 Rebels
Watching premier athletes perform at the highest levels of competition is what sports fans live for. And where can you find some of the best athletes on the planet? Look no further than Oxford, Mississippi.
Seriously.
Track and field is one of the oldest sports in the world, dating back to the ancient Greek Olympics and even earlier. It is a simple sport, based primarily on who can run, jump or throw something better than the rest. Therefore, it takes elite athletes to be the best.
The Ole Miss track and field program (whose men are currently ranked No. 17 in the country) boasts some of the top athletes in the United States, and even the world.
With the 2012 London Olympics on the horizon and the college track and field season already underway, the OleMissSports.com staff wanted to put together an easy reference on Ole Miss Track and Field's top athletes to watch out for this year (though other athletes who aren't on this list could potentially break through into the spotlight). Enjoy!
OLYMPIC FAVORITE
Brittney Reese: Long Jump … 2011 Ole Miss graduate … Gulfport, Miss. … Though she no longer competes for Ole Miss, this former NCAA Champion has continued to live and train in Oxford since she went pro in 2008 … Three-time defending World Long Jump Champion (2009, 2010, 2011) … One of two women ever to win consecutive world outdoor championships in the long jump (Jackie Joyner-Kersee is the other) … Placed 5th in the long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics … Two-time NCAA Champion … Five-time All-American … Five-time SEC Champion … 2008 National Field Athlete of the Year … Three-time SEC Field Athlete of the Year … Holds seven school records at Ole Miss.
OLYMPIC HOPEFUL
Ricky Robertson: Jumps … Junior … Hernando, Miss. … Placed 4th in the high jump at the 2011 USA Championships, just missing the cut for Team USA to compete in the World Championships … Four-time 1st team All-American … Four-time SEC Champion … Three-time NCAA runner-up in the high jump … 2010 SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year … Ranked No. 19 in the world in the indoor high jump in 2011 … Owns school record for indoor (7-5.75) and outdoor (7-6) high jump.
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
Carson Blanks: Sprints/Hurdles … Senior … Meridian, Miss. … 2011 2nd team All-American … Placed 12th in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships … Runner-up in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2011 SEC Outdoor Championships … 2011 All-SEC … Competed at the 2010 and 2011 USA Championships … Ranks 2nd in the school record books in the 400 meter hurdles (50.26).
Mike Granger: Sprints … Junior … Hickory, Miss. … Three-time 1st team All-American … 2011 NCAA runner-up in the 60 meters … Ranked No. 13 in the world in the 60 meters in 2011 … Competed at the 2011 USA Championships … Won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2010 World Junior Championships (4x100 meter relay) … Won a gold medal at the 2010 USA Junior Championships (100 meters) … 2010 SEC All-Freshman … School record holder in the 60 meters (6.55) ... Ranks third in school history in the 100 meters (10.16).
Morris Kersh: Jumps … Junior … Pearl, Miss. … 2011 2nd team All-American … Placed 14th in the triple jump at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships … Son of former Ole Miss track star and two-time NCAA All-American George Kersh.
Caleb Lee: Jumps … Senior … Tuscaloosa, Ala. … 2011 2nd team All-American in the indoor and outdoor long jump … Placed 14th in the long jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and 15th at the NCAA Indoor Championships … Competed at the 2009 USA Junior Championships … Ranks in the top five in school history in the indoor long jump and outdoor 4x100 meter relay.
Marci Morman: Jumps … Junior … Memphis, Tenn. … 2011 2nd team All-American … Placed 16th in the triple jump at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships … Ranks in the top five in school history in the outdoor triple jump (41-4.25).
BREAKOUT CANDIDATES
Kristin Bridges: Sprints … Senior … Taylorsville, Miss. … Earned All-America honorable mention by competing at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships … Ranks in the top five in school history in seven different events … Specializes in the 400 meters … Member of the school record-holding sprint medley relay squad in 2011 … 2009 SEC All-Freshman … Daughter of Earl Bridges, a former Ole Miss track and field star and 1986 All-American.
Aria Gaines: Jumps … Senior … Locust Grove, Ga. … Ranks second in school history in the indoor triple jump (41-7.75) and fourth in the outdoor triple jump (41-6.5) … Placed top six at the 2011 SEC Indoor Championships in the triple jump and long jump and top six in the 2010 SEC Outdoor Championships … Competed at the 2009 USA Junior Championships.
Fabia McDonald: Multi-Events … Sophomore … Middletown, Ohio … 2011 SEC Indoor Freshman Field Athlete of the Year … Set the school record in the indoor pentathlon (3,922) … SEC All-Freshman … Competed at the 2011 USA Junior Championships.
Jazmin Miller: Throws … Junior … Hiram, Ga. … Ranks in the top five in school history in the weight throw and hammer throw … Already ranks among the top 25 weight throwers in the nation in 2012.
Kentrell Sanders: Jumps … Sophomore … Miami, Fla. … 2011 SEC All-Freshman selection … Placed fourth in the triple jump at the SEC Outdoor Championships.
Neal Tisher: Pole Vault … Junior … Mobile, Ala. … Earned All-America honorable mention by competing at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships … Placed third in the pole vault at the 2011 SEC Outdoor Championships … Owns the Ole Miss women's pole vault records for indoor (13-3.75) and outdoor (13-9.75) … Also ranks top five in school history in the javelin … Competed at the 2010 USA Junior Championships.
Logan Waites: Distance … Senior … Hattiesburg, Miss. … First woman in school history to earn All-SEC honors in cross country … Owns the school record in three different events on the track.
Isiah Young: Sprints … Senior (Indoor), Junior (Outdoor) … Junction City, Kan. … A transfer from Allen Community College … Has only competed in four indoor meets at Ole Miss, but he already ranks fourth in the nation in the 60 meters and 14th in the 200 meters this year … He already ranks top five in school history in both events.
FRESHMAN PHENOM
Sam Kendricks: Pole Vault … Oxford, Miss. … Homegrown talent has already shined in his first three indoor meets on the college level … His vault of 17-0.75 at the Auburn Invitational already ties him for second-best in school history and ranks him No. 25 in the nation this year.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Brittany Bozeman (Multi-Events), Katie Breathitt (Distance), Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen (Sprints/Hurdles), Benjamin Lapane (Throws), Mary Ashton Nall (Multi-Events), Dante Oliver (Sprints), Deonna Walton (Jumps), Allegra Wells (Jumps)
