The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Set For Tyson Invitational
2/9/2012 | Track and Field
Feb. 9, 2012
Tyson Invitational Meet Information
OXFORD, Miss. - After being off of competition last weekend, the Ole Miss track and field team returns to action this weekend in Fayetteville, Ark., as the Rebels participate in the prestigious Tyson Invitational held at Arkansas' Randal Tyson Track Center.
In addition to the host Razorbacks, whose men are currently the No. 1 team in the country and whose women sit at No. 4 in this week's USTFCCCA poll, the star-studded Tyson field includes nine more men's top-25 teams and eight more women's ranked teams. Other men's ranked teams are No. 3 LSU, No. 11 Oklahoma, No. 13 Nebraska, No. 16 Kansas State, No. 17 Wisconsin, No. 19 Ole Miss, No. 20 Iowa, No. 22 Georgia and No. 23 Auburn. Other women's ranked teams are No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Clemson, No. 5 UCF, No. 6 Texas, No. 8 Texas Tech, No. 13 Georgia, No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 24 Kansas.
The Tyson Invitational is held in conjunction with Saturday's USA Track & Field Classic that will feature a 10-event professional lineup with some of the world's top track and field pros. Part of the nationally televised USATF Indoor Visa Championship Series, the list of pros to compete includes former Rebel Brittney Reese, who is currently the top women's long jumper in the world. The professional meet will be broadcast on tape delay Sunday, Feb. 12, at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
Both the Rebel men's and women's squads will have several athletes vying for victories on Friday and Saturday in Fayetteville.
For the 19th-ranked Ole Miss men, 19 of their 26 athletes who have competed this season have already achieved personal best marks in one of their events.
Once again, the Rebels will be led by four-time All-American and SEC Champion Ricky Robertson. The Hernando, Miss., native currently ranks nationally in three different events. He ranks third in the high jump (7-4.25), 30th in the triple jump (50-7.5) and 31st in the long jump (24-5.5).
One of the most impressive athletes for the Rebels so far this indoor season has been senior Isiah Young. The Allen Community College product will look to produce positive results this weekend as he currently ranks seventh in the nation and third among SEC runners in the 60 meters (6.62). At the same time, his 200 meter time of 21.28 ranks him 19th nationally and fourth-best among SEC athletes. Both of his marks have him placed in the top five in the school record books.
Junior All-American Mike Granger also has performed well thus far in 2012, as he ranks among the nation's best in the 60 meters (currently 14th).
Ole Miss hasn't only witnessed strong performances in sprints, but the jumps have also been superb.
Senior All-American Caleb Lee ranks 21st in the long jump (24-8.25), sophomore Kentrell Sanders is 25th in the triple jump (50-9.25) and junior All-American Morris Kersh sits right below at 28th in the triple jump (50-8.25).
Freshman and Oxford native Sam Kendricks ranks 28th nationally in the pole vault (17-0.75) and after only three collegiate meets, ranks second in school history in the event.
Rounding out the Rebel men's top performers is the 4x400 meter relay team of Carson Blanks, Brian Word, Creighton Serrette and Montez Griffin, which ranks 24th among NCAA schools (3:12.23).
On the women's side, senior Aria Gaines ranks 17th nationally and fourth in the SEC in the triple jump with a mark of 41-7. Her personal best in the event occurred last season when she jumped 41-7.75.
Junior Neal Tisher ranks 24th nationally in the pole vault (fifth among SEC athletes), while junior Jazmin Miller is making her presence felt across the country as she ranks 27th in the weight throw (fourth among SEC throwers) after recently recording a personal-best throw of 64-4. That mark ranks her second-best in school history.
Senior Kristin Bridges holds a national ranking of 28th in the 400 meters (54.54), and junior Deonna Walton ranks 39th nationally (second among SEC athletes) in the long jump (19-9.5).
The Rebels 4x400 meter relay team consisting of Bridges, junior Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen, freshman Taryn Hartfield and junior Lauren Hollingsworth ranks 22nd among NCAA schools (3:41.01).
Twenty-four of the 36 athletes that have competed for the Rebel women this season have produced a personal best in one of their events.
Meet events in Fayetteville will begin Friday at noon CT with the women's high jump. Saturday's events are set to start at 10 a.m. with the men's pole vault.
