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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Begin Outdoor Track And Field Season This Weekend
3/16/2012 | Track and Field
March 16, 2012
OXFORD, Miss. - After concluding an indoor season which produced five USTFCCCA All-Americans, the Ole Miss track and field team is prepared to start the outdoor portion of its schedule. The Rebels will kick things off Saturday at the Rhodes Open meet held in Memphis.
The 2012 outdoor season, which will mark head coach Joe Walker's 30th and final campaign with the Rebels, will run through the June 6-9 NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. Ole Miss is scheduled to host two meets - the Ole Miss Invitational on March 31 and the Mississippi Open on April 14.
The Rebels are coming off an indoor season in which they sent a school-record six athletes to compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships. Junior All-American Ricky Robertson jumper and junior All-American Mike Granger sprinter both participated in their third NCAA indoor championships, while senior All-American long jumper Caleb Lee participated in his second championships. Competing in his first NCAA Indoor Championships, senior Isiah Young finished seventh overall in the 60 meters and earned first-team USTFCCCA All-America honors. On the women's side, junior pole vaulter Neal Tisher and sophomore pentathlete Fabia McDonald both competed in their first championships.
Ole Miss will expect plenty of things this outdoor season from the above listed athletes along with a few others. 2011 All-American Carson Blanks returns and so does fellow All-American Morris Kersh. Sophomore Kentrell Sanders, a member of the 2011 SEC All-Freshman team, looks to carry over his momentum from last season in the triple jump. All three athletes are likely to contribute greatly to the Rebels success this outdoor season.
The Rebel men last season finished 19th in the nation, which was their best finish since the 2007 season.
On the women's side, numerous athletes will be called upon to lead the team. 2011 All-American triple jumper Marci Morman returns and so do five honorable mention All-Americans from a year ago. Those include senior Kristin Bridges and juniors Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen, Lauren Hollingsworth, Jasmine Williams and Tisher.
The Rebels' two biggest losses from last season were first-team All-American Lee Ellis Moore and second-team All-American Jonathan Juin. Both were lost to graduation.
Ole Miss dominated the Rhodes Open last season, capturing first place in 13 different events.
