The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, February 1
Carbondale, Ill.
All Day
Ole Miss
at
Don DeNoon Classic
Rebels Split Squad for Southern Illinois and Texas Tech
1/31/2019 | Track and Field
<i class="icon-paper"></i> Meet Notes<i class="icon-tv"></i> Watch (Texas Tech)<i class="icon-stats"></i> Live Results (SIU)<i class="icon-stats"></i> Live Results (Texas Tech)<i class="icon-calendar"></i> Schedule (SIU)<i class="icon-calendar"></i> Schedule (Texas Tech)<i class="icon-info-circled"></i> Meet Info (SIU)<i class="icon-info-circled"></i> Meet Info (Texas Tech)
Both Meets Will Run on Feb. 1-2
CARBONDALE, Ill. and LUBBOCK, Texas – Ole Miss track & field will split squad for the first time this season, with a crew of Rebel pole vaulters heading out west to the Texas Tech Open, and the remaining Rebels in competition heading north to Southern Illinois for the Don DeNoon Classic, both running this weekend (Feb. 1-2).
Rebel Men in the NCAA Top-50
5. Distance Medley Relay (Smulders, Burnett, Suliman, Gutierrez) – 9:38.09
9. Derek Gutierrez – 5K – 13:58.82
14. Waleed Suliman – 800-Meter – 1:49.19
15. Waleed Suliman – Mile – 4:01.00
16. Derek Gutierrez – 3K – 7:57.78
16. Allen Gordon – Long Jump – 7.69m (25-02.75)
25. Manny Foster – Long Jump – 7.64m (25-00.75)
27. John Rivera Jr. – 800-Meter – 1:50.11
28. Derek Gutierrez – Mile – 4:03.23
30. Mario Garcia Romo – Mile – 4:03.52
37. Peyton Weissmann – Pole Vault – 5.20m (17-00.75)
41. Griffin Riley – 800-Meter – 1:50.64
Rebel Women in the NCAA Top-50
10. Shey Taiwo – Weight Throw – 21.47m (70-05.25)
17. Kieshonna Brooks – Long Jump – 6.18m (20-03.50)
19. Kieshonna Brooks – Pentathlon – 3,792
TEAM NOTES
• The Rebel distance squads will take this weekend off before the Music City Challenge next week.
• Head coach Connie Price-Smith, throws coach John Smith, sprints coach Anthony Acklin and coordinator of operations Sasha Leeth will be returning to familiar stomping grounds in Carbondale this weekend. All four competed at SIU and are Saluki alums, with Price-Smith serving as Southern's head coach from 2001-15. Smith coached there from 2004-15 and Acklin in 2015. Jumps coach Andre Scott also coached at SIU from 2004-15, but was an All-American at Auburn.
• Pole vault coach Brian Porter was also on staff at SIU from 2012-15, but will be leading the Rebel pole vaulters to his alma mater, Texas Tech.
• For the second straight week, Ole Miss will compete in the women's pentathlon. Going through the gauntlet at SIU this week are Kieshonna Brooks, Haley Hood and Ghania Warren.
• Ole Miss currently has a total of 15 marks or times that rank within the NCAA top-50, 10 of which are within the top-25. To qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, athletes must rank within the top-16 in their events at the end of the conference championship weekend.
• Ole Miss head coach Connie Price-Smith is in her fourth season at the helm. Price-Smith, who was the head women's coach for Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, is in her 18th season overall as a head coach.
• In four seasons at Ole Miss, Price-Smith has already mentored seven NCAA champions, 54 First or Second-Team All-Americans, 29 SEC Champions and several of the highest SEC and national team finishes ever at Ole Miss -- including the highest SEC Outdoor finish ever for the women in fifth place in 2018.
• Price-Smith's coaching staff all returns as well, with associate head coach Andre Scott (jumps, women's multis), assistant coach Anthony Acklin (sprints, hurdles), assistant coach Brian Porter (pole vault, javelin, men's multis), assistant coach John Smith (throws) and director of operations Sasha Leeth all returning for their fourth seasons at Ole Miss, with associate head coach Ryan Vanhoy (distance) entering his sixth year as a Rebel.
• Indoors, the Rebels return two Second-Team All-Americans, four Second-Team All-SEC members, and three members from the 2018 SEC All-Freshman team.
WOMEN'S NOTES
• Sophomore Shey Taiwo is currently the highest ranking Rebel female on the NCAA list, sitting at No. 16 in the United States, No. 10 in the NCAA and No. 3 in the SEC in the weight throw at her career-best 21.47m (70-05.25). That was a two-foot PR from the Vanderbilt Invitational in which she finished behind former Rebel teammate and NCAA Champion Janeah Stewart (24.17m/79-03.75; U.S. lead, No. 10 World history) and Rebel volunteer coach Jeneva Stevens (23.42m/76-10.00; 3rd U.S.).
• Junior Kieshonna Brooks has had a stellar season thus far, as evidenced with another strong outing at Indiana. Brooks recorded a 150-point PR in the pentathlon to win at 3,792, the fifth-best score in school history. Brooks' score ranks sixth in the SEC and 19th in the NCAA. She also set all-time Rebel pentathlete bests in the 60-meter hurdles (8.48) and long jump (6.16m/20-02.50) while setting PRs in the high jump (1.56m/5-01.25) and 800-meter (2:32.06) and a season-best in the shot put (9.80m/32-02.00).
• Brooks' career and season best in the long jump (6.18m/20-03.50) ranks fifth in the SEC, 17th NCAA.
MEN'S NOTES
• Ole Miss ran its first distance medley relay of the season at Indiana last week, clocking the NCAA's fifth-fastest so far this year at 9:38.09. The quartet consisted of Everett Smulders (1200; 2:56), James Burnett (400; 48.1), Waleed Suliman (800; 1:50) and Derek Gutierrez (1600; 4:03).
• Senior Derek Gutierrez has been a workhorse for the Rebel men, currently ranking in the NCAA top-30 in the 5K (ninth, 13:58.82), 3K (16th, 7:57.78) and mile (28th, 4:03.23). All are career-bests, with his 5K and 3K times leading the SEC. Gutierrez is one of just four Rebel men to ever break the 8-minute barrier in the 3K.
• Sophomore Waleed Suliman has also been crucial for the Rebel men, currently holding two NCAA top-16 times in the 800-meter (14th, 1:49.19) and mile (15th, 4:01.00). Suliman is a returning Second-Team All-American and SEC All-Freshman member indoors.
• Two additional Rebel 800-meter runners rank within the top-50: sophomores John Rivera Jr. (27th; 1:50.11) and Griffin Riley (41st; 1:50.64).
• Rebels Allen Gordon and Manny Foster had excellent career days in the long jump at Vanderbilt, with Gordon leaping an indoor career-best 7.69m (25-02.75) and Foster an overall PR of 7.64m (25-00.75). Both fall within the top-25 nationally and the top-eight in the SEC, with Gordon sitting 16th in the NCAA and Foster 25th.
• Outdoors as a freshman, Gordon leapt an NCAA wind-legal 7.80m (25-07.25) at a wind speed of 2.5 meters/second.
• Freshman Mario Garcia Romo already owns the ninth-fastest mile time in school history at 4:03.52, the fourth-best in the SEC and No. 30 in the NCAA this year.
• Sophomore Peyton Weissmann opened the season with a career-best clearance of 5.20m (17-00.75) in the pole vault, making him one of just four Rebels to have ever cleared 17 feet both indoors and outdoors. He joins Kyle Wallace, Baker Vinci and Olympic bronze medalist, Sam Kendricks.
• That height currently puts Weissmann tied for 37th nationally and sixth in the SEC.
Rebel Men Competing (Texas Tech):
Pole Vault: Cole Colozzo, Peyton Weissmann
Rebel Women Competing (Texas Tech):
Pole Vault: Sandra Brown, Nicole Kallenberger
Rebel Men Competing (Southern Illinois):
60-Meter: Elijah Dryer, Manny Foster, Jaqaun Webb
400-Meter: Christian Yancey
60-Meter Hurdles: Kenney Broadnax
4x400-Meter Relay: Kenney Broadnax, James Burnett, Jaqaun Webb, Alvin Westbrook
High Jump: Allen Gordon
Pole Vault: Austin Garrett
Long Jump: Demond Fleming
Triple Jump: Demond Fleming, Fraquan Gaines
Weight Throw: Joseph Benedetto, Chris Long
Rebel Women Competing (Southern Illinois):
60-Meter: T'Aja Cameron, Brandee Presley, Kelly Rowe
400-Meter: Jayda Eckford
60-Meter Hurdles: Jeanette Paul
4x400-Meter Relay: Jayda Eckford, Brandee Presley, Orianna Shaw, Kelly Rowe
High Jump: Hannah LoChiatto
Long Jump: Ralesheia Gee, Kaira Simmons
Triple Jump: Ralesheia Gee, Kaira Simmons
Shot Put: Tedreauna Britt, Leah Klein, Shey Taiwo
Weight Throw: Tedreauna Britt, Leah Klein, Annika Larsson, Shey Taiwo
Pentathlon: Kieshonna Brooks, Haley Hood, Ghania Warren
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Rebel Men in the NCAA Top-50
5. Distance Medley Relay (Smulders, Burnett, Suliman, Gutierrez) – 9:38.09
9. Derek Gutierrez – 5K – 13:58.82
14. Waleed Suliman – 800-Meter – 1:49.19
15. Waleed Suliman – Mile – 4:01.00
16. Derek Gutierrez – 3K – 7:57.78
16. Allen Gordon – Long Jump – 7.69m (25-02.75)
25. Manny Foster – Long Jump – 7.64m (25-00.75)
27. John Rivera Jr. – 800-Meter – 1:50.11
28. Derek Gutierrez – Mile – 4:03.23
30. Mario Garcia Romo – Mile – 4:03.52
37. Peyton Weissmann – Pole Vault – 5.20m (17-00.75)
41. Griffin Riley – 800-Meter – 1:50.64
Rebel Women in the NCAA Top-50
10. Shey Taiwo – Weight Throw – 21.47m (70-05.25)
17. Kieshonna Brooks – Long Jump – 6.18m (20-03.50)
19. Kieshonna Brooks – Pentathlon – 3,792
TEAM NOTES
• The Rebel distance squads will take this weekend off before the Music City Challenge next week.
• Head coach Connie Price-Smith, throws coach John Smith, sprints coach Anthony Acklin and coordinator of operations Sasha Leeth will be returning to familiar stomping grounds in Carbondale this weekend. All four competed at SIU and are Saluki alums, with Price-Smith serving as Southern's head coach from 2001-15. Smith coached there from 2004-15 and Acklin in 2015. Jumps coach Andre Scott also coached at SIU from 2004-15, but was an All-American at Auburn.
• Pole vault coach Brian Porter was also on staff at SIU from 2012-15, but will be leading the Rebel pole vaulters to his alma mater, Texas Tech.
• For the second straight week, Ole Miss will compete in the women's pentathlon. Going through the gauntlet at SIU this week are Kieshonna Brooks, Haley Hood and Ghania Warren.
• Ole Miss currently has a total of 15 marks or times that rank within the NCAA top-50, 10 of which are within the top-25. To qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, athletes must rank within the top-16 in their events at the end of the conference championship weekend.
• Ole Miss head coach Connie Price-Smith is in her fourth season at the helm. Price-Smith, who was the head women's coach for Team USA at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, is in her 18th season overall as a head coach.
• In four seasons at Ole Miss, Price-Smith has already mentored seven NCAA champions, 54 First or Second-Team All-Americans, 29 SEC Champions and several of the highest SEC and national team finishes ever at Ole Miss -- including the highest SEC Outdoor finish ever for the women in fifth place in 2018.
• Price-Smith's coaching staff all returns as well, with associate head coach Andre Scott (jumps, women's multis), assistant coach Anthony Acklin (sprints, hurdles), assistant coach Brian Porter (pole vault, javelin, men's multis), assistant coach John Smith (throws) and director of operations Sasha Leeth all returning for their fourth seasons at Ole Miss, with associate head coach Ryan Vanhoy (distance) entering his sixth year as a Rebel.
• Indoors, the Rebels return two Second-Team All-Americans, four Second-Team All-SEC members, and three members from the 2018 SEC All-Freshman team.
WOMEN'S NOTES
• Sophomore Shey Taiwo is currently the highest ranking Rebel female on the NCAA list, sitting at No. 16 in the United States, No. 10 in the NCAA and No. 3 in the SEC in the weight throw at her career-best 21.47m (70-05.25). That was a two-foot PR from the Vanderbilt Invitational in which she finished behind former Rebel teammate and NCAA Champion Janeah Stewart (24.17m/79-03.75; U.S. lead, No. 10 World history) and Rebel volunteer coach Jeneva Stevens (23.42m/76-10.00; 3rd U.S.).
• Junior Kieshonna Brooks has had a stellar season thus far, as evidenced with another strong outing at Indiana. Brooks recorded a 150-point PR in the pentathlon to win at 3,792, the fifth-best score in school history. Brooks' score ranks sixth in the SEC and 19th in the NCAA. She also set all-time Rebel pentathlete bests in the 60-meter hurdles (8.48) and long jump (6.16m/20-02.50) while setting PRs in the high jump (1.56m/5-01.25) and 800-meter (2:32.06) and a season-best in the shot put (9.80m/32-02.00).
• Brooks' career and season best in the long jump (6.18m/20-03.50) ranks fifth in the SEC, 17th NCAA.
MEN'S NOTES
• Ole Miss ran its first distance medley relay of the season at Indiana last week, clocking the NCAA's fifth-fastest so far this year at 9:38.09. The quartet consisted of Everett Smulders (1200; 2:56), James Burnett (400; 48.1), Waleed Suliman (800; 1:50) and Derek Gutierrez (1600; 4:03).
• Senior Derek Gutierrez has been a workhorse for the Rebel men, currently ranking in the NCAA top-30 in the 5K (ninth, 13:58.82), 3K (16th, 7:57.78) and mile (28th, 4:03.23). All are career-bests, with his 5K and 3K times leading the SEC. Gutierrez is one of just four Rebel men to ever break the 8-minute barrier in the 3K.
• Sophomore Waleed Suliman has also been crucial for the Rebel men, currently holding two NCAA top-16 times in the 800-meter (14th, 1:49.19) and mile (15th, 4:01.00). Suliman is a returning Second-Team All-American and SEC All-Freshman member indoors.
• Two additional Rebel 800-meter runners rank within the top-50: sophomores John Rivera Jr. (27th; 1:50.11) and Griffin Riley (41st; 1:50.64).
• Rebels Allen Gordon and Manny Foster had excellent career days in the long jump at Vanderbilt, with Gordon leaping an indoor career-best 7.69m (25-02.75) and Foster an overall PR of 7.64m (25-00.75). Both fall within the top-25 nationally and the top-eight in the SEC, with Gordon sitting 16th in the NCAA and Foster 25th.
• Outdoors as a freshman, Gordon leapt an NCAA wind-legal 7.80m (25-07.25) at a wind speed of 2.5 meters/second.
• Freshman Mario Garcia Romo already owns the ninth-fastest mile time in school history at 4:03.52, the fourth-best in the SEC and No. 30 in the NCAA this year.
• Sophomore Peyton Weissmann opened the season with a career-best clearance of 5.20m (17-00.75) in the pole vault, making him one of just four Rebels to have ever cleared 17 feet both indoors and outdoors. He joins Kyle Wallace, Baker Vinci and Olympic bronze medalist, Sam Kendricks.
• That height currently puts Weissmann tied for 37th nationally and sixth in the SEC.
Rebel Men Competing (Texas Tech):
Pole Vault: Cole Colozzo, Peyton Weissmann
Rebel Women Competing (Texas Tech):
Pole Vault: Sandra Brown, Nicole Kallenberger
Rebel Men Competing (Southern Illinois):
60-Meter: Elijah Dryer, Manny Foster, Jaqaun Webb
400-Meter: Christian Yancey
60-Meter Hurdles: Kenney Broadnax
4x400-Meter Relay: Kenney Broadnax, James Burnett, Jaqaun Webb, Alvin Westbrook
High Jump: Allen Gordon
Pole Vault: Austin Garrett
Long Jump: Demond Fleming
Triple Jump: Demond Fleming, Fraquan Gaines
Weight Throw: Joseph Benedetto, Chris Long
Rebel Women Competing (Southern Illinois):
60-Meter: T'Aja Cameron, Brandee Presley, Kelly Rowe
400-Meter: Jayda Eckford
60-Meter Hurdles: Jeanette Paul
4x400-Meter Relay: Jayda Eckford, Brandee Presley, Orianna Shaw, Kelly Rowe
High Jump: Hannah LoChiatto
Long Jump: Ralesheia Gee, Kaira Simmons
Triple Jump: Ralesheia Gee, Kaira Simmons
Shot Put: Tedreauna Britt, Leah Klein, Shey Taiwo
Weight Throw: Tedreauna Britt, Leah Klein, Annika Larsson, Shey Taiwo
Pentathlon: Kieshonna Brooks, Haley Hood, Ghania Warren
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
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