The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Dominates 1500-Meter Races at Day One of Joe Walker Invite
4/12/2019 | Track and Field
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Waleed Suliman and Cade Bethmann Ran Top-Three Times in the NCAA
*NCAA rankings and East Region rankings are from the TFRRS national descending lists at the time of publication. Rankings may change after results are reported from around the nation. The national list is finalized every Monday morning.
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss track & field capped off an incredible evening with a dominant performance in the men's 1500-meter, led by Waleed Suliman and Cade Bethmann, who ran the NCAA's top-two non-adjusted times at Day One of the Joe Walker Invite on Friday.
Several Ole Miss distance runners made their season debuts on Friday, but none with more flair than the Rebel men in the 1500-meter. On the same night that the Rebel men's SEC Cross Country Championship team received their championship rings, the Ole Miss men put on a show by clocking five of the top six times on the evening – all of which should be in contention for the NCAA East Regional by season's end.
Suliman added to his long list of accolades at Ole Miss by running the NCAA's No. 2 overall and No. 1 non-adjusted time in the 1500-meter at 3:40.49 (trailing Colorado's Joe Klecker's 3:39.75 from April 5 that was adjusted from 3:45.11 for altitude). As a freshman in 2018, Suliman ran the third-best 1500-meter time in Ole Miss history at 3:39.76. The sophomore already holds the Ole Miss record indoors in the mile at 3:56.78, which he ran during the 2019 Indoor season on Feb. 9 at the David Hemery Valentine Invite at Boston University. He also won two gold medals in the mile and the distance medley relay at the 2019 SEC Indoor Championships. During the 2018 cross country season, he helped lead the Rebels to the SEC Championship and earned All-American status at the NCAA Championships.
Cade Bethmann finished just behind Suliman at a three-second PR of 3:41.65, which is the NCAA's No. 3 overall and No. 2 non-adjusted time. Bethmann, the reigning SEC Cross Country Freshman of the Year, now ranks fourth in Ole Miss history at that time. Bethmann also earned First-Team All-American status at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships as a member of the eighth place Ole Miss DMR team.
Rounding out the dominant performances in the 1500-meter were Dalton Hengst (fourth, 3:43.92; eighth all-time, No. 10 NCAA, No. 5 East Region), Mario Garcia Romo (fifth, 3:44.69; No. 12 all-time, No. 15 NCAA, No. 9 East Region), and Everett Smulders (sixth, 3:44.94; No. 21 NCAA, No. 14 East Region).
The Rebel women were also spectacular in the 1500-meter, led by Maddie King's PR of 4:21.51. This time ranks No. 23 in the East Region and No. 32 in the NCAA, as well as fourth in Ole Miss history. Ylvi Traxler ran a personal best 4:26.04, which is the ninth best time ever by a Rebel, while Anna Elkin also set a PR at 4:27.31, which is the No. 10 time in school history. Morgan Claire Rose rounded out the Rebel lineup with a PR of 4:41.43.
Not to be outdone was senior Alex Enright, who secured her place in Ole Miss history by winning the meet and breaking the school record in the javelin at 45.50m (149-03). The previous record of 45.26m (148-06) had stood for almost 12 years, and was set by Marlee Kevech on May 13, 2007.
Jayda Eckford added another victory for the Rebels in the 200-meter dash with a personal-best 23.46. In her short career, the freshman has already proved that she belongs in the conversation of elite young sprinters in the NCAA. She now ranks sixth in the NCAA among freshmen, 17th overall in the NCAA East Region, 32nd overall in the NCAA and sixth in school history in just her fourth outdoor meet as a Rebel.
The Rebels had great success in both the men's and women's long jump to conclude the action in the field on Day One. Returning from a wrist injury, sophomore Allen Gordon won the men's competition with a leap of 7.45m (24-05.50). On the women's side, junior Kieshonna Brooks won the event with a massive 10-inch PR at 6.15m (20-02.25), which ranks as the No. 10 in school history, No. 13 in the NCAA East Region, and No. 31 in the NCAA. Karia Simmons finished closely behind, tying her season-best at 5.96m (19-06.75).
The Ole Miss pole vaulters had yet another excellent weekend, finishing first and second in both the men's and women's competitions. On the women's side, senior Lindsey Murray led the way once again, this time at a season-best 4.25m (13-11.25). Murray currently ranks No. 13 in the NCAA and No. 4 in the East Region at that height, and she once again took several narrowly-missed attempts at a new school record of 4.36m (14-03.50). Junior Nicole Kallengberger placed second at 3.81m (12-06.00).
Sophomore Peyton Weissmann paced the Rebel men for the third straight week, coming in at 5.06m (16-07.25). Cole Colozzo, who tied for first place with Weissmann last week at the Spec Towns Invite, placed second at 4.91m (16-01.25).
In the lone throwing event of the day, senior Annika Larsson led all collegians with a fourth-place finish in the hammer throw at 58.65m (192-05), marking the second time this season that she has led the Rebels in the event. Kendall Chavarria finished close behind in fifth place with a season-best mark of 57.54m (188-09). Tedreauna Britt came in eighth (48.89m, 160-05) while Leah Klein placed 14th at 45.50m (149-03) to round out the Rebel lineup.
Former Rebel and NCAA Champion Janeah Stewart won at a season-opening throw of 71.49m (234-06), the No. 6 throw in the United States this season. Fellow volunteer coaches Jeneva Stevens (second, 68.13m/223-06) and Jessica Ramsey (third, 66.02m/216-07) both finished within the top-three.
The Rebel men also had success in the hammer. Freshmen Joseph Benedetto led the way for Ole Miss in fifth place at 56.81m (186-05). He was trailed by sophomore Chris Long, who placed sixth with a personal best 55.81m (183-01) that ranks 10th in school history.
Kieshonna Brooks and Haley Hood competed in the first three events of the heptathlon before dropping out to compete in individual events. Brooks finished first among contestants in the 100-meter hurdles with a season best 13.62. She also placed fourth in both the high jump (1.56m/5-01.25) and shot put (9.59m/31-05.75). Hood placed fifth in the high jump (1.53m/5-00.25), sixth in the shot put (9.19m/30-02.00), and seventh in the 100-meter hurdles (15.66).
Day Two of the Joe Walker Invite resumes Saturday morning at 10 a.m. CT with the women's heptathlon and women's discus. Fans in attendance can eat free crawfish, which will be served before the running events, which begin at roughly 2:00. Ole Miss will also honor 11 Rebel seniors with a Senior Day ceremony at 11 a.m. CT.
Other Notable Performances:
Men's 200-Meter Dash:
4. Elijah Dryer – 21.19
10. Jaqaun Webb – 21.57
14. Kenney Broadnax – 21.83
Men's Long Jump:
9. Demond Fleming – 6.73m (22-01.00)
Women's 200-Meter:
3. Brandee Presley – 24.08
4. Kelly Rowe – 24.18
7. Orianna Shaw – 24.78
8. Jeanette Paul – 24.82 – PR
Women's Long Jump:
4. Ghania Warren – 5.77m (18-11.25)
14. Ralesheia Gee – 5.25m (17-02.75)
Women's Javelin:
10. Lauren Hoselton – 30.77m (100-11)
12. Haley Hood – 29.18m (95-09)
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss track & field capped off an incredible evening with a dominant performance in the men's 1500-meter, led by Waleed Suliman and Cade Bethmann, who ran the NCAA's top-two non-adjusted times at Day One of the Joe Walker Invite on Friday.
Several Ole Miss distance runners made their season debuts on Friday, but none with more flair than the Rebel men in the 1500-meter. On the same night that the Rebel men's SEC Cross Country Championship team received their championship rings, the Ole Miss men put on a show by clocking five of the top six times on the evening – all of which should be in contention for the NCAA East Regional by season's end.
Suliman added to his long list of accolades at Ole Miss by running the NCAA's No. 2 overall and No. 1 non-adjusted time in the 1500-meter at 3:40.49 (trailing Colorado's Joe Klecker's 3:39.75 from April 5 that was adjusted from 3:45.11 for altitude). As a freshman in 2018, Suliman ran the third-best 1500-meter time in Ole Miss history at 3:39.76. The sophomore already holds the Ole Miss record indoors in the mile at 3:56.78, which he ran during the 2019 Indoor season on Feb. 9 at the David Hemery Valentine Invite at Boston University. He also won two gold medals in the mile and the distance medley relay at the 2019 SEC Indoor Championships. During the 2018 cross country season, he helped lead the Rebels to the SEC Championship and earned All-American status at the NCAA Championships.
Cade Bethmann finished just behind Suliman at a three-second PR of 3:41.65, which is the NCAA's No. 3 overall and No. 2 non-adjusted time. Bethmann, the reigning SEC Cross Country Freshman of the Year, now ranks fourth in Ole Miss history at that time. Bethmann also earned First-Team All-American status at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships as a member of the eighth place Ole Miss DMR team.
Rounding out the dominant performances in the 1500-meter were Dalton Hengst (fourth, 3:43.92; eighth all-time, No. 10 NCAA, No. 5 East Region), Mario Garcia Romo (fifth, 3:44.69; No. 12 all-time, No. 15 NCAA, No. 9 East Region), and Everett Smulders (sixth, 3:44.94; No. 21 NCAA, No. 14 East Region).
The Rebel women were also spectacular in the 1500-meter, led by Maddie King's PR of 4:21.51. This time ranks No. 23 in the East Region and No. 32 in the NCAA, as well as fourth in Ole Miss history. Ylvi Traxler ran a personal best 4:26.04, which is the ninth best time ever by a Rebel, while Anna Elkin also set a PR at 4:27.31, which is the No. 10 time in school history. Morgan Claire Rose rounded out the Rebel lineup with a PR of 4:41.43.
Not to be outdone was senior Alex Enright, who secured her place in Ole Miss history by winning the meet and breaking the school record in the javelin at 45.50m (149-03). The previous record of 45.26m (148-06) had stood for almost 12 years, and was set by Marlee Kevech on May 13, 2007.
Jayda Eckford added another victory for the Rebels in the 200-meter dash with a personal-best 23.46. In her short career, the freshman has already proved that she belongs in the conversation of elite young sprinters in the NCAA. She now ranks sixth in the NCAA among freshmen, 17th overall in the NCAA East Region, 32nd overall in the NCAA and sixth in school history in just her fourth outdoor meet as a Rebel.
The Rebels had great success in both the men's and women's long jump to conclude the action in the field on Day One. Returning from a wrist injury, sophomore Allen Gordon won the men's competition with a leap of 7.45m (24-05.50). On the women's side, junior Kieshonna Brooks won the event with a massive 10-inch PR at 6.15m (20-02.25), which ranks as the No. 10 in school history, No. 13 in the NCAA East Region, and No. 31 in the NCAA. Karia Simmons finished closely behind, tying her season-best at 5.96m (19-06.75).
The Ole Miss pole vaulters had yet another excellent weekend, finishing first and second in both the men's and women's competitions. On the women's side, senior Lindsey Murray led the way once again, this time at a season-best 4.25m (13-11.25). Murray currently ranks No. 13 in the NCAA and No. 4 in the East Region at that height, and she once again took several narrowly-missed attempts at a new school record of 4.36m (14-03.50). Junior Nicole Kallengberger placed second at 3.81m (12-06.00).
Sophomore Peyton Weissmann paced the Rebel men for the third straight week, coming in at 5.06m (16-07.25). Cole Colozzo, who tied for first place with Weissmann last week at the Spec Towns Invite, placed second at 4.91m (16-01.25).
In the lone throwing event of the day, senior Annika Larsson led all collegians with a fourth-place finish in the hammer throw at 58.65m (192-05), marking the second time this season that she has led the Rebels in the event. Kendall Chavarria finished close behind in fifth place with a season-best mark of 57.54m (188-09). Tedreauna Britt came in eighth (48.89m, 160-05) while Leah Klein placed 14th at 45.50m (149-03) to round out the Rebel lineup.
Former Rebel and NCAA Champion Janeah Stewart won at a season-opening throw of 71.49m (234-06), the No. 6 throw in the United States this season. Fellow volunteer coaches Jeneva Stevens (second, 68.13m/223-06) and Jessica Ramsey (third, 66.02m/216-07) both finished within the top-three.
The Rebel men also had success in the hammer. Freshmen Joseph Benedetto led the way for Ole Miss in fifth place at 56.81m (186-05). He was trailed by sophomore Chris Long, who placed sixth with a personal best 55.81m (183-01) that ranks 10th in school history.
Kieshonna Brooks and Haley Hood competed in the first three events of the heptathlon before dropping out to compete in individual events. Brooks finished first among contestants in the 100-meter hurdles with a season best 13.62. She also placed fourth in both the high jump (1.56m/5-01.25) and shot put (9.59m/31-05.75). Hood placed fifth in the high jump (1.53m/5-00.25), sixth in the shot put (9.19m/30-02.00), and seventh in the 100-meter hurdles (15.66).
Day Two of the Joe Walker Invite resumes Saturday morning at 10 a.m. CT with the women's heptathlon and women's discus. Fans in attendance can eat free crawfish, which will be served before the running events, which begin at roughly 2:00. Ole Miss will also honor 11 Rebel seniors with a Senior Day ceremony at 11 a.m. CT.
Other Notable Performances:
Men's 200-Meter Dash:
4. Elijah Dryer – 21.19
10. Jaqaun Webb – 21.57
14. Kenney Broadnax – 21.83
Men's Long Jump:
9. Demond Fleming – 6.73m (22-01.00)
Women's 200-Meter:
3. Brandee Presley – 24.08
4. Kelly Rowe – 24.18
7. Orianna Shaw – 24.78
8. Jeanette Paul – 24.82 – PR
Women's Long Jump:
4. Ghania Warren – 5.77m (18-11.25)
14. Ralesheia Gee – 5.25m (17-02.75)
Women's Javelin:
10. Lauren Hoselton – 30.77m (100-11)
12. Haley Hood – 29.18m (95-09)
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
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