The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Women Rank No. 20 in Week One USTFCCCA National Rankings
1/27/2020 | Track and Field
Ole Miss Owns Three of the NCAA’s Top-Five Marks in the Women’s Weight Throw
NEW ORLEANS – Ole Miss women's track & field has been rewarded for an excellent start to the 2020 indoor season, taking the NCAA by storm after shooting up 48 spots in the USTFCCCA's Week One National Rankings to No. 20, the association announced Monday.
The USTFCCCA's National Rating Index is a computer rating system that uses an algorithm that emphasizes individual performances, assigning a point value to each individual performance that contribute to a team total to assess a team's national ranking. The system also uses performances from past seasons as a basis for the rankings for the first few polls of each year.
This marks the 24th time in women's program history that the Rebels have been ranked in the indoor season, the 16th such ranking that has come under head coach Connie Price-Smith's tutelage since taking over the combined program in 2015. This is the first ranking for Ole Miss in the women's indoor rating index since Week Four of the 2018 season (No. 24), which ended a school-record 13-straight rankings that stretched through the first half of 2018 and the entire 2017 season.
Precipitating this large rise in the rankings was a dominant showing in the women's weight throw at Kentucky's Rod McCravy Memorial last weekend, in which Ole Miss set the NCAA's No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 marks this year. Leading the way was junior Shey Taiwo, who currently leads the nation at a career-best 22.46m (73-08.25).
Freshman Jasmine Mitchell was briefly in command of the NCAA lead after her first-attempt PR of 22.23m (72-11.25) before Taiwo relegated her to No. 2 nationally. Junior Deborah Bulai set a PR as well at 21.84m (71-08.00), the fifth-best throw in the NCAA this year. Combined, the trio are contributing 35 of the 49.32 points the Rebel women have accumulated in the national rating index this week.
Sophomore sprinter Brandee Presley is also contributing a sizable portion of that total from her season-opening performance in the 60-meter dash. Presley won UAB's Blazer Invite at an Ole Miss record 7.18 seconds, the fifth-best time in the NCAA this year that is currently worth 13.37 points in the rating index.
The Rebel men aren't far out of the top-25, sitting at No. 32 following a 15-spot jump in the Week One release.
Ole Miss heads to the Hoosier State for the Indiana Relays this weekend, held at IU's Gladstein Fieldhouse on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
No. 20 Rebel Women • USTFCCCA Week 1 Rating Index • 49.32 Points
Includes Preseason and Current Season Data
4. Shey Taiwo – Weight Throw – 22.46m (73-08.25) – 15.93 points
5. Brandee Presley – 60-Meter Dash – 7.18 – 13.37 points
5. Jasmine Mitchell – Weight Throw – 22.23m (72-11.25) – 13.36 points
11. Deborah Bulai – Weight Throw – 21.84m (71-08.00) – 5.71 points
18. Kaira Simmons – Long Jump – 6.27m (20-07.00) – 0.96 points (from 2017)
Current Rebel Women in NCAA Top-50
1. Shey Taiwo – Weight Throw – 22.46m (73-08.25)
2. Jasmine Mitchell – Weight Throw – 22.23m (72-11.75)
5. Deborah Bulai – Weight Throw – 21.84m (71-08.00)
5. Brandee Presley – 60-Meter Dash – 7.18
22. Kieshonna Brooks – Long Jump – 6.12m (20-01.00)
26. Tedreauna Britt – Shot Put – 15.84m (51-11.75)
35. Kieshonna Brooks – 60-Meter Hurdles – 8.32
47. Brandee Presley – 200-Meter Dash – 24.10
48. Kaira Simmons – Long Jump – 5.96m (19-06.75)
No. 32 Rebel Men • USTFCCCA Week 1 Rating Index • 27.80 Points
Includes Preseason and Current Season Data
5. Waleed Suliman – Mile – 3:56.78 – 13.15 points (from 2019)
8. Allen Gordon – Long Jump – 7.83m (25-08.25) – 8.96 points
13. John Rivera Jr. – 800-Meter – 1:48.13 – 3.64 points
20. Waleed Suliman – 800-Meter – 1:48.94 – 0.90 points (from 2018)
20. Allen Gordon – High Jump – 2.20m (7-02.50) – 0.83 points
28. Manny Foster – Triple Jump – 15.71m (51-06.50) – 0.10 points
30. Kenney Broadnax – 60-Meter Hurdles – 7.83 – 0.12 points
31. Joseph Benedetto – Weight Throw – 20.62m (67-08.00) – 0.04 points)
32. Cole Colozzo – Pole Vault – 5.30m (17-04.50) – 0.03 points
32. Manny Foster – Long Jump – 7.64m (25-00.75) – 0.03 points (from 2019)
Current Rebel Men in NCAA Top-50
1. Waleed Suliman – Mile – 3:57.03
4. John Rivera Jr. – 800-Meter – 1:48.13
5. Allen Gordon – Long Jump – 7.83m (25-08.25)
9. Allen Gordon – High Jump – 2.20m (7-02.50)
14. Michael Coccia – 3K – 8:06.58
15. Manny Foster – Triple Jump – 15.71m (51-06.50)
16. Cole Colozzo – Pole Vault – 5.30m (17-04.50)
20. James Burnett – 400-Meter Dash – 47.21
23. Peyton Weissmann – Pole Vault – 5.25m (17-02.75)
24. Kenney Broadnax – 60-Meter Hurdles – 7.83
24. Joseph Benedetto – Weight Throw – 20.62m (67-08.00)
40. Danny Guiliani – Shot Put – 18.08m (51-11.75)
45. Everett Smulders – 800-Meter – 1:51.62
50. 4x400-Meter Relay (Burnett, Dryer, Raspo, Westbrook) – 3:13.11
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
The USTFCCCA's National Rating Index is a computer rating system that uses an algorithm that emphasizes individual performances, assigning a point value to each individual performance that contribute to a team total to assess a team's national ranking. The system also uses performances from past seasons as a basis for the rankings for the first few polls of each year.
This marks the 24th time in women's program history that the Rebels have been ranked in the indoor season, the 16th such ranking that has come under head coach Connie Price-Smith's tutelage since taking over the combined program in 2015. This is the first ranking for Ole Miss in the women's indoor rating index since Week Four of the 2018 season (No. 24), which ended a school-record 13-straight rankings that stretched through the first half of 2018 and the entire 2017 season.
Precipitating this large rise in the rankings was a dominant showing in the women's weight throw at Kentucky's Rod McCravy Memorial last weekend, in which Ole Miss set the NCAA's No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 marks this year. Leading the way was junior Shey Taiwo, who currently leads the nation at a career-best 22.46m (73-08.25).
Freshman Jasmine Mitchell was briefly in command of the NCAA lead after her first-attempt PR of 22.23m (72-11.25) before Taiwo relegated her to No. 2 nationally. Junior Deborah Bulai set a PR as well at 21.84m (71-08.00), the fifth-best throw in the NCAA this year. Combined, the trio are contributing 35 of the 49.32 points the Rebel women have accumulated in the national rating index this week.
Sophomore sprinter Brandee Presley is also contributing a sizable portion of that total from her season-opening performance in the 60-meter dash. Presley won UAB's Blazer Invite at an Ole Miss record 7.18 seconds, the fifth-best time in the NCAA this year that is currently worth 13.37 points in the rating index.
The Rebel men aren't far out of the top-25, sitting at No. 32 following a 15-spot jump in the Week One release.
Ole Miss heads to the Hoosier State for the Indiana Relays this weekend, held at IU's Gladstein Fieldhouse on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
No. 20 Rebel Women • USTFCCCA Week 1 Rating Index • 49.32 Points
Includes Preseason and Current Season Data
4. Shey Taiwo – Weight Throw – 22.46m (73-08.25) – 15.93 points
5. Brandee Presley – 60-Meter Dash – 7.18 – 13.37 points
5. Jasmine Mitchell – Weight Throw – 22.23m (72-11.25) – 13.36 points
11. Deborah Bulai – Weight Throw – 21.84m (71-08.00) – 5.71 points
18. Kaira Simmons – Long Jump – 6.27m (20-07.00) – 0.96 points (from 2017)
Current Rebel Women in NCAA Top-50
1. Shey Taiwo – Weight Throw – 22.46m (73-08.25)
2. Jasmine Mitchell – Weight Throw – 22.23m (72-11.75)
5. Deborah Bulai – Weight Throw – 21.84m (71-08.00)
5. Brandee Presley – 60-Meter Dash – 7.18
22. Kieshonna Brooks – Long Jump – 6.12m (20-01.00)
26. Tedreauna Britt – Shot Put – 15.84m (51-11.75)
35. Kieshonna Brooks – 60-Meter Hurdles – 8.32
47. Brandee Presley – 200-Meter Dash – 24.10
48. Kaira Simmons – Long Jump – 5.96m (19-06.75)
No. 32 Rebel Men • USTFCCCA Week 1 Rating Index • 27.80 Points
Includes Preseason and Current Season Data
5. Waleed Suliman – Mile – 3:56.78 – 13.15 points (from 2019)
8. Allen Gordon – Long Jump – 7.83m (25-08.25) – 8.96 points
13. John Rivera Jr. – 800-Meter – 1:48.13 – 3.64 points
20. Waleed Suliman – 800-Meter – 1:48.94 – 0.90 points (from 2018)
20. Allen Gordon – High Jump – 2.20m (7-02.50) – 0.83 points
28. Manny Foster – Triple Jump – 15.71m (51-06.50) – 0.10 points
30. Kenney Broadnax – 60-Meter Hurdles – 7.83 – 0.12 points
31. Joseph Benedetto – Weight Throw – 20.62m (67-08.00) – 0.04 points)
32. Cole Colozzo – Pole Vault – 5.30m (17-04.50) – 0.03 points
32. Manny Foster – Long Jump – 7.64m (25-00.75) – 0.03 points (from 2019)
Current Rebel Men in NCAA Top-50
1. Waleed Suliman – Mile – 3:57.03
4. John Rivera Jr. – 800-Meter – 1:48.13
5. Allen Gordon – Long Jump – 7.83m (25-08.25)
9. Allen Gordon – High Jump – 2.20m (7-02.50)
14. Michael Coccia – 3K – 8:06.58
15. Manny Foster – Triple Jump – 15.71m (51-06.50)
16. Cole Colozzo – Pole Vault – 5.30m (17-04.50)
20. James Burnett – 400-Meter Dash – 47.21
23. Peyton Weissmann – Pole Vault – 5.25m (17-02.75)
24. Kenney Broadnax – 60-Meter Hurdles – 7.83
24. Joseph Benedetto – Weight Throw – 20.62m (67-08.00)
40. Danny Guiliani – Shot Put – 18.08m (51-11.75)
45. Everett Smulders – 800-Meter – 1:51.62
50. 4x400-Meter Relay (Burnett, Dryer, Raspo, Westbrook) – 3:13.11
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
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