The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Off to Excellent Start in Split Weekend at Texas Tech and Washington
2/14/2020 | Track and Field
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Ole Miss Set Three NCAA Top-20 Marks
LUBBOCK, Texas – Ole Miss track & field got off to an excellent start to its first split squad weekend of the season, recording three NCAA top-20 marks amid a night of rewriting the Rebel record book at the Texas Tech Shootout and Washington's Husky Classic on Friday.
Rebel junior Peyton Weissmann put his name in good company in the Ole Miss record book, becoming the second-best men's pole vaulter indoors after a strong competition at Texas Tech. Weissmann – a native of Grapevine, Texas – finished as the runner-up, setting a new indoor PR and tying his overall career-best at a height of 5.35m (17-06.50). That bar puts him No. 2 to Rebel Olympian and American record holder Sam Kendricks, who set the Ole Miss record at 5.70m (18-08.25) at the 2014 NCAA Championships. That height also puts him at No. 3 in the SEC and tied for No. 20 in the NCAA this season.
It's already been a superb year for the Rebel men's vaulters, as after tonight, this marks the first time in school history two vaulters have cleared 17-4 or higher in the same season. Back on Jan. 25, senior Cole Colozzo cleared what is now the third-best height in school history at 5.30m (17-04.50).
Senior Kieshonna Brooks had a career day in the long jump at Texas Tech as well, finishing as the runner-up in the invite section at 6.22m (20-05.00) – a new PR by an inch and a half that pushes her up to No. 5 all-time at Ole Miss. Most importantly, that leap puts Brooks in contention for the NCAA Championships, as it is currently tied for 16th in the nation.
Junior Allen Gordon also claimed a runner-up finish in the men's invitational long jump at a distance of 7.78m (25-06.25).
Out on the West Coast, a handful of Rebel distance runners competed in the distance-heavy Husky Classic at the University of Washington, and junior Waleed Suliman helped lead the way with an impressive top-20 performance in the invitational section of the men's 3K. Suliman, in his first career 3K race, clocked the third-best time in school history at 7:54.80 – the second-best time in the SEC and No. 18 in the NCAA. Suliman just narrowly avoided toppling Robert Domanic's 2016 record of 7:54.58.
Ole Miss had several additional performances out west that wound up in the all-time record book. Junior Anna Elkin came away with the fourth-best women's 5K time in school history at a 26-second PR of 16:26.37 (currently No. 8 in the SEC). Ylvi Traxler also etched her name into the all-time top-10, running the ninth-best time at 16:39.94.
Junior Maddie King clocked the fifth-best 3K time at Ole Miss with a 9:32.34, while senior Michael Coccia ran yet another PR this week, this time the seventh-best 5K in Ole Miss history at 14:02.08.
Back at Texas Tech, the Rebel women's weight throwers put together another solid week of work. Junior Shey Taiwo, who entered the weekend as the NCAA leader, won the invitational section of the women's weight throw at 22.57m (74-00.75). After never hitting the 22-meter barrier before Jan. 25, Taiwo has now done so five times since. Freshman Jasmine Mitchell took third place at 21.81m (71-06.75), while junior Deborah Bulai finished fourth at 20.45m (67-01.25).
Freshman Jalani Davis claimed a victory of her own in the open section of the women's weight throw, topping out at nearly a four-foot PR of 18.19m (59-08.25), the ninth-best throw in school history. With Davis now joining the mix, five of the top-10 throws in school history have all come in the 2020 season.
Sophomore Jayda Eckford hit the track in the 200-meter dash for the first time this indoor season and did not disappoint. After a phenomenal freshman campaign outdoors that saw the dismantling of the Ole Miss 200-meter record, Eckford put herself in good position to go after the indoor record as well after finishing runner-up at 23.60 – the second-best time in school history behind Teneeshia Jones' 23.36 from 2001. That time also puts Eckford into a tie for eighth in the SEC and 26th in the NCAA.
Junior Elijah Dryer had another great day on the track in the 200-meter dash as well, running the fourth-best time in Ole Miss history at 21.20 to finish eighth overall. Dryer's time stands as the fastest run at Ole Miss since Olympian Isiah Young clocked 21.15 at the 2012 SEC Championships.
Competition resumes at both meets on Saturday, with the Texas Tech Shootout resuming at 11 a.m. CT with the women's shot put, and the Husky Classic beginning with at 2:10 p.m. CT with the women's mile.
OTHER REBELS IN COMPETITION (TEXAS TECH)
Women's 200-Meter Dash:
8. Kirstin Jones – 24.11 – 12th all-time
19. Kelly Rowe – 24.60
Women's 800-Meter:
8. Loral Winn – 2:14.13
Men's 800-Meter:
12. Jacob Lough – 1:56.21
Women's High Jump Invite:
8. Sara Van Aken – 1.71m (5-07.25)
Men's Pole Vault Invite:
8. Cole Colozzo – 5.05m (16-06.75)
Women's Long Jump Open:
2. Kaira Simmons – 5.99m (19-08.00) – SB
9. Ghania Warren – 5.84m (19-02.00) – SB
Men's Long Jump Invite:
6. Manny Foster – 7.23m (23-08.75)
Women's Weight Throw:
7. Tedreauna Britt – 18.43m (60-05.75)
Women's Weight Throw Open:
7. Kendall Chavarria – 16.74m (54-11.25)
Men's Weight Throw:
5. Joseph Benedetto – 19.13m (62-09.25)
Men's Weight Throw Open:
7. Joseph Lanham – 16.42m (53-10.50)
OTHER REBELS IN COMPETITION (WASHINGTON)
Women's 5K:
44. Cate Tracht – 16:52.62 – No. 12 all-time
Men's 3K:
48. Nick Moulai – 8:13.02 – No. 14 all-time
Women's 5K:
63. Courtney Hopkins – 17:22.49
Men's 5K:
52. Farah Abdulkarim – 14:32.86
63. Ben Savino – 14:42.05
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Rebel junior Peyton Weissmann put his name in good company in the Ole Miss record book, becoming the second-best men's pole vaulter indoors after a strong competition at Texas Tech. Weissmann – a native of Grapevine, Texas – finished as the runner-up, setting a new indoor PR and tying his overall career-best at a height of 5.35m (17-06.50). That bar puts him No. 2 to Rebel Olympian and American record holder Sam Kendricks, who set the Ole Miss record at 5.70m (18-08.25) at the 2014 NCAA Championships. That height also puts him at No. 3 in the SEC and tied for No. 20 in the NCAA this season.
It's already been a superb year for the Rebel men's vaulters, as after tonight, this marks the first time in school history two vaulters have cleared 17-4 or higher in the same season. Back on Jan. 25, senior Cole Colozzo cleared what is now the third-best height in school history at 5.30m (17-04.50).
Senior Kieshonna Brooks had a career day in the long jump at Texas Tech as well, finishing as the runner-up in the invite section at 6.22m (20-05.00) – a new PR by an inch and a half that pushes her up to No. 5 all-time at Ole Miss. Most importantly, that leap puts Brooks in contention for the NCAA Championships, as it is currently tied for 16th in the nation.
Junior Allen Gordon also claimed a runner-up finish in the men's invitational long jump at a distance of 7.78m (25-06.25).
Out on the West Coast, a handful of Rebel distance runners competed in the distance-heavy Husky Classic at the University of Washington, and junior Waleed Suliman helped lead the way with an impressive top-20 performance in the invitational section of the men's 3K. Suliman, in his first career 3K race, clocked the third-best time in school history at 7:54.80 – the second-best time in the SEC and No. 18 in the NCAA. Suliman just narrowly avoided toppling Robert Domanic's 2016 record of 7:54.58.
Ole Miss had several additional performances out west that wound up in the all-time record book. Junior Anna Elkin came away with the fourth-best women's 5K time in school history at a 26-second PR of 16:26.37 (currently No. 8 in the SEC). Ylvi Traxler also etched her name into the all-time top-10, running the ninth-best time at 16:39.94.
Junior Maddie King clocked the fifth-best 3K time at Ole Miss with a 9:32.34, while senior Michael Coccia ran yet another PR this week, this time the seventh-best 5K in Ole Miss history at 14:02.08.
Back at Texas Tech, the Rebel women's weight throwers put together another solid week of work. Junior Shey Taiwo, who entered the weekend as the NCAA leader, won the invitational section of the women's weight throw at 22.57m (74-00.75). After never hitting the 22-meter barrier before Jan. 25, Taiwo has now done so five times since. Freshman Jasmine Mitchell took third place at 21.81m (71-06.75), while junior Deborah Bulai finished fourth at 20.45m (67-01.25).
Freshman Jalani Davis claimed a victory of her own in the open section of the women's weight throw, topping out at nearly a four-foot PR of 18.19m (59-08.25), the ninth-best throw in school history. With Davis now joining the mix, five of the top-10 throws in school history have all come in the 2020 season.
Sophomore Jayda Eckford hit the track in the 200-meter dash for the first time this indoor season and did not disappoint. After a phenomenal freshman campaign outdoors that saw the dismantling of the Ole Miss 200-meter record, Eckford put herself in good position to go after the indoor record as well after finishing runner-up at 23.60 – the second-best time in school history behind Teneeshia Jones' 23.36 from 2001. That time also puts Eckford into a tie for eighth in the SEC and 26th in the NCAA.
Junior Elijah Dryer had another great day on the track in the 200-meter dash as well, running the fourth-best time in Ole Miss history at 21.20 to finish eighth overall. Dryer's time stands as the fastest run at Ole Miss since Olympian Isiah Young clocked 21.15 at the 2012 SEC Championships.
Competition resumes at both meets on Saturday, with the Texas Tech Shootout resuming at 11 a.m. CT with the women's shot put, and the Husky Classic beginning with at 2:10 p.m. CT with the women's mile.
OTHER REBELS IN COMPETITION (TEXAS TECH)
Women's 200-Meter Dash:
8. Kirstin Jones – 24.11 – 12th all-time
19. Kelly Rowe – 24.60
Women's 800-Meter:
8. Loral Winn – 2:14.13
Men's 800-Meter:
12. Jacob Lough – 1:56.21
Women's High Jump Invite:
8. Sara Van Aken – 1.71m (5-07.25)
Men's Pole Vault Invite:
8. Cole Colozzo – 5.05m (16-06.75)
Women's Long Jump Open:
2. Kaira Simmons – 5.99m (19-08.00) – SB
9. Ghania Warren – 5.84m (19-02.00) – SB
Men's Long Jump Invite:
6. Manny Foster – 7.23m (23-08.75)
Women's Weight Throw:
7. Tedreauna Britt – 18.43m (60-05.75)
Women's Weight Throw Open:
7. Kendall Chavarria – 16.74m (54-11.25)
Men's Weight Throw:
5. Joseph Benedetto – 19.13m (62-09.25)
Men's Weight Throw Open:
7. Joseph Lanham – 16.42m (53-10.50)
OTHER REBELS IN COMPETITION (WASHINGTON)
Women's 5K:
44. Cate Tracht – 16:52.62 – No. 12 all-time
Men's 3K:
48. Nick Moulai – 8:13.02 – No. 14 all-time
Women's 5K:
63. Courtney Hopkins – 17:22.49
Men's 5K:
52. Farah Abdulkarim – 14:32.86
63. Ben Savino – 14:42.05
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Distance
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Throws
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Throws
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Multi
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Throws
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Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Multi
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Distance
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