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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebel Men No. 7, Women No. 19 in Week Four USTFCCCA Rankings
2/15/2021 | Track and Field
Both Ole Miss Squads Moved Up One Slot in Week Four
NEW ORLEANS – Ole Miss men's and women's track & field both improved one spot nationally following a spectacular meet at Vanderbilt, with the Rebel men moving up to No. 7 and the women No. 19 in the Week Four USTFCCCA Rating Index released Monday.
The No. 7 ranking is the third straight top-10 slot for the Rebel men, who are putting together a strong indoor season in 2021. Those three top-10 appearances are the first indoors for the Ole Miss men, with its Week Two No. 6 ranking standing as a program record for the entire men's or women's Ole Miss track & field and cross country program. This week marks the 33rd appearance in the indoor poll for the Rebel men since it began in 2008.
This is also the 33rd time appearing in the indoor index for the Rebel women, who moved up to No. 19 in Week Four. Additionally, this is the 25th appearance under sixth-year head coach Connie Price-Smith, and the 10th ranking in the last 11 releases after the Ole Miss women were ranked for the entirety of the 2020 indoor regular season.
Ole Miss is paced on the men's side by one of the top distance squads in the nation, with 13 of the 16 performances contributing to its No. 7 ranking. Leading the way is still the distance medley relay quartet of Waleed Suliman, Baylor Franklin, Everett Smulders and Mario Garcia Romo, who ran the third-best time in the NCAA and second-best in program history at 9:30.62 on Jan. 29 – good for 18.60 points in the index.
Last week at Vanderbilt, though, the Ole Miss milers shined, with four Rebels breaking the four-minute barrier who are currently combining for 30.22 of 94.06 total points in the index. All-American senior Waleed Suliman once again broke his own school record, running his third career sub-four time at 3:55.60 to rank fourth nationally. Garcia Romo, reigning SEC Cross Country Champion, would have broken Suliman's old record with his seven-second PR of 3:56.46, currently the fifth-best mile time in the country. Everett Smulders broke four minutes for the second straight attempt, improving to 3:58.73 (17th NCAA), while Baylor Franklin became the sixth Rebel to join the sub-four club at 3:59.12 (21st NCAA).
The Rebel men currently own the NCAA's top-ranked 3K squad, led by Garcia Romo's school record 7:48.40 ran at Arkansas on Jan. 30 that ranks fifth nationally. Suliman's 3K time of 7:54.77 ranks 11th nationally, and Cole Bullock's 8:00.13 comes in at No. 28.
Ole Miss has also been excellent in the 800-meter with three contributing in Week Four: Franklin's 1:48.59 (13th NCAA), Smulders' 1:48.75 (16th NCAA) and John Rivera Jr.'s 1:49.09 from last week at Vanderbilt, which ranks 19th nationally. The Rebel men are also receiving points from two 5K times ran at Vanderbilt last week from Bullock at 13:51.00 (17th NCAA) and Ben Savino at 14:03.92 (35th NCAA).
In the field, All-American senior jumper Allen Gordon is chipping in 17.55 points by himself with two strong season-bests from Arkansas in the high jump (6th, 2.19m/7-02.25) and long jump (10th, 7.72m/25-04.00). Junior Joseph Benedetto improved for the second straight week in the weight throw, with his newest PR of 20.87m (68-05.75) ranking 23rd in the NCAA.
The Rebel women, meanwhile, received a huge performance from All-American senior Shey Taiwo in just her second meet of 2021. Taiwo, the reigning SEC Champion in the weight throw, set a new career-best on her first throw of the day at 22.79m (74-09.25) to take the national lead – worth 23.12 points for Ole Miss in the latest rating index. Combined with Jasmine Mitchell's 21.88m/71-09.50 (8th NCAA) and Jalani Davis' 20.82m/68-03.75 (14th NCAA), the Rebel women's weight throwers are currently contributing 34.59 of the 41.77 points for the Ole Miss women.
Junior Tedreauna Britt's shot put PR of 16.33m (53-07.00) is good for 15th nationally and 1.69 points in the index, giving the Ole Miss throwers a total of 36.28 total points. Her shot put mark is the third-best throw in school history that made her just the third Rebel to break the 53-foot plateau indoors behind Olympian Raven Saunders (19.56m/64-02.25) and All-American Janeah Stewart (17.63m/57-10.25).
The Rebel women's distance runners are putting together a great season as well, with five times currently helping with the national ranking. Rebel newcomer Sintayehu Vissa has made a name for herself early on, becoming the fourth Rebel in as many meets to break the school record in the mile last week at 4:40.99 (23rd NCAA), and two weeks ago running the fastest 800-meter time at Ole Miss since 2017 at 2:06.45 (15th NCAA).
Senior Anna Elkin also owns two nationally ranked performances, with her school record 3K time of 9:17.19 sitting 16th and her 5K PR of 16:21.83 in 29th. Senior Victoria Simmons' 5K PR of 17:07.22 also ranks at No. 32.
Two Rebel women's pole vaulters are ranked, with freshman Samara McConnell 18th (4.20m/13-09.25) and sophomore Lyndsey Reed 26th (4.15m/13-07.25). McConnell leads all SEC freshmen and ranks third nationally among freshmen in the pole vault.
In the sprints, the Rebel women's 4x400-meter relay of 3:41.88 from Jayda Eckford, Ashanti Denton, Orianna Shaw and Toni Glatz ranks 21st nationally, and junior All-American Brandee Presley's season-best 60-meter dash time of 7.35 ranks 26th.
Ole Miss is off this week to prepare for the SEC Indoor Championships, scheduled for Feb. 25-27 at Arkansas.
No. 7 Rebel Men • USTFCCCA Week 4 Rating Index • 94.06 Points
3. Distance Medley Relay (Suliman, Franklin, Smulders, Garcia Romo) – 9:30.62 – 18.60 Points
4. Waleed Suliman – Mile – 3:55.60 – 15.15 Points
5. Mario Garcia Romo – Mile – 3:56.46 – 12.90 Points
5. Mario Garcia Romo – 3K – 7:48.40 – 13.77 Points
6. Allen Gordon – High Jump – 2.19m (7-02.25) – 10.99 Points
10. Allen Gordon – Long Jump – 7.72m (25-04.00) – 6.56 Points
11. Waleed Suliman – 3K – 7:54.57 – 5.70 Points
13. Baylor Franklin – 800-Meter – 1:48.59 – 3.55 Points
16. Everett Smulders – 800-Meter – 1:48.75 – 1.71 Points
17. Everett Smulders – Mile – 3:58.73 – 1.33 Points
17. Cole Bullock – 5K – 13:51.00 – 1.27 Points
19. John Rivera Jr. – 800-Meter – 1:49.09 – 1.08 Points
21. Baylor Franklin – Mile – 3:59.12 – 0.84 Points
23. Joseph Benedetto – Weight Throw – 20.87m (68-05.75) – 0.40 Points
28. Cole Bullock – 3K – 8:00.13 – 0.18 Points
35. Ben Savino – 5K – 14:03.92 – 0.01 Points
No. 19 Rebel Women • USTFCCCA Week 4 Rating Index • 41.77 Points
1. Shey Taiwo – Weight Throw – 22.79m (74-09.25) – 23.12 Points
8. Jasmine Mitchell – Weight Throw – 21.88m (71-09.50) – 9.27 Points
14. Jalani Davis – Weight Throw – 20.82m (68-03.75) – 2.20 Points
15. Sintayehu Vissa – 800-Meter – 2:06.45 – 1.86 Points
15. Tedreauna Britt – Shot Put – 16.33m (53-07.00) – 1.69 Points
16. Anna Elkin – 3K – 9:17.19 – 1.49 Points
18. Samara McConnell – Pole Vault – 4.20m (13-09.25) – 1.01 Points
21. 4x400-Meter Relay (Eckford, Denton, Shaw, Glatz) – 3:41.88 – 0.10 Points
23. Sintayehu Vissa – Mile – 4:40.99 – 0.56 Points
26. Brandee Presley – 60-Meter Dash – 7.35 – 0.21 Points
26. Lyndsey Reed – Pole Vault – 4.15m (13-07.25) – 0.15 Points
29. Anna Elkin – 5K – 16:21.83 – 0.08 Points
32. Victoria Simmons – 5K – 17:07.22 – 0.03 Points
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
The No. 7 ranking is the third straight top-10 slot for the Rebel men, who are putting together a strong indoor season in 2021. Those three top-10 appearances are the first indoors for the Ole Miss men, with its Week Two No. 6 ranking standing as a program record for the entire men's or women's Ole Miss track & field and cross country program. This week marks the 33rd appearance in the indoor poll for the Rebel men since it began in 2008.
This is also the 33rd time appearing in the indoor index for the Rebel women, who moved up to No. 19 in Week Four. Additionally, this is the 25th appearance under sixth-year head coach Connie Price-Smith, and the 10th ranking in the last 11 releases after the Ole Miss women were ranked for the entirety of the 2020 indoor regular season.
Ole Miss is paced on the men's side by one of the top distance squads in the nation, with 13 of the 16 performances contributing to its No. 7 ranking. Leading the way is still the distance medley relay quartet of Waleed Suliman, Baylor Franklin, Everett Smulders and Mario Garcia Romo, who ran the third-best time in the NCAA and second-best in program history at 9:30.62 on Jan. 29 – good for 18.60 points in the index.
Last week at Vanderbilt, though, the Ole Miss milers shined, with four Rebels breaking the four-minute barrier who are currently combining for 30.22 of 94.06 total points in the index. All-American senior Waleed Suliman once again broke his own school record, running his third career sub-four time at 3:55.60 to rank fourth nationally. Garcia Romo, reigning SEC Cross Country Champion, would have broken Suliman's old record with his seven-second PR of 3:56.46, currently the fifth-best mile time in the country. Everett Smulders broke four minutes for the second straight attempt, improving to 3:58.73 (17th NCAA), while Baylor Franklin became the sixth Rebel to join the sub-four club at 3:59.12 (21st NCAA).
The Rebel men currently own the NCAA's top-ranked 3K squad, led by Garcia Romo's school record 7:48.40 ran at Arkansas on Jan. 30 that ranks fifth nationally. Suliman's 3K time of 7:54.77 ranks 11th nationally, and Cole Bullock's 8:00.13 comes in at No. 28.
Ole Miss has also been excellent in the 800-meter with three contributing in Week Four: Franklin's 1:48.59 (13th NCAA), Smulders' 1:48.75 (16th NCAA) and John Rivera Jr.'s 1:49.09 from last week at Vanderbilt, which ranks 19th nationally. The Rebel men are also receiving points from two 5K times ran at Vanderbilt last week from Bullock at 13:51.00 (17th NCAA) and Ben Savino at 14:03.92 (35th NCAA).
In the field, All-American senior jumper Allen Gordon is chipping in 17.55 points by himself with two strong season-bests from Arkansas in the high jump (6th, 2.19m/7-02.25) and long jump (10th, 7.72m/25-04.00). Junior Joseph Benedetto improved for the second straight week in the weight throw, with his newest PR of 20.87m (68-05.75) ranking 23rd in the NCAA.
The Rebel women, meanwhile, received a huge performance from All-American senior Shey Taiwo in just her second meet of 2021. Taiwo, the reigning SEC Champion in the weight throw, set a new career-best on her first throw of the day at 22.79m (74-09.25) to take the national lead – worth 23.12 points for Ole Miss in the latest rating index. Combined with Jasmine Mitchell's 21.88m/71-09.50 (8th NCAA) and Jalani Davis' 20.82m/68-03.75 (14th NCAA), the Rebel women's weight throwers are currently contributing 34.59 of the 41.77 points for the Ole Miss women.
Junior Tedreauna Britt's shot put PR of 16.33m (53-07.00) is good for 15th nationally and 1.69 points in the index, giving the Ole Miss throwers a total of 36.28 total points. Her shot put mark is the third-best throw in school history that made her just the third Rebel to break the 53-foot plateau indoors behind Olympian Raven Saunders (19.56m/64-02.25) and All-American Janeah Stewart (17.63m/57-10.25).
The Rebel women's distance runners are putting together a great season as well, with five times currently helping with the national ranking. Rebel newcomer Sintayehu Vissa has made a name for herself early on, becoming the fourth Rebel in as many meets to break the school record in the mile last week at 4:40.99 (23rd NCAA), and two weeks ago running the fastest 800-meter time at Ole Miss since 2017 at 2:06.45 (15th NCAA).
Senior Anna Elkin also owns two nationally ranked performances, with her school record 3K time of 9:17.19 sitting 16th and her 5K PR of 16:21.83 in 29th. Senior Victoria Simmons' 5K PR of 17:07.22 also ranks at No. 32.
Two Rebel women's pole vaulters are ranked, with freshman Samara McConnell 18th (4.20m/13-09.25) and sophomore Lyndsey Reed 26th (4.15m/13-07.25). McConnell leads all SEC freshmen and ranks third nationally among freshmen in the pole vault.
In the sprints, the Rebel women's 4x400-meter relay of 3:41.88 from Jayda Eckford, Ashanti Denton, Orianna Shaw and Toni Glatz ranks 21st nationally, and junior All-American Brandee Presley's season-best 60-meter dash time of 7.35 ranks 26th.
Ole Miss is off this week to prepare for the SEC Indoor Championships, scheduled for Feb. 25-27 at Arkansas.
No. 7 Rebel Men • USTFCCCA Week 4 Rating Index • 94.06 Points
3. Distance Medley Relay (Suliman, Franklin, Smulders, Garcia Romo) – 9:30.62 – 18.60 Points
4. Waleed Suliman – Mile – 3:55.60 – 15.15 Points
5. Mario Garcia Romo – Mile – 3:56.46 – 12.90 Points
5. Mario Garcia Romo – 3K – 7:48.40 – 13.77 Points
6. Allen Gordon – High Jump – 2.19m (7-02.25) – 10.99 Points
10. Allen Gordon – Long Jump – 7.72m (25-04.00) – 6.56 Points
11. Waleed Suliman – 3K – 7:54.57 – 5.70 Points
13. Baylor Franklin – 800-Meter – 1:48.59 – 3.55 Points
16. Everett Smulders – 800-Meter – 1:48.75 – 1.71 Points
17. Everett Smulders – Mile – 3:58.73 – 1.33 Points
17. Cole Bullock – 5K – 13:51.00 – 1.27 Points
19. John Rivera Jr. – 800-Meter – 1:49.09 – 1.08 Points
21. Baylor Franklin – Mile – 3:59.12 – 0.84 Points
23. Joseph Benedetto – Weight Throw – 20.87m (68-05.75) – 0.40 Points
28. Cole Bullock – 3K – 8:00.13 – 0.18 Points
35. Ben Savino – 5K – 14:03.92 – 0.01 Points
No. 19 Rebel Women • USTFCCCA Week 4 Rating Index • 41.77 Points
1. Shey Taiwo – Weight Throw – 22.79m (74-09.25) – 23.12 Points
8. Jasmine Mitchell – Weight Throw – 21.88m (71-09.50) – 9.27 Points
14. Jalani Davis – Weight Throw – 20.82m (68-03.75) – 2.20 Points
15. Sintayehu Vissa – 800-Meter – 2:06.45 – 1.86 Points
15. Tedreauna Britt – Shot Put – 16.33m (53-07.00) – 1.69 Points
16. Anna Elkin – 3K – 9:17.19 – 1.49 Points
18. Samara McConnell – Pole Vault – 4.20m (13-09.25) – 1.01 Points
21. 4x400-Meter Relay (Eckford, Denton, Shaw, Glatz) – 3:41.88 – 0.10 Points
23. Sintayehu Vissa – Mile – 4:40.99 – 0.56 Points
26. Brandee Presley – 60-Meter Dash – 7.35 – 0.21 Points
26. Lyndsey Reed – Pole Vault – 4.15m (13-07.25) – 0.15 Points
29. Anna Elkin – 5K – 16:21.83 – 0.08 Points
32. Victoria Simmons – 5K – 17:07.22 – 0.03 Points
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
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