The University of Mississippi Athletics
Taiwo and Mitchell Earn First-Team All-America at Day One of NCAA Championships
3/11/2021 | Track and Field
Duo Combined for 11 NCAA Points, Already the Third-Most Ever Indoors by the Rebel Women
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Ole Miss track & field throwers Shey Taiwo and Jasmine Mitchell both came away with First-Team All-American honors following a wild women's weight throw final at Day One of the NCAA Indoor Championships on Thursday night.
Taiwo and Mitchell, who entered ranked as the top-two throwers in the NCAA this season, ran into fierce competition from ACC foes Makenli Forrest of Louisville and Rachel Tanczos of Notre Dame. Mitchell, the NCAA's No. 1 thrower entering at 23.24m (76-03.00), briefly held the lead in Round 2 at 22.35m (73-04.00) before Tanczos took over. Forrest overtook the lead herself on her third throw of 22.87m (75-00.50), while Taiwo let her coaches take a sigh of relief after qualifying for the final on a toss of 21.86m (71-08.75) following two opening fouls. Entering the final, the order went Forrest in first and Tanczos in second, with Mitchell in third and Taiwo in sixth.
Tanczos came out swinging in the fourth round, though, taking back the lead and tying Mitchell's NCAA lead at 23.24m (73-04.00). It was the sixth round, however, when the fireworks really started popping. Five of the nine finalists all improved in the sixth round – including Taiwo and Mitchell. Taiwo briefly went up to second on her best toss of the day at 22.94m (75-03.25) to bump Mitchell's sixth-round best of 22.89m (75-01.25) to third, but it was Forrest on the final throw of competition who edged out Tanczos by two centimeters at a new NCAA lead 23.26m (76-03.75), claiming the NCAA title and bumping Tanczos to second, Taiwo to third and Mitchell to fourth.
For Taiwo, she ties Janeah Stewart for the highest program finish in the weight throw in third place. Additionally, this is her third career All-American honor and her first appearance on the First-Team. For Mitchell, this is her second All-American honor and her first appearance on the First-Team as well after earning the blanket All-American distinction for the canceled 2020 NCAA Championships.
Most impressively, their 11 combined points already rank third all-time by an Ole Miss women's team at the NCAA Indoor Championships all by themselves – trailing only the 2008 squad's 17 points and the 2017 team's 13 points. The duo also still stands as the only teammates in NCAA history to have both eclipsed the 23-meter plateau in the same season.
Ole Miss returns to competition for Day Two of the NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday, kicking off a busy day with senior Allen Gordon in the men's high jump final at 11:30 a.m. CT.
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Taiwo and Mitchell, who entered ranked as the top-two throwers in the NCAA this season, ran into fierce competition from ACC foes Makenli Forrest of Louisville and Rachel Tanczos of Notre Dame. Mitchell, the NCAA's No. 1 thrower entering at 23.24m (76-03.00), briefly held the lead in Round 2 at 22.35m (73-04.00) before Tanczos took over. Forrest overtook the lead herself on her third throw of 22.87m (75-00.50), while Taiwo let her coaches take a sigh of relief after qualifying for the final on a toss of 21.86m (71-08.75) following two opening fouls. Entering the final, the order went Forrest in first and Tanczos in second, with Mitchell in third and Taiwo in sixth.
Tanczos came out swinging in the fourth round, though, taking back the lead and tying Mitchell's NCAA lead at 23.24m (73-04.00). It was the sixth round, however, when the fireworks really started popping. Five of the nine finalists all improved in the sixth round – including Taiwo and Mitchell. Taiwo briefly went up to second on her best toss of the day at 22.94m (75-03.25) to bump Mitchell's sixth-round best of 22.89m (75-01.25) to third, but it was Forrest on the final throw of competition who edged out Tanczos by two centimeters at a new NCAA lead 23.26m (76-03.75), claiming the NCAA title and bumping Tanczos to second, Taiwo to third and Mitchell to fourth.
For Taiwo, she ties Janeah Stewart for the highest program finish in the weight throw in third place. Additionally, this is her third career All-American honor and her first appearance on the First-Team. For Mitchell, this is her second All-American honor and her first appearance on the First-Team as well after earning the blanket All-American distinction for the canceled 2020 NCAA Championships.
Most impressively, their 11 combined points already rank third all-time by an Ole Miss women's team at the NCAA Indoor Championships all by themselves – trailing only the 2008 squad's 17 points and the 2017 team's 13 points. The duo also still stands as the only teammates in NCAA history to have both eclipsed the 23-meter plateau in the same season.
Ole Miss returns to competition for Day Two of the NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday, kicking off a busy day with senior Allen Gordon in the men's high jump final at 11:30 a.m. CT.
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and FieldThe Season: New Heights (2025)
Friday, August 01
From Walk-On to National Champ: Arvesta Troupe (T&F)
Monday, June 23
HIGHLIGHTS: Arvesta Troupe Makes History as NCAA High Jump Champ
Friday, June 13
PRESSER: Arvesta Troupe Talks Historic NCAA High Jump Win
Friday, June 13