The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Shine on Day One of Tiger Track Classic
3/19/2021 | Track and Field
Allen Gordon Among NCAA Long Jump Leaders After Winning Effort
AUBURN, Ala. – After a two-year hiatus, the Ole Miss track & field team returned outdoors and made the most of it in Day One of the 2021 outdoor season at the Tiger Track Classic. Friday saw a healthy mix of athletes make their collegiate outdoor debut and veterans put on peak performances.
One of those veterans happened to be hammer thrower Joseph Benedetto, who shattered a personal best by nearly five meters. Benedetto finished fourth overall, throwing 64.60m (211-11) and usurped Cullen Prena for third in program history along the way. It is very early in the outdoor season, but at the moment that toss from Benedetto puts him No. 5 in the NCAA and No. 4 in the East Region. Joseph Lanham joined Benedetto in the final, notching the 11th-best throw in school history in his outdoor debut in ninth place (55.79m/183-00).
Luke Etherton also made his way in the Ole Miss record books, throwing 54.65m (179-03) in the javelin during his collegiate outdoor debut, putting him ninth in program history.
All-American Allen Gordon began his junior campaign with a bang, winning the long jump by a significant margin at 7.70m (25-03.25). Gordon's mark is currently among the NCAA's outdoor leaders as of the conclusion of Friday's event, sitting No. 2 nationally and No. 1 regionally at this point.
In the women's hammer throw, All-American Shey Taiwo finished runner-up with a mark of 63.38m (207-11) while teammates Jasmine Mitchell (fifth, 58.38m/191-06), Jalani Davis (sixth, 58.31m/191-04) and Deborah Bulai (ninth, 55.43m/181-10) each finished within the top nine of the standings in their outdoor debuts. Respectively, those marks behind Taiwo already rank fifth, sixth and ninth all-time in Ole Miss history. Taiwo's previous career-best of 63.87m (209-06) still ranks second all-time and also came at Auburn on April 19, 2019.
Senior Kieshonna Brooks finally hit the track again for the first time in nearly two years, finishing fourth in the long jump in her debut at 5.91m (19-04.75). Although she had no indoor eligibility remaining, Brooks opted to return for her final season in 2021. That season-open recorded today currently stands 15th nationally and sixth in the East.
The Rebels will be back at Hutsell-Rosen Track on Saturday morning to conclude the Tiger Track Classic, starting at 11:30 a.m. CT with the women's pole vault.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 1500-Meter Invitational
8. Cate Tracht – 4:32.49
13. Ylvi Traxler – 4:36.48
Men's 5K
14. Whit Dennis – 14:59.20
17. Jack Filan – 15:44.13
Women's Long Jump
4. Kieshonna Brooks – 5.91m/19-04.75 (+1.5) – No. 15 NCAA, No. 6 East
13. Tyra Weathersby – 5.26m/17-03.25 (+1.4)
14. Skye Gross – 5.22m/17-01.50 (+0.5)
Men's Long Jump
1. Allen Gordon – 7.70m/25-03.25 (+1.4) – No. 2 NCAA, No. 1 East, No. 1 SEC
9. Torrence Tuberville – 6.24m/20-05.75 (+1.6)
Women's Hammer Throw
2. Shey Taiwo – 63.38m (207-11) – No. 4 NCAA, No. 2 East
5. Jasmine Mitchell – 58.38m (191-06) – No. 5 all-time
6. Jalani Davis – 58.31m (191-04) – No. 6 all-time
9. Deborah Bulai – 55.43m (181-10) – No. 9 all-time
Men's Hammer Throw
4. Joseph Benedetto – 64.60m (211-11) – No. 3 all-time, No. 5 NCAA, No. 4 East
9. Joseph Lanham – 55.79m (183-00) – No. 11 all-time
Women's Javelin Throw
12. Sara Van Aken – 34.31m (112-07)
14. Lauren Hoselton – 30.13m (98-10)
18. Meg Goebel – 16.06m (52-08)
Men's Javelin Throw
8. Luke Etherton – 54.65m (179-03) – No. 9 all-time
15. Pierce Genereux – 45.26m (148-06)
18. Peyton Lowery -- 34.51m (113-03)
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
One of those veterans happened to be hammer thrower Joseph Benedetto, who shattered a personal best by nearly five meters. Benedetto finished fourth overall, throwing 64.60m (211-11) and usurped Cullen Prena for third in program history along the way. It is very early in the outdoor season, but at the moment that toss from Benedetto puts him No. 5 in the NCAA and No. 4 in the East Region. Joseph Lanham joined Benedetto in the final, notching the 11th-best throw in school history in his outdoor debut in ninth place (55.79m/183-00).
Luke Etherton also made his way in the Ole Miss record books, throwing 54.65m (179-03) in the javelin during his collegiate outdoor debut, putting him ninth in program history.
All-American Allen Gordon began his junior campaign with a bang, winning the long jump by a significant margin at 7.70m (25-03.25). Gordon's mark is currently among the NCAA's outdoor leaders as of the conclusion of Friday's event, sitting No. 2 nationally and No. 1 regionally at this point.
In the women's hammer throw, All-American Shey Taiwo finished runner-up with a mark of 63.38m (207-11) while teammates Jasmine Mitchell (fifth, 58.38m/191-06), Jalani Davis (sixth, 58.31m/191-04) and Deborah Bulai (ninth, 55.43m/181-10) each finished within the top nine of the standings in their outdoor debuts. Respectively, those marks behind Taiwo already rank fifth, sixth and ninth all-time in Ole Miss history. Taiwo's previous career-best of 63.87m (209-06) still ranks second all-time and also came at Auburn on April 19, 2019.
Senior Kieshonna Brooks finally hit the track again for the first time in nearly two years, finishing fourth in the long jump in her debut at 5.91m (19-04.75). Although she had no indoor eligibility remaining, Brooks opted to return for her final season in 2021. That season-open recorded today currently stands 15th nationally and sixth in the East.
The Rebels will be back at Hutsell-Rosen Track on Saturday morning to conclude the Tiger Track Classic, starting at 11:30 a.m. CT with the women's pole vault.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 1500-Meter Invitational
8. Cate Tracht – 4:32.49
13. Ylvi Traxler – 4:36.48
Men's 5K
14. Whit Dennis – 14:59.20
17. Jack Filan – 15:44.13
Women's Long Jump
4. Kieshonna Brooks – 5.91m/19-04.75 (+1.5) – No. 15 NCAA, No. 6 East
13. Tyra Weathersby – 5.26m/17-03.25 (+1.4)
14. Skye Gross – 5.22m/17-01.50 (+0.5)
Men's Long Jump
1. Allen Gordon – 7.70m/25-03.25 (+1.4) – No. 2 NCAA, No. 1 East, No. 1 SEC
9. Torrence Tuberville – 6.24m/20-05.75 (+1.6)
Women's Hammer Throw
2. Shey Taiwo – 63.38m (207-11) – No. 4 NCAA, No. 2 East
5. Jasmine Mitchell – 58.38m (191-06) – No. 5 all-time
6. Jalani Davis – 58.31m (191-04) – No. 6 all-time
9. Deborah Bulai – 55.43m (181-10) – No. 9 all-time
Men's Hammer Throw
4. Joseph Benedetto – 64.60m (211-11) – No. 3 all-time, No. 5 NCAA, No. 4 East
9. Joseph Lanham – 55.79m (183-00) – No. 11 all-time
Women's Javelin Throw
12. Sara Van Aken – 34.31m (112-07)
14. Lauren Hoselton – 30.13m (98-10)
18. Meg Goebel – 16.06m (52-08)
Men's Javelin Throw
8. Luke Etherton – 54.65m (179-03) – No. 9 all-time
15. Pierce Genereux – 45.26m (148-06)
18. Peyton Lowery -- 34.51m (113-03)
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
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