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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Taiwo Sets World Lead at Superb First Day of Vanderbilt Invitational
1/21/2022 | Track and Field
Taiwo Becomes No. 7 Performer in NCAA History
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The women's weight throwers of Ole Miss track & field once again asserted themselves as one of the best units in the nation, with senior All-American Shey Taiwo setting the best mark in the world this season at a spectacular first day of the Vanderbilt Invitational on Friday night.
The weight throw competition featured the top-three throws in the world this year, and all three competitors have Ole Miss ties. Taiwo, a three-time NCAA qualifier in the weight throw indoors and the reigning NCAA hammer runner-up outdoors, set the current world lead after an incredible career showing Friday. For the second straight week her best throw came on her first attempt, this time a mammoth three-and-a-half foot PR of 24.11m/79-01.25 that beat out two-time reigning U.S. champ and former teammate, Ole Miss legend Janeah Stewart, by more than one foot at 23.77m/78-00.00 (No. 2 World).
"In all honesty, I wasn't really too worried about how far it was at first because it didn't feel good technically," Taiwo said. "Then, when I saw it come up on the board I was in shock. I knew I had those kinds of marks in me, but I was expecting them to come a whole lot later in the season."
The tale of the tape on Taiwo's throw tonight extends even further than the 79 feet, 1.25 inches it traveled. It falls just one centimeter shy of Stewart's 2018 school record 24.12m/79-01.75, but still makes her the No. 7 performer in NCAA history and No. 3 in SEC history. Additionally, her toss tonight stands as the second-best in NCAA history at this point of the indoor season, with the only throw better by this date or earlier coming from collegiate record holder Brittany Riley of Southern Illinois, who threw 24.23m/79-06.00 on Dec. 7, 2007. Riley set what was then the world record and still the current NCAA record of 25.56m/83-10.25 on March 10, 2007 while under the tutelage of Ole Miss head coach Connie Price-Smith and throws coach John Smith.
Fellow All-American and reigning SEC Champion, Jasmine Mitchell, also unleashed a massive career-best on Friday. Mitchell finished third behind Stewart at a one-foot PR of 23.62m/77-06.00, currently the third-best throw in the world and second-best in the NCAA behind Taiwo. Furthermore, her throw tonight makes her the 10th-best performer in NCAA history and fifth-best in SEC history, while also ranking third all-time at Ole Miss behind Stewart and Taiwo.
As a duo, Taiwo and Mitchell last year became the first pair in NCAA history to clear the 23-meter plateau within the same season, and tonight have become the first teammates in NCAA history to throw 77 feet or further within the same season – let alone the same meet. Furthermore, they are the only teammates within the current NCAA top-10 to have joined the ranks within the same year.
Junior Jalani Davis also had an excellent night in the weight throw, finishing fifth overall at a one-and-a-half foot PR of 21.29m/69-10.25 that moves her to No. 6 in Ole Miss history, as well as No. 12 in the world and No. 9 in the NCAA this season.
Remarkably, Taiwo's historic performance was not the only entry into the all-time NCAA record books for the Rebels on Friday. Senior Mario Garcia Romo, who next week is slated to be the lone collegian in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, demolished the Ole Miss record in the non-standard 1000-meter event, cruising to the event win at 2:20.12. That time bested Doug Smith's 1985 record of 2:24.68, and also puts Garcia Romo at No. 10 in NCAA history – the fastest time run nationally since Penn State's Brannon Kidder set the collegiate record on Jan. 16, 2016 (2:18.26). Cruz Culpepper also would have set a new school record, finishing runner-up at 2:20.66.
Both Ole Miss records in the 1000-meter race came tumbling down on Friday, as junior Loral Winn took care of business on the women's side. Winn finished third overall at 2:46.59, which dismantled Rachel Ellison's 2004 record of 2:54.20 by nearly eight seconds. Lydia van Dijk, in her first race on the track as a Rebel, also would have broken the record in fifth place at 2:48.48.
The Rebels claimed two more event wins on the day from Montel Johnson in the men's weight throw (19.40m/63-07.75) and from Chris Maxon in the men's 5K (14:27.89, PR). Nick Moulai finished runner-up to Maxon in that 5K race at 14:33.53.
Also earning a runner-up finish for Ole Miss on Friday was freshman Frankie Amore, who finished as the top collegian in the men's pole vault. Amore cleared a PR height of 4.95m/16-02.75, the ninth-best all-time at Ole Miss that puts him at No. 8 in the SEC this season and No. 2 among freshmen in the conference.
Action will resume at Vanderbilt on Saturday, with Day Two getting underway for the Rebels beginning at 11 a.m. CT with the men's shot put.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 200-Meter Dash
14. Kelly Rowe – 25.37
27. Toni Glatz – 25.91
Men's 200-Meter Dash
5. Tristyn Wooley – 21.87
8. Isaiah Teer – 21.98 – PR
Women's 1000-Meter
3. Loral Winn - 2:46.59 – School Record
5. Lydia van Dijk – 2:48.48
8. Morgan Claire Rose – 2:56.53
Men's 1000-Meter
1. Mario Garcia Romo – 2:20.12 – No. 10 NCAA History, School Record
2. Cruz Culpepper – 2:20.66
Men's 5K
1. Chris Maxon – 14:27.89 – PR
2. Nick Moulai – 14:33.53
Women's High Jump
4. Sara Van Aken – 1.70m/5-07.00 – SB, No. 8 SEC
11. Meg Goebel – 1.60m/5-03.00
13. LaRiah Shannon – 1.55m/5-01.00
Men's High Jump
3. Allen Gordon – 2.05m/6-08.75 – SB
7. Ukurugenzi Kojo – 1.90m/6-02.75
Men's Pole Vault
2. Frankie Amore – 4.95m/16-02.75 – PR, No. 9 all-time, No. 8 SEC, No. 2 SEC Freshmen
6. Ford Maberry – 4.65m/15-03.00 – PR
7. Pierce Genereux – 4.50m/14-09.00
Women's Long Jump
8. Sara Van Aken – 5.73m/18-09.75 – Indoor PR
15. Skye Gross – 5.51m/18-01.00 – SB
31. Meg Goebel – 4.96m/16-03.25 – Indoor PR
Men's Long Jump
6. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 7.29m/23-11.00
11. Torrence Tuberville – 6.55m/21-06.00
13. Luke Etherton – 5.81m/19-00.75
FOUL Allen Gordon
Women's Weight Throw
1. Shey Taiwo – 24.11m/79-01.25 – PR, No. 7 NCAA History, No. 3 SEC History, No. 2 Ole Miss History, No. 1 World, No. 1 U.S., No. 1 NCAA
3. Jasmine Mitchell – 23.62m/77-06.00 – PR, No. 10 NCAA History, No. 5 SEC History, No. 3 Ole Miss History, No. 3 World, No. 3 U.S., No. 2 NCAA
5. Jalani Davis – 21.29m/69-10.25 – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History, No. 9 NCAA, No. 12 World, No. 12 U.S.
9. Tedreauna Britt – 18.85m/61-10.25 – SB
10. Deborah Bulai – 18.61m/61-00.75
Men's Weight Throw
1. Montel Johnson – 19.40m/63-07.75
8. Joseph Benedetto – 17.71m/58-01.25
10. Mason Hickel – 17.26m/56-07.50 – PR
11. Costen Campion – 16.81m/55-02.00 – Ties PR
14. Joseph Lanham – 16.56m/54-04.00 – SB
Women's Pentathlon
Annie Strong – 2,223 Points, 13th Place
60-Meter Hurdles: 11th, 9.70 – 769 points – PR
High Jump: 11th, 1.45m/4-09.00 – 566 points
Shot Put: 5th, 9.51m/31-02.50 – 497 points
Long Jump: 14th, 4.35m/14-03.25 – 391 points – PR
800-Meter: 8th, 2:43.65 – 532 points
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
The weight throw competition featured the top-three throws in the world this year, and all three competitors have Ole Miss ties. Taiwo, a three-time NCAA qualifier in the weight throw indoors and the reigning NCAA hammer runner-up outdoors, set the current world lead after an incredible career showing Friday. For the second straight week her best throw came on her first attempt, this time a mammoth three-and-a-half foot PR of 24.11m/79-01.25 that beat out two-time reigning U.S. champ and former teammate, Ole Miss legend Janeah Stewart, by more than one foot at 23.77m/78-00.00 (No. 2 World).
"In all honesty, I wasn't really too worried about how far it was at first because it didn't feel good technically," Taiwo said. "Then, when I saw it come up on the board I was in shock. I knew I had those kinds of marks in me, but I was expecting them to come a whole lot later in the season."
The tale of the tape on Taiwo's throw tonight extends even further than the 79 feet, 1.25 inches it traveled. It falls just one centimeter shy of Stewart's 2018 school record 24.12m/79-01.75, but still makes her the No. 7 performer in NCAA history and No. 3 in SEC history. Additionally, her toss tonight stands as the second-best in NCAA history at this point of the indoor season, with the only throw better by this date or earlier coming from collegiate record holder Brittany Riley of Southern Illinois, who threw 24.23m/79-06.00 on Dec. 7, 2007. Riley set what was then the world record and still the current NCAA record of 25.56m/83-10.25 on March 10, 2007 while under the tutelage of Ole Miss head coach Connie Price-Smith and throws coach John Smith.
Fellow All-American and reigning SEC Champion, Jasmine Mitchell, also unleashed a massive career-best on Friday. Mitchell finished third behind Stewart at a one-foot PR of 23.62m/77-06.00, currently the third-best throw in the world and second-best in the NCAA behind Taiwo. Furthermore, her throw tonight makes her the 10th-best performer in NCAA history and fifth-best in SEC history, while also ranking third all-time at Ole Miss behind Stewart and Taiwo.
As a duo, Taiwo and Mitchell last year became the first pair in NCAA history to clear the 23-meter plateau within the same season, and tonight have become the first teammates in NCAA history to throw 77 feet or further within the same season – let alone the same meet. Furthermore, they are the only teammates within the current NCAA top-10 to have joined the ranks within the same year.
Junior Jalani Davis also had an excellent night in the weight throw, finishing fifth overall at a one-and-a-half foot PR of 21.29m/69-10.25 that moves her to No. 6 in Ole Miss history, as well as No. 12 in the world and No. 9 in the NCAA this season.
Remarkably, Taiwo's historic performance was not the only entry into the all-time NCAA record books for the Rebels on Friday. Senior Mario Garcia Romo, who next week is slated to be the lone collegian in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games, demolished the Ole Miss record in the non-standard 1000-meter event, cruising to the event win at 2:20.12. That time bested Doug Smith's 1985 record of 2:24.68, and also puts Garcia Romo at No. 10 in NCAA history – the fastest time run nationally since Penn State's Brannon Kidder set the collegiate record on Jan. 16, 2016 (2:18.26). Cruz Culpepper also would have set a new school record, finishing runner-up at 2:20.66.
Both Ole Miss records in the 1000-meter race came tumbling down on Friday, as junior Loral Winn took care of business on the women's side. Winn finished third overall at 2:46.59, which dismantled Rachel Ellison's 2004 record of 2:54.20 by nearly eight seconds. Lydia van Dijk, in her first race on the track as a Rebel, also would have broken the record in fifth place at 2:48.48.
The Rebels claimed two more event wins on the day from Montel Johnson in the men's weight throw (19.40m/63-07.75) and from Chris Maxon in the men's 5K (14:27.89, PR). Nick Moulai finished runner-up to Maxon in that 5K race at 14:33.53.
Also earning a runner-up finish for Ole Miss on Friday was freshman Frankie Amore, who finished as the top collegian in the men's pole vault. Amore cleared a PR height of 4.95m/16-02.75, the ninth-best all-time at Ole Miss that puts him at No. 8 in the SEC this season and No. 2 among freshmen in the conference.
Action will resume at Vanderbilt on Saturday, with Day Two getting underway for the Rebels beginning at 11 a.m. CT with the men's shot put.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 200-Meter Dash
14. Kelly Rowe – 25.37
27. Toni Glatz – 25.91
Men's 200-Meter Dash
5. Tristyn Wooley – 21.87
8. Isaiah Teer – 21.98 – PR
Women's 1000-Meter
3. Loral Winn - 2:46.59 – School Record
5. Lydia van Dijk – 2:48.48
8. Morgan Claire Rose – 2:56.53
Men's 1000-Meter
1. Mario Garcia Romo – 2:20.12 – No. 10 NCAA History, School Record
2. Cruz Culpepper – 2:20.66
Men's 5K
1. Chris Maxon – 14:27.89 – PR
2. Nick Moulai – 14:33.53
Women's High Jump
4. Sara Van Aken – 1.70m/5-07.00 – SB, No. 8 SEC
11. Meg Goebel – 1.60m/5-03.00
13. LaRiah Shannon – 1.55m/5-01.00
Men's High Jump
3. Allen Gordon – 2.05m/6-08.75 – SB
7. Ukurugenzi Kojo – 1.90m/6-02.75
Men's Pole Vault
2. Frankie Amore – 4.95m/16-02.75 – PR, No. 9 all-time, No. 8 SEC, No. 2 SEC Freshmen
6. Ford Maberry – 4.65m/15-03.00 – PR
7. Pierce Genereux – 4.50m/14-09.00
Women's Long Jump
8. Sara Van Aken – 5.73m/18-09.75 – Indoor PR
15. Skye Gross – 5.51m/18-01.00 – SB
31. Meg Goebel – 4.96m/16-03.25 – Indoor PR
Men's Long Jump
6. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 7.29m/23-11.00
11. Torrence Tuberville – 6.55m/21-06.00
13. Luke Etherton – 5.81m/19-00.75
FOUL Allen Gordon
Women's Weight Throw
1. Shey Taiwo – 24.11m/79-01.25 – PR, No. 7 NCAA History, No. 3 SEC History, No. 2 Ole Miss History, No. 1 World, No. 1 U.S., No. 1 NCAA
3. Jasmine Mitchell – 23.62m/77-06.00 – PR, No. 10 NCAA History, No. 5 SEC History, No. 3 Ole Miss History, No. 3 World, No. 3 U.S., No. 2 NCAA
5. Jalani Davis – 21.29m/69-10.25 – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History, No. 9 NCAA, No. 12 World, No. 12 U.S.
9. Tedreauna Britt – 18.85m/61-10.25 – SB
10. Deborah Bulai – 18.61m/61-00.75
Men's Weight Throw
1. Montel Johnson – 19.40m/63-07.75
8. Joseph Benedetto – 17.71m/58-01.25
10. Mason Hickel – 17.26m/56-07.50 – PR
11. Costen Campion – 16.81m/55-02.00 – Ties PR
14. Joseph Lanham – 16.56m/54-04.00 – SB
Women's Pentathlon
Annie Strong – 2,223 Points, 13th Place
60-Meter Hurdles: 11th, 9.70 – 769 points – PR
High Jump: 11th, 1.45m/4-09.00 – 566 points
Shot Put: 5th, 9.51m/31-02.50 – 497 points
Long Jump: 14th, 4.35m/14-03.25 – 391 points – PR
800-Meter: 8th, 2:43.65 – 532 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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Multi
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