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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Four School Records Fall for Track & Field Across Meets at Vanderbilt, Arkansas
2/11/2022 | Track and Field
<i class="icon-stats"></i> Results (Vanderbilt)<i class="icon-stats"></i> Results (Arkansas)<i class="icon-pencil"></i> Preview & Links
Shey Taiwo Improved Her World Lead in the Women’s Weight Throw
NASHVILLE, Tenn. / FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Ole Miss men's and women's track & field toppled four school records and made or altered three marks on the NCAA all-time lists following an electric first day of action at both Vanderbilt's Music City Challenge and Arkansas' Tyson Invitational on Friday night.
Senior All-American and Bowerman Award Watch List member Shey Taiwo continued to prove herself as one of the best weight throwers in the history of the world and as one of the greatest all-around collegiate athletes this season, again launching a 25-meter throw in yet another historic evening of competition. Taiwo won the invitational section of the weight throw by nearly four feet over former teammate and two-time reigning U.S. champ Janeah Stewart (23.98m/78-08.25), unleashing a mammoth new world-leading 25.19m/82-07.75 in the fourth round for the win.
That registers as a six-inch PR over what was already a historic toss of 25.02m/82-1 at the Indiana Relays two weeks ago that put her at No. 2 in NCAA history. Taiwo's 25.19m/82-07.75 improves upon her place at No. 2 in collegiate history with the third-best throw ever in the NCAA, now trailing only Brittany Riley's collegiate record 25.56m/83-10.25 from 2007 and her second-best 25.34m/83-01.75 in 2008 – both of which won her an NCAA title while under the tutelage of Ole Miss head coach Connie Price-Smith and throws coach John Smith while at Southern Illinois.
Additionally, Taiwo's latest feat from tonight ranks as the seventh-best throw in world history and moves her past Stewart's 25.08m/82-03.50 from 2020 to take sole possession of third on the all-time world list in the weight throw – now only trailing former Ole Miss volunteer assistant coach Gwen Berry's 2017 world record of 25.60m/84-0 and Riley's aforementioned 2007 collegiate record.
Teammate and fellow All-American Jasmine Mitchell was also in the invitational section, finishing fourth overall and as the second-best collegian behind Taiwo at 22.80m/74-09.75.
The Rebels also received a superb performance from junior Jalani Davis in the open section of the women's weight throw, where she won at a huge five-foot PR of 22.96m/75-4. That throw launches Davis up to No. 18 all-time in NCAA history and No. 4 in Ole Miss history, as well as No. 9 in the world in 2022. Combined with Taiwo (No. 2 NCAA history) and Mitchell (No. 11 NCAA history, 23.62m/77-6), Ole Miss is now the first team in NCAA history with three throwers beyond 75 feet, and all within the same season.
All-American senior Mario Garcia Romo, fresh off an impressive race as the lone collegian in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile, threw down a historic time in his first mile race against collegiate competitors this season. Garcia Romo took his momentum from Millrose, where he beat out a group of eight professionals that included four Olympians, and translated that to the oversized track at Vanderbilt on Friday night, shattering the Ole Miss record in the mile at 3:53.36.
That time registers as a three-second PR for Garcia Romo over his previous best 3:56.46 ran nearly one year ago to the day at Vanderbilt, and it also takes down All-American Waleed Suliman's record of 3:55.60 from the same meet last year. Additionally, Garcia Romo's time ranks as the best in NCAA history run on an oversized track, toppling the previous best 3:53.89 set by Washington's Izaic Yorks on UW's track in 2016. If run on a regulation track, Garcia Romo's time would make him the No. 6 performer in NCAA history and the fastest SEC miler of all time.
Garcia Romo was one of 10 sub-four milers, and for the first time in NCAA history, three collegiate runners broke 3:55 in the same race: Garcia Romo (3:53.36), Alabama's Eliud Kipsang (3:54.36) and Illinois' Jonathan Davis (3:54.59).
Three total Ole Miss runners broke the historic barrier, the third straight meet at least three Rebel men have done so at Vanderbilt after notching four at the 2021 Music City Challenge and three just a few weeks ago at the 2022 Vanderbilt Invitational. James Young finished fifth at his second sub-4 in as many tries at 3:55.20, which now ranks second all-time at Ole Miss behind Garcia Romo and would have also broken Suliman's record. Shane Bracken also claimed his second consecutive sub-4, finishing ninth at 3:57.57 – the fourth-best ever at Ole Miss.
Another Ole Miss record came tumbling down at Vanderbilt courtesy of Skylar Boogerd in the women's 5K, who ran an 11-second overall PR in her first career indoor 5K, finishing fifth at 16:11.04 to take down Mary Alex England's 2017 record of 16:12.67.
Other Rebel distance runners excelling at Vanderbilt included Loral Winn, who finished sixth in the women's mile at a six-second PR of 4:39.83 (No. 2 Ole Miss history), and reigning SEC 5K champion Cole Bullock, who claimed victory and clocked a PR in his first 5K attempt of the season at 13:48.01 (No. 3 Ole Miss history).
Over at Arkansas' Tyson Invitational, the dynamic Rebel pole vaulting duo of junior Lyndsey Reed and Samara McConnell both had incredible days, with both tying for the Ole Miss record on Friday night. Just one meet after Reed set the indoor record at 4.31m/14-02.75, both her and McConnell needed only one attempt each to shatter it at 4.34m/14-02.75.
For both, that registers as an overall career best across the indoor and outdoor seasons. On account of total misses at earlier heights, Reed technically finished as the runner-up while McConnell was the third-place finisher.
Ole Miss also had some success on the track at Arkansas, sending four through to the next round in the short sprints and hurdles.
In the men's 60-meter hurdles qualifying, Rebel newcomers Keirston Paige (second, 7.85) and Ahmad Young Jr. (sixth, 7.92) both set PRs to advance and improve on their standing as the sixth and seventh-best hurdlers in Ole Miss history, respectively. In the prelims to follow, Paige took 12th at 7.91, while Young Jr. again tied his PR at 7.92 to finish 15th.
In the women's 60-meter dash qualifying, sophomore Olivia Womack ran a PR of 7.50 to finish fourth – which puts her into a tie for 15th-best in Ole Miss history. Ariyonna Augustine was right behind her in fifth, also punching her ticket to the next round after running 7.54.
In the prelims, Augustine finished 13th overall at 7.52, while Womack was 14th at 7.54.
Action resumes for the Rebel squads at both meets on Saturday morning, with live streams available for fans to watch at both meets via SEC Network+.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (MUSIC CITY CHALLENGE)
Men's 600-Meter
2. Jacob Lough – 1:19.90
Women's Mile
6. Loral Winn – 4:39.83 – 6-second PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History
Men's Mile
1. Mario Garcia Romo – 3:53.36 – 3-second PR, School Record, No. 1 NCAA History on oversized tracks
5. James Young – 3:55.20 – 2-second PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History
9. Shane Bracken – 3:57.57 – PR, No. 4 Ole Miss History
34. Cruz Culpepper – 4:09.61
Women's 5K
5. Skylar Boogerd – 16:11.04 – School Record (first career indoor 5K), 11-second overall PR
24. Cate Tracht – 17:11.43
25. Brooke Gilmore – 17:13.59
Men's 5K
1. Cole Bullock – 13:48.01 – PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
Women's Weight Throw (Invitational)
1. Shey Taiwo – 25.19m/82-07.75 – 6-inch PR, No. 2 NCAA History (3rd-best throw), No. 3 World/U.S. History (7th-best throw), SEC Record, Ole Miss Record, 2022 No. 1 World/U.S./NCAA
4. Jasmine Mitchell – 22.80m/74-09.75
Women's Weight Throw (Open)
1. Jalani Davis – 22.96m/75-04.00 – 5-foot PR, No. 18 NCAA History, No. 4 Ole Miss History
5. Tedreauna Britt – 20.05m/65-09.50 – 2.5-foot PR, No. 8 Ole Miss History
8. Deborah Bulai – 19.36m/63-06.25 – SB
Men's Weight Throw (Invitational)
7. Montel Johnson – 19.61m/64-04.00
Men's Weight Throw (Open)
9. Joseph Lanham – 17.66m/57-11.25 – SB
16. Costen Campion – 16.69m/54-09.25
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (TYSON INVITATIONAL)
Women's 60-Meter Dash Qualifying
4. Olivia Womack – 7.50 – PR, T-No. 15 Ole Miss History
5. Ariyonna Augustine – 7.54
Women's 60-Meter Dash Prelims
13. Ariyonna Augustine – 7.52
14. Olivia Womack – 7.54
Men's 60-Meter Dash Qualifying
16. Ryan Star – 6.87
23. Isaiah Teer – 6.94
30. Peyton Lowery – 7.35 – PR
31. Luke Etherton – 7.50 – SB
32. Pierce Genereux – 7.63
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles Qualifying
17. Meg Goebel – 9.06
19. LaRiah Shannon – 9.23
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles Qualifying
2. Keirston Paige – 7.85q – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History
6. Ahmad Young Jr. – 7.92q – PR, No. 7 Ole Miss History
10. Kenney Broadnax – 8.05
15. Spencer Brown – 8.20
25. Pierce Genereux – 9.28
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
12. Keirston Paige – 7.91
15. Ahmad Young Jr. – 7.92 – Tied PR, No. 7 Ole Miss History
Women's Pole Vault
2. Lyndsey Reed – 4.34m/14-02.75 – Overall PR, School Record, No. 12 NCAA
3. Samara McConnell – 4.34m/14-02.75 – Overall PR, School Record, No. 12 NCAA
11. Alex Brooks – 3.89m/12-09.00
Women's Long Jump
25. Skye Gross – 5.65m/18-06.50
26. Sara Van Aken – 5.61m/18-05.00
33. Kyla McLaurin – 5.36m/17-07.00
Men's Long Jump
3. Allen Gordon – 7.65m/25-01.25 – SB
18. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 7.13m/23-04.75
23. Peyton Lowery – 6.34m/20-09.75 – SB
25. Spencer Brown – 6.23m/20-05.25
26. Luke Etherton – 5.69m/18-08.00
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Senior All-American and Bowerman Award Watch List member Shey Taiwo continued to prove herself as one of the best weight throwers in the history of the world and as one of the greatest all-around collegiate athletes this season, again launching a 25-meter throw in yet another historic evening of competition. Taiwo won the invitational section of the weight throw by nearly four feet over former teammate and two-time reigning U.S. champ Janeah Stewart (23.98m/78-08.25), unleashing a mammoth new world-leading 25.19m/82-07.75 in the fourth round for the win.
That registers as a six-inch PR over what was already a historic toss of 25.02m/82-1 at the Indiana Relays two weeks ago that put her at No. 2 in NCAA history. Taiwo's 25.19m/82-07.75 improves upon her place at No. 2 in collegiate history with the third-best throw ever in the NCAA, now trailing only Brittany Riley's collegiate record 25.56m/83-10.25 from 2007 and her second-best 25.34m/83-01.75 in 2008 – both of which won her an NCAA title while under the tutelage of Ole Miss head coach Connie Price-Smith and throws coach John Smith while at Southern Illinois.
Additionally, Taiwo's latest feat from tonight ranks as the seventh-best throw in world history and moves her past Stewart's 25.08m/82-03.50 from 2020 to take sole possession of third on the all-time world list in the weight throw – now only trailing former Ole Miss volunteer assistant coach Gwen Berry's 2017 world record of 25.60m/84-0 and Riley's aforementioned 2007 collegiate record.
Teammate and fellow All-American Jasmine Mitchell was also in the invitational section, finishing fourth overall and as the second-best collegian behind Taiwo at 22.80m/74-09.75.
The Rebels also received a superb performance from junior Jalani Davis in the open section of the women's weight throw, where she won at a huge five-foot PR of 22.96m/75-4. That throw launches Davis up to No. 18 all-time in NCAA history and No. 4 in Ole Miss history, as well as No. 9 in the world in 2022. Combined with Taiwo (No. 2 NCAA history) and Mitchell (No. 11 NCAA history, 23.62m/77-6), Ole Miss is now the first team in NCAA history with three throwers beyond 75 feet, and all within the same season.
All-American senior Mario Garcia Romo, fresh off an impressive race as the lone collegian in the prestigious Wanamaker Mile, threw down a historic time in his first mile race against collegiate competitors this season. Garcia Romo took his momentum from Millrose, where he beat out a group of eight professionals that included four Olympians, and translated that to the oversized track at Vanderbilt on Friday night, shattering the Ole Miss record in the mile at 3:53.36.
That time registers as a three-second PR for Garcia Romo over his previous best 3:56.46 ran nearly one year ago to the day at Vanderbilt, and it also takes down All-American Waleed Suliman's record of 3:55.60 from the same meet last year. Additionally, Garcia Romo's time ranks as the best in NCAA history run on an oversized track, toppling the previous best 3:53.89 set by Washington's Izaic Yorks on UW's track in 2016. If run on a regulation track, Garcia Romo's time would make him the No. 6 performer in NCAA history and the fastest SEC miler of all time.
Garcia Romo was one of 10 sub-four milers, and for the first time in NCAA history, three collegiate runners broke 3:55 in the same race: Garcia Romo (3:53.36), Alabama's Eliud Kipsang (3:54.36) and Illinois' Jonathan Davis (3:54.59).
Three total Ole Miss runners broke the historic barrier, the third straight meet at least three Rebel men have done so at Vanderbilt after notching four at the 2021 Music City Challenge and three just a few weeks ago at the 2022 Vanderbilt Invitational. James Young finished fifth at his second sub-4 in as many tries at 3:55.20, which now ranks second all-time at Ole Miss behind Garcia Romo and would have also broken Suliman's record. Shane Bracken also claimed his second consecutive sub-4, finishing ninth at 3:57.57 – the fourth-best ever at Ole Miss.
Another Ole Miss record came tumbling down at Vanderbilt courtesy of Skylar Boogerd in the women's 5K, who ran an 11-second overall PR in her first career indoor 5K, finishing fifth at 16:11.04 to take down Mary Alex England's 2017 record of 16:12.67.
Other Rebel distance runners excelling at Vanderbilt included Loral Winn, who finished sixth in the women's mile at a six-second PR of 4:39.83 (No. 2 Ole Miss history), and reigning SEC 5K champion Cole Bullock, who claimed victory and clocked a PR in his first 5K attempt of the season at 13:48.01 (No. 3 Ole Miss history).
Over at Arkansas' Tyson Invitational, the dynamic Rebel pole vaulting duo of junior Lyndsey Reed and Samara McConnell both had incredible days, with both tying for the Ole Miss record on Friday night. Just one meet after Reed set the indoor record at 4.31m/14-02.75, both her and McConnell needed only one attempt each to shatter it at 4.34m/14-02.75.
For both, that registers as an overall career best across the indoor and outdoor seasons. On account of total misses at earlier heights, Reed technically finished as the runner-up while McConnell was the third-place finisher.
Ole Miss also had some success on the track at Arkansas, sending four through to the next round in the short sprints and hurdles.
In the men's 60-meter hurdles qualifying, Rebel newcomers Keirston Paige (second, 7.85) and Ahmad Young Jr. (sixth, 7.92) both set PRs to advance and improve on their standing as the sixth and seventh-best hurdlers in Ole Miss history, respectively. In the prelims to follow, Paige took 12th at 7.91, while Young Jr. again tied his PR at 7.92 to finish 15th.
In the women's 60-meter dash qualifying, sophomore Olivia Womack ran a PR of 7.50 to finish fourth – which puts her into a tie for 15th-best in Ole Miss history. Ariyonna Augustine was right behind her in fifth, also punching her ticket to the next round after running 7.54.
In the prelims, Augustine finished 13th overall at 7.52, while Womack was 14th at 7.54.
Action resumes for the Rebel squads at both meets on Saturday morning, with live streams available for fans to watch at both meets via SEC Network+.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (MUSIC CITY CHALLENGE)
Men's 600-Meter
2. Jacob Lough – 1:19.90
Women's Mile
6. Loral Winn – 4:39.83 – 6-second PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History
Men's Mile
1. Mario Garcia Romo – 3:53.36 – 3-second PR, School Record, No. 1 NCAA History on oversized tracks
5. James Young – 3:55.20 – 2-second PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History
9. Shane Bracken – 3:57.57 – PR, No. 4 Ole Miss History
34. Cruz Culpepper – 4:09.61
Women's 5K
5. Skylar Boogerd – 16:11.04 – School Record (first career indoor 5K), 11-second overall PR
24. Cate Tracht – 17:11.43
25. Brooke Gilmore – 17:13.59
Men's 5K
1. Cole Bullock – 13:48.01 – PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
Women's Weight Throw (Invitational)
1. Shey Taiwo – 25.19m/82-07.75 – 6-inch PR, No. 2 NCAA History (3rd-best throw), No. 3 World/U.S. History (7th-best throw), SEC Record, Ole Miss Record, 2022 No. 1 World/U.S./NCAA
4. Jasmine Mitchell – 22.80m/74-09.75
Women's Weight Throw (Open)
1. Jalani Davis – 22.96m/75-04.00 – 5-foot PR, No. 18 NCAA History, No. 4 Ole Miss History
5. Tedreauna Britt – 20.05m/65-09.50 – 2.5-foot PR, No. 8 Ole Miss History
8. Deborah Bulai – 19.36m/63-06.25 – SB
Men's Weight Throw (Invitational)
7. Montel Johnson – 19.61m/64-04.00
Men's Weight Throw (Open)
9. Joseph Lanham – 17.66m/57-11.25 – SB
16. Costen Campion – 16.69m/54-09.25
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (TYSON INVITATIONAL)
Women's 60-Meter Dash Qualifying
4. Olivia Womack – 7.50 – PR, T-No. 15 Ole Miss History
5. Ariyonna Augustine – 7.54
Women's 60-Meter Dash Prelims
13. Ariyonna Augustine – 7.52
14. Olivia Womack – 7.54
Men's 60-Meter Dash Qualifying
16. Ryan Star – 6.87
23. Isaiah Teer – 6.94
30. Peyton Lowery – 7.35 – PR
31. Luke Etherton – 7.50 – SB
32. Pierce Genereux – 7.63
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles Qualifying
17. Meg Goebel – 9.06
19. LaRiah Shannon – 9.23
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles Qualifying
2. Keirston Paige – 7.85q – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History
6. Ahmad Young Jr. – 7.92q – PR, No. 7 Ole Miss History
10. Kenney Broadnax – 8.05
15. Spencer Brown – 8.20
25. Pierce Genereux – 9.28
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
12. Keirston Paige – 7.91
15. Ahmad Young Jr. – 7.92 – Tied PR, No. 7 Ole Miss History
Women's Pole Vault
2. Lyndsey Reed – 4.34m/14-02.75 – Overall PR, School Record, No. 12 NCAA
3. Samara McConnell – 4.34m/14-02.75 – Overall PR, School Record, No. 12 NCAA
11. Alex Brooks – 3.89m/12-09.00
Women's Long Jump
25. Skye Gross – 5.65m/18-06.50
26. Sara Van Aken – 5.61m/18-05.00
33. Kyla McLaurin – 5.36m/17-07.00
Men's Long Jump
3. Allen Gordon – 7.65m/25-01.25 – SB
18. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 7.13m/23-04.75
23. Peyton Lowery – 6.34m/20-09.75 – SB
25. Spencer Brown – 6.23m/20-05.25
26. Luke Etherton – 5.69m/18-08.00
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
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