The University of Mississippi Athletics

Ole Miss DMR’s, Weight Throwers Dominate at Day One of SEC Indoor Championships
2/26/2022 | Track and Field
Rebel Women Win First DMR, Ole Miss Completes First SEC DMR Sweep Since 2007
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Ole Miss track & field won its fifth women's weight throw title in the last six years and continued its ascension as the distance power of the conference, adding its first-ever women's DMR title alongside its fourth-straight men's crown at a successful first day of the 2022 SEC Indoor Championships at Texas A&M on Friday.
The Rebels came away with three SEC titles and five medals on a superb open to the championship meet, but it was that women's win in the distance medley relay that made history and stole the show. Ole Miss, which entering Friday had only medaled in the women's edition once (2017, bronze) and hadn't even scored in the event until 2008, broke the SEC meet record at its winning time of 10:56.39 – resetting the Ole Miss record for the second time in as many weeks.
The quartet of Anna Elkin (1200-meter; 3:24.71), Jayda Eckford (400-meter; 55.09), Loral Winn (800-meter; 2:06.38) and Sintayehu Vissa (mile; 4:30.23) ran an almost identical race to that previous school record of 10:57.76 run at Notre Dame last week, and were in solid tactical position when Winn handed the baton off to Vissa for the anchor leg. But the All-American Vissa – who ran 4:40.85 in the women's mile prelim just hours earlier – took the stick with gusto, ripping off a blistering 4:30.23 mile on the anchor to help speed the Rebels to history.
Vissa and this group are used to making rewriting the record books. She and Winn were on the first-ever national qualifying women's DMR in program history that finished eighth in 2021 for First-Team All-America honors, and this past cross country season those two, along with Elkin, were part of the program record NCAA 10th-place Rebel women's cross country team that was led by Vissa becoming the first women's cross country All-American in Ole Miss history.
In addition to setting the SEC meet record and the school record, that time makes Ole Miss the No. 12 performer in NCAA history with the 28th-fastest time ever run. It also puts the Rebels at No. 3 on the NCAA list for this season.
The Ole Miss men are no strangers to the top of the podium in the distance medley relay, and the Rebels reasserted itself back at the top after winning its fourth consecutive men's DMR crown and its eighth in its last nine tries dating back to 2014. The incredibly deep Rebel roster set out a brand-new lineup for the DMR on Friday night, putting Cade Bethmann on the opening 1200-meter leg (2:55.70), Jacob Lough on the 400-meter (49.38), Marcus Dropik on the 800-meter (1:49.21) and All-American stalwart Mario Garcia Romo on the mile anchor (3:56.04).
That newness mattered little, as the Rebels ran a confident race to win by more than a second at 9:30.32 – the fourth-best time in school history and just off the SEC meet record 9:29.35 set by Ole Miss in 2021. Once the baton was in Garcia Romo's hand, the world-class miler cruised the Rebels to victory with another rapid anchor leg.
This is the second time Ole Miss has won four DMR titles in a row, having done so from 2014-17 before a loss to Arkansas in 2018, and its run of eight of the last nine is now tied for the best in conference history with an exactly similar run by Arkansas from 1997-2005 – with the Razorbacks' lone loss coming in 2003 to Florida.
Combined, this is the first time a school has swept the men's and women's DMR in the same championship since 2007 (Tennessee), and it marks just the seventh time it has ever happened in conference history, joining 1986 Alabama, 1989 Kentucky, 1998 Arkansas, 2000 Arkansas, 2001 Arkansas and 2007 Tennessee.
Ole Miss also continued an impressive streak in the women's weight throw, with All-American junior Jasmine Mitchell successfully defending her SEC title over her teammate and world leader, Shey Taiwo – the fifth Rebel win in the last six seasons. Mitchell wasted no time, launching a new facility record on her opening toss of 23.43m/76-10.50, which ended up besting Taiwo by nearly 10 inches in the end.
This is the second SEC title and third medal in the weight throw for Mitchell, who ranks No. 11 in NCAA history at her PR earlier this season at 23.62m/77-6. Mitchell is the sixth thrower in SEC history to repeat as the women's weight champion, and the first since Rebel great (and current Ole Miss volunteer coach) Janeah Stewart went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. The streak of five of the last six weight throw wins for the Rebel women is only the second such streak in SEC history since Florida won five in a row from 2001-05.
Taiwo took runner-up to her teammate for the second straight season at 23.18m/76-00.75, her third career SEC medal in the event after winning the SEC title in 2020. Taiwo currently holds the world lead in the weight throw at 25.19m/82-07.75, the third-best throw ever by a collegian and the seventh-best in the history of the world.
Taiwo and Mitchell will hold a powerful one-two punch at the NCAA Championships in two weeks, along with junior Jalani Davis, who scored in fourth place on Friday night at 22.43m/73-07.25. In total, Ole Miss scored a whopping 23 points from the women's weight throw alone on Friday.
Davis ranks fourth in the NCAA at her career-best 22.96m/75-4, which ranks her No. 18 in NCAA history. With Taiwo (No. 2), Mitchell (No. 11) and Davis (No. 18), Ole Miss became the first school with at least three 75-foot throwers in NCAA history – all within the same season, and without counting Janeah Stewart's 24.12m/79-01.75 from 2018 that ranks No. 7 all-time.
Junior Cole Bullock notched his third career SEC medal in the 5K, earning a silver medal at 13:57.48. Bullock, who was the defending SEC Champion, originally took bronze but was moved up to silver after a disqualification. Dereck Elkins joined Bullock in scoring with a fifth-place finish at a PR 14:06.94, the No. 12 time in program history.
Also scoring for Ole Miss over in the women's 5K was Skylar Boogerd, who finished eighth at 16:15.55.
Ole Miss put itself in strong position for Day Two as well, advancing seven through to finals on the track after qualifying performances on Friday.
Prior to her winning anchor leg on the DMR, Vissa cruised to an automatic qualifier spot in the women's mile, winning her heat at the top qualifying time of 4:40.85.
In the men's mile, Cruz Culpepper had the top qualifying time at a season-best 4:01.33 to punch his AQ ticket to Saturday's final. James Young earned a time qualifier spot at 4:01.70, and Shane Bracken was able to notch an AQ spot based on heat finish at 4:01.75.
The Rebel men also moved two through in the men's 800-meter, with newcomer Tiarnan Crorken earning a time qualifier spot at 1:49.43, and All-American senior John Rivera Jr. cruising to an AQ spot at 1:50.96.
In the men's 60-meter hurdles, Keirston Paige continued to prove consistently sharp, clocking the seventh-best qualifying time at 7.89 to earn a time qualifier spot to Saturday's final.
Action at the second and final day of the 2022 SEC Indoor Championships is set to resume for Ole Miss at 1:15 p.m. CT with the women's high jump.
Day One Women's Team Scores (Through Five Events)
1. #2 Florida – 39
2. #7 Ole Miss – 34
3. #16 Tennessee – 20
4. #24 Alabama – 19
4. #3 Arkansas – 19
6. #5 Kentucky – 16
7. Mississippi State – 12
7. #8 Texas A&M – 12
9. Auburn – 11
10. Georgia – 5
10. #4 LSU – 5
12. Missouri – 3
-- #23 South Carolina
-- Vanderbilt
Day One Men's Team Scores (Through Five Events)
1. #1 Arkansas – 37.5
2. #6 Alabama – 27
3. #17 Ole Miss – 22
4. #4 Georgia – 18
4. #11 Tennessee – 18
6. #9 Kentucky – 15.5
7. #25 Texas A&M – 15
8. Auburn – 14
9. #10 Florida – 11
10. #21 LSU – 8
11. Mississippi State – 6
12. Missouri – 3
-- South Carolina
Day One Medalists
Women's Distance Medley Relay (Elkin, Eckford, Winn, Vissa), Gold Medal
Men's Distance Medley Relay (Bethmann, Lough, Dropik, Garcia Romo), Gold Medal
Jasmine Mitchell – Women's Weight Throw, Gold Medal
Cole Bullock – Men's 5K, Silver Medal
Shey Taiwo – Women's Weight Throw, Silver Medal
Other Day One Scorers
Jalani Davis – Women's Weight Throw, 4th Place
Dereck Elkins – Men's 5K, 5th Place
Skylar Boogerd – Women's 5K, 8th Place
Day One Finals Qualifiers
Shane Bracken – Men's Mile
Tiarnan Crorken – Men's 800-Meter
Cruz Culpepper – Men's Mile
Keirston Paige – Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
John Rivera Jr. – Men's 800-Meter
Sintayehu Vissa – Women's Mile
James Young – Men's Mile
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 60-Meter Dash Prelim
22. Olivia Womack – 7.55
Men's 60-Meter Dash Prelim
16. Ryan Star – 6.81
Women's 200-Meter Dash Prelim
17. Ariyonna Augustine – 23.69 – SB, No. 5 Ole Miss History
28. Olivia Womack – 24.69
Men's 200-Meter Dash Prelim
9. Elijah Dryer – 21.00 – PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History
Men's 800-Meter Prelim
3. Tiarnan Crorken – 1:49.43 (q)
10. John Rivera Jr. – 1:50.96 (AQ)
23. Baylor Franklin – 1:57.55
Women's Mile Prelim
1. Sintayehu Vissa – 4:40.85 (AQ)
Men's Mile Prelim
1. Cruz Culpepper – 4:01.33 (AQ) – SB
4. James Young – 4:01.70 (q)
5. Shane Bracken – 4:01.75 (AQ)
16. Everett Smulders – 4:06.61
Women's 5K Final
8. Skylar Boogerd – 16:15.55
14. Kristel van den Berg – 16:41.84
19. Cate Tracht – 17:09.47
24. Brooke Gilmore – 17:17.08
Men's 5K Final
2. Cole Bullock – 13:57.48
5. Dereck Elkins – 14:06.94 – PR, No. 12 Ole Miss History
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles Prelim
7. Keirston Paige – 7.89 (q)
14. Spencer Brown – 8.03
15. Ahmad Young Jr. – 8.04
17. Kenney Broadnax – 8.21
Women's Distance Medley Relay
1. Anna Elkin, Jayda Eckford, Loral Winn, Sintayehu Vissa – 10:56.39 – SEC Meet Record, School Record, No. 3 NCAA, No. 12 NCAA History (28th-fastest time)
Splits:
Anna Elkin (1200m) – 3:24.71
Jayda Eckford (400m) – 55.09
Loral Winn (800m) – 2:06.38
Sintayehu Vissa (Mile) – 4:30.23
Men's Distance Medley Relay
1. Cade Bethmann, Jacob Lough, Marcus Dropik, Mario Garcia Romo – 9:30.32 – No. 4 Ole Miss History
Splits:
Cade Bethmann (1200m) – 2:55.70
Jacob Lough (400m) – 49.38
Marcus Dropik (800m) – 1:49.21
Mario Garcia Romo (Mile) – 3:56.04
Men's Pole Vault Final
T15. Frankie Amore – 4.85m/15-11
Men's Long Jump Final
17. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 6.73m/22-1
18. Spencer Brown – 6.55m/21-6
Women's Weight Throw Final
1. Jasmine Mitchell – 23.43m/76-10.50 – Facility Record
2. Shey Taiwo – 23.18m/76-00.75
4. Jalani Davis – 22.43m/73-07.25
11. Deborah Bulai – 19.31m/63-04.25
Men's Weight Throw Final
10. Montel Johnson – 18.91m/62-00.50
Women's Pentathlon
Sara Van Aken – 3,850 Points, 9th Place – PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
60-Meter Hurdles: 16th, 9.11 – 887 points – PR
High Jump: 5th, 1.73m/5-8 – 891 points – SB
Shot Put: 7th, 11.79m/38-08.25 – 647 points – PR
Long Jump: 10th, 5.61m/18-5 – 732 points
800-Meter: 11th, 2:29.98 – 693 points – PR
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
The Rebels came away with three SEC titles and five medals on a superb open to the championship meet, but it was that women's win in the distance medley relay that made history and stole the show. Ole Miss, which entering Friday had only medaled in the women's edition once (2017, bronze) and hadn't even scored in the event until 2008, broke the SEC meet record at its winning time of 10:56.39 – resetting the Ole Miss record for the second time in as many weeks.
The quartet of Anna Elkin (1200-meter; 3:24.71), Jayda Eckford (400-meter; 55.09), Loral Winn (800-meter; 2:06.38) and Sintayehu Vissa (mile; 4:30.23) ran an almost identical race to that previous school record of 10:57.76 run at Notre Dame last week, and were in solid tactical position when Winn handed the baton off to Vissa for the anchor leg. But the All-American Vissa – who ran 4:40.85 in the women's mile prelim just hours earlier – took the stick with gusto, ripping off a blistering 4:30.23 mile on the anchor to help speed the Rebels to history.
Vissa and this group are used to making rewriting the record books. She and Winn were on the first-ever national qualifying women's DMR in program history that finished eighth in 2021 for First-Team All-America honors, and this past cross country season those two, along with Elkin, were part of the program record NCAA 10th-place Rebel women's cross country team that was led by Vissa becoming the first women's cross country All-American in Ole Miss history.
In addition to setting the SEC meet record and the school record, that time makes Ole Miss the No. 12 performer in NCAA history with the 28th-fastest time ever run. It also puts the Rebels at No. 3 on the NCAA list for this season.
The Ole Miss men are no strangers to the top of the podium in the distance medley relay, and the Rebels reasserted itself back at the top after winning its fourth consecutive men's DMR crown and its eighth in its last nine tries dating back to 2014. The incredibly deep Rebel roster set out a brand-new lineup for the DMR on Friday night, putting Cade Bethmann on the opening 1200-meter leg (2:55.70), Jacob Lough on the 400-meter (49.38), Marcus Dropik on the 800-meter (1:49.21) and All-American stalwart Mario Garcia Romo on the mile anchor (3:56.04).
That newness mattered little, as the Rebels ran a confident race to win by more than a second at 9:30.32 – the fourth-best time in school history and just off the SEC meet record 9:29.35 set by Ole Miss in 2021. Once the baton was in Garcia Romo's hand, the world-class miler cruised the Rebels to victory with another rapid anchor leg.
This is the second time Ole Miss has won four DMR titles in a row, having done so from 2014-17 before a loss to Arkansas in 2018, and its run of eight of the last nine is now tied for the best in conference history with an exactly similar run by Arkansas from 1997-2005 – with the Razorbacks' lone loss coming in 2003 to Florida.
Combined, this is the first time a school has swept the men's and women's DMR in the same championship since 2007 (Tennessee), and it marks just the seventh time it has ever happened in conference history, joining 1986 Alabama, 1989 Kentucky, 1998 Arkansas, 2000 Arkansas, 2001 Arkansas and 2007 Tennessee.
Ole Miss also continued an impressive streak in the women's weight throw, with All-American junior Jasmine Mitchell successfully defending her SEC title over her teammate and world leader, Shey Taiwo – the fifth Rebel win in the last six seasons. Mitchell wasted no time, launching a new facility record on her opening toss of 23.43m/76-10.50, which ended up besting Taiwo by nearly 10 inches in the end.
This is the second SEC title and third medal in the weight throw for Mitchell, who ranks No. 11 in NCAA history at her PR earlier this season at 23.62m/77-6. Mitchell is the sixth thrower in SEC history to repeat as the women's weight champion, and the first since Rebel great (and current Ole Miss volunteer coach) Janeah Stewart went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018. The streak of five of the last six weight throw wins for the Rebel women is only the second such streak in SEC history since Florida won five in a row from 2001-05.
Taiwo took runner-up to her teammate for the second straight season at 23.18m/76-00.75, her third career SEC medal in the event after winning the SEC title in 2020. Taiwo currently holds the world lead in the weight throw at 25.19m/82-07.75, the third-best throw ever by a collegian and the seventh-best in the history of the world.
Taiwo and Mitchell will hold a powerful one-two punch at the NCAA Championships in two weeks, along with junior Jalani Davis, who scored in fourth place on Friday night at 22.43m/73-07.25. In total, Ole Miss scored a whopping 23 points from the women's weight throw alone on Friday.
Davis ranks fourth in the NCAA at her career-best 22.96m/75-4, which ranks her No. 18 in NCAA history. With Taiwo (No. 2), Mitchell (No. 11) and Davis (No. 18), Ole Miss became the first school with at least three 75-foot throwers in NCAA history – all within the same season, and without counting Janeah Stewart's 24.12m/79-01.75 from 2018 that ranks No. 7 all-time.
Junior Cole Bullock notched his third career SEC medal in the 5K, earning a silver medal at 13:57.48. Bullock, who was the defending SEC Champion, originally took bronze but was moved up to silver after a disqualification. Dereck Elkins joined Bullock in scoring with a fifth-place finish at a PR 14:06.94, the No. 12 time in program history.
Also scoring for Ole Miss over in the women's 5K was Skylar Boogerd, who finished eighth at 16:15.55.
Ole Miss put itself in strong position for Day Two as well, advancing seven through to finals on the track after qualifying performances on Friday.
Prior to her winning anchor leg on the DMR, Vissa cruised to an automatic qualifier spot in the women's mile, winning her heat at the top qualifying time of 4:40.85.
In the men's mile, Cruz Culpepper had the top qualifying time at a season-best 4:01.33 to punch his AQ ticket to Saturday's final. James Young earned a time qualifier spot at 4:01.70, and Shane Bracken was able to notch an AQ spot based on heat finish at 4:01.75.
The Rebel men also moved two through in the men's 800-meter, with newcomer Tiarnan Crorken earning a time qualifier spot at 1:49.43, and All-American senior John Rivera Jr. cruising to an AQ spot at 1:50.96.
In the men's 60-meter hurdles, Keirston Paige continued to prove consistently sharp, clocking the seventh-best qualifying time at 7.89 to earn a time qualifier spot to Saturday's final.
Action at the second and final day of the 2022 SEC Indoor Championships is set to resume for Ole Miss at 1:15 p.m. CT with the women's high jump.
Day One Women's Team Scores (Through Five Events)
1. #2 Florida – 39
2. #7 Ole Miss – 34
3. #16 Tennessee – 20
4. #24 Alabama – 19
4. #3 Arkansas – 19
6. #5 Kentucky – 16
7. Mississippi State – 12
7. #8 Texas A&M – 12
9. Auburn – 11
10. Georgia – 5
10. #4 LSU – 5
12. Missouri – 3
-- #23 South Carolina
-- Vanderbilt
Day One Men's Team Scores (Through Five Events)
1. #1 Arkansas – 37.5
2. #6 Alabama – 27
3. #17 Ole Miss – 22
4. #4 Georgia – 18
4. #11 Tennessee – 18
6. #9 Kentucky – 15.5
7. #25 Texas A&M – 15
8. Auburn – 14
9. #10 Florida – 11
10. #21 LSU – 8
11. Mississippi State – 6
12. Missouri – 3
-- South Carolina
Day One Medalists
Women's Distance Medley Relay (Elkin, Eckford, Winn, Vissa), Gold Medal
Men's Distance Medley Relay (Bethmann, Lough, Dropik, Garcia Romo), Gold Medal
Jasmine Mitchell – Women's Weight Throw, Gold Medal
Cole Bullock – Men's 5K, Silver Medal
Shey Taiwo – Women's Weight Throw, Silver Medal
Other Day One Scorers
Jalani Davis – Women's Weight Throw, 4th Place
Dereck Elkins – Men's 5K, 5th Place
Skylar Boogerd – Women's 5K, 8th Place
Day One Finals Qualifiers
Shane Bracken – Men's Mile
Tiarnan Crorken – Men's 800-Meter
Cruz Culpepper – Men's Mile
Keirston Paige – Men's 60-Meter Hurdles
John Rivera Jr. – Men's 800-Meter
Sintayehu Vissa – Women's Mile
James Young – Men's Mile
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 60-Meter Dash Prelim
22. Olivia Womack – 7.55
Men's 60-Meter Dash Prelim
16. Ryan Star – 6.81
Women's 200-Meter Dash Prelim
17. Ariyonna Augustine – 23.69 – SB, No. 5 Ole Miss History
28. Olivia Womack – 24.69
Men's 200-Meter Dash Prelim
9. Elijah Dryer – 21.00 – PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History
Men's 800-Meter Prelim
3. Tiarnan Crorken – 1:49.43 (q)
10. John Rivera Jr. – 1:50.96 (AQ)
23. Baylor Franklin – 1:57.55
Women's Mile Prelim
1. Sintayehu Vissa – 4:40.85 (AQ)
Men's Mile Prelim
1. Cruz Culpepper – 4:01.33 (AQ) – SB
4. James Young – 4:01.70 (q)
5. Shane Bracken – 4:01.75 (AQ)
16. Everett Smulders – 4:06.61
Women's 5K Final
8. Skylar Boogerd – 16:15.55
14. Kristel van den Berg – 16:41.84
19. Cate Tracht – 17:09.47
24. Brooke Gilmore – 17:17.08
Men's 5K Final
2. Cole Bullock – 13:57.48
5. Dereck Elkins – 14:06.94 – PR, No. 12 Ole Miss History
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles Prelim
7. Keirston Paige – 7.89 (q)
14. Spencer Brown – 8.03
15. Ahmad Young Jr. – 8.04
17. Kenney Broadnax – 8.21
Women's Distance Medley Relay
1. Anna Elkin, Jayda Eckford, Loral Winn, Sintayehu Vissa – 10:56.39 – SEC Meet Record, School Record, No. 3 NCAA, No. 12 NCAA History (28th-fastest time)
Splits:
Anna Elkin (1200m) – 3:24.71
Jayda Eckford (400m) – 55.09
Loral Winn (800m) – 2:06.38
Sintayehu Vissa (Mile) – 4:30.23
Men's Distance Medley Relay
1. Cade Bethmann, Jacob Lough, Marcus Dropik, Mario Garcia Romo – 9:30.32 – No. 4 Ole Miss History
Splits:
Cade Bethmann (1200m) – 2:55.70
Jacob Lough (400m) – 49.38
Marcus Dropik (800m) – 1:49.21
Mario Garcia Romo (Mile) – 3:56.04
Men's Pole Vault Final
T15. Frankie Amore – 4.85m/15-11
Men's Long Jump Final
17. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 6.73m/22-1
18. Spencer Brown – 6.55m/21-6
Women's Weight Throw Final
1. Jasmine Mitchell – 23.43m/76-10.50 – Facility Record
2. Shey Taiwo – 23.18m/76-00.75
4. Jalani Davis – 22.43m/73-07.25
11. Deborah Bulai – 19.31m/63-04.25
Men's Weight Throw Final
10. Montel Johnson – 18.91m/62-00.50
Women's Pentathlon
Sara Van Aken – 3,850 Points, 9th Place – PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
60-Meter Hurdles: 16th, 9.11 – 887 points – PR
High Jump: 5th, 1.73m/5-8 – 891 points – SB
Shot Put: 7th, 11.79m/38-08.25 – 647 points – PR
Long Jump: 10th, 5.61m/18-5 – 732 points
800-Meter: 11th, 2:29.98 – 693 points – PR
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
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