The University of Mississippi Athletics
Track & Field Sweeps Weight Throw Finals to Open SEC Indoor Championships
2/23/2024 | Track and Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Ole Miss track & field became just the second SEC school to ever complete the men's and women's weight throw sweep after an impressive first day of action at the 2024 SEC Indoor Championships on Friday.
The Rebels cruised to victory in both competitions, courtesy of winning performances by All-American senior and defending champion Jalani Davis on the women's side, and All-American sophomore Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan on the men's. Ole Miss now stands alongside South Carolina as the lone SEC schools to complete the weight throw sweep, with the Gamecocks doing so twice in 1996 and 1997 – the first two years that the women's weight throw was a championship event at the NCAA level.
Davis put together another historic field series in the women's competition, defending her title on a massive new career-best and SEC meet record of 25.09m/82-03.75 that further cements herself as one of the best weight throwers not just all-time collegiately, but all-time in the history of the world. That heave from the second round moves Davis from No. 5 to No. 3 all-time among collegians, a list that features four Rebels in 2022 NCAA champ Shey Taiwo (No. 2, 25.55m/83-10, 2022), Davis, current senior Jasmine Mitchell (No. 4, 24.94m/81-10, 2022) and former Rebel great Janeah Stewart (No. 10, 24.12m/79-01.75, 2018).
That throw also ranks as the fifth-best overall in collegiate history, the seventh collegiate throw to ever cross 25 meters, and it gives Davis the all-time collegiate record in career 80-foot throws with five. Worldwide, Davis' feat tonight is just as eye-opening, as it moves her to No. 9 on the all-time world list and makes her just the 10th thrower in world history to ever break 25 meters. Worldwide in 2024, her winning throw Friday ranks third.
Davis' title defense made her just the seventh in SEC history to repeat as the women's weight champion, and it makes five in a row for the Rebel women – tying the SEC record of five straight set by Florida from 2001-05. Ole Miss has now won the women's weight throw in seven of the last eight years.
Mitchell – who entered ranked No. 2 on the NCAA list this season behind Davis – was the runner-up Friday at 23.73m/77-10.25 to earn her fifth career medal in the SEC weight throw. Mitchell has never finished worse than second in the event, with back-to-back wins in 2021 and 2022, ending her storied Ole Miss career with a whopping 44 career points in the weight. Mitchell broke 23 meters three times on Friday, extending her lead as the all-time collegiate record holder in 23-meter tosses now with 25.
Combined in the SEC weight throw alone since their freshman year in 2020, Davis and Mitchell account for a staggering four championships, seven medals and 74 meet points.
Also scoring for the Rebels in the women's weight was freshman Skylar Soli in her first SEC meet, finishing seventh at 19.26m/63-02.25.
In the men's competition, Robinson-O'Hagan made history of his own as the first Rebel to ever win the men's edition of the SEC weight throw. His winning throw of 23.55m/77-03.25 came in the third round, and it wound up winning by a wide margin of a full meter. He now moves to 4-0 on the season in the weight, and his season margin of victory still stands at nearly 4.5 feet.
This was the second career SEC title for Robinson-O'Hagan, who last spring also became the first Rebel to ever win the SEC men's hammer title at the outdoor championships. In just three SEC meets, he owns two SEC titles, three medals and 34 meet points – and still with the shot put to come on Saturday.
Junior Costen Campion scored his first career SEC points in the weight throw as well, snaring one point in eighth place at 20.56m/67-05.50.
Junior transfer Toby Gillen claimed his first SEC medal in his first conference race, taking silver in a blazing 5K that wound up historically fast. Gillen was the runner-up by one second at 13:32.66, and he was one of five finishers who flew past the previous SEC meet record of 13:42.95 set by Arkansas legend Alistair Cragg in 2004.
This was the second superb 5K race by Gillen in as many weeks after setting the Ole Miss record at Boston's Valentine Invite, where he clocked in at 13:28.81 to break Ryan Walling's 2016 record of 13:39.44.
The Ole Miss women received five crucial meet points from its distance medley relay to close the night. The quartet of Madison Hulsey (1200m; 3:30.51), Gabrielle Matthews (400m; 54.51), Jo-Lauren Keane (800m; 2:12.96) and Loral Winn (mile; 4:37.68) passed the stick in 11:15.64, the eighth-fastest in Ole Miss history. Winn's anchor was particularly impressive, as it came just hours after qualifying in the women's mile prelims at 4:42.07.
Ole Miss also received scoring performances from both editions of the pole vault. Senior Samara McConnell was clean over her first three bars, ending the day as one of four tied for sixth place at a season-best 4.12m/13-06.25. In the men's pole vault, senior transfer Drew O'Connor took fifth at 5.25m/17-02.75.
On the track, Ole Miss clocked six total finals qualifying performances on Friday as well – including the aforementioned prelim time by Loral Winn.
Almost a year to the day after her big breakout on this very track at the 2023 SEC Indoor Championships, All-American senior McKenzie Long put on a show yet again in the 200-meter dash prelim. Long blazed toward the third-best prelim time at a season-best 22.73, putting her into Saturday's final and squarely into the national conversation for the NCAA Championships coming up in Boston in two weeks. Last year, Long was the SEC silver medalist at what was then a school-record 22.67.
Long also finished 10th in the 60-meter dash prelims at a season-best 7.25, but it was fellow senior Jahniya Bowers who was the story in the event on Friday. Bowers ran a new career-best 7.23 to earn a time qualifier spot to Saturday's final. It also moves her up to No. 3 in Ole Miss history, and puts her into a tie for the ever-crucial 16th qualifying spot on the NCAA descending list.
Other Rebels with finals qualifying times on Friday included the duo of Gabe Scales (second, 4:02.43, AQ) and Cruz Gomez (third, 4:02.53, AQ) in the men's mile prelims, and Marcus Dropik in the men's 800-meter prelims (sixth, 1.49.80q).
Competition resumes for Ole Miss on Day Two at noon CT with the resumption of the men's heptathlon.
Day One Women's Team Scores (Through Six Events)
1. #1 Arkansas – 37
2. #2 Florida – 30
3. #11 Texas A&M – 27
4. #14 Ole Miss – 26.5
4. Kentucky – 26.5
6. #12 Alabama – 21
7. #16 Tennessee – 17
8. Auburn – 16
9. Vanderbilt – 15
10. #9 LSU – 7
11. #13 Georgia – 6
12. Mississippi State – 3
13. Missouri – 2
-- #15 South Carolina
Day One Men's Team Scores (Through Five Events)
1. #3 Arkansas – 44
2. Ole Miss – 23
2. #6 Florida – 23
4. #11 Kentucky – 22.5
5. #9 Alabama – 14
6. #12 Georgia – 12
6. #16 South Carolina – 12
6. #14 Texas A&M – 12
9. LSU – 11.5
10. Auburn – 11
11. Tennessee – 6
12. Missouri – 4
-- Mississippi State
Day One Medalists
Jalani Davis – Women's Weight Throw, Gold Medal
Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – Men's Weight Throw, Gold Medal
Toby Gillen – Men's 5K, Silver Medal
Jasmine Mitchell – Women's Weight Throw, Silver Medal
Other Day One Scorers
Madison Hulsey – Women's Distance Medley Relay, 4th Place
Jo-Lauren Keane – Women's Distance Medley Relay, 4th Place
Gabrielle Matthews – Women's Distance Medley Relay, 4th Place
Loral Winn – Women's Distance Medley Relay, 4th Place
Drew O'Connor – Men's Pole Vault, 5th Place
Samara McConnell – Women's Pole Vault, T-6th Place
Skylar Soli – Women's Weight Throw, 7th Place
Costen Campion – Men's Weight Throw, 8th Place
Day One Finals Qualifiers
Jahniya Bowers – Women's 60-Meter Dash
Marcus Dropik – Men's 800-Meter
Cruz Gomez – Men's Mile
McKenzie Long – Women's 200-Meter Dash
Gabe Scales – Men's Mile
Loral Winn – Women's Mile
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 60-Meter Dash – Prelims
5. Jahniya Bowers – 7.23 (q) – PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History, T-No. 16 NCAA
10. McKenzie Long – 7.25 – SB
Women's 200-Meter Dash – Prelims
3. McKenzie Long – 22.73 (q) – SB, No. 5 NCAA
20. Gabrielle Matthews – 23.72 – PR, T-No. 7 Ole Miss History
Women's 800-Meter – Prelims
18. Jo-Lauren Keane – 2:10.38 – Ole Miss Best, No. 15 Ole Miss History
20. Madison Hulsey – 2:11.50
Men's 800-Meter – Prelims
6. Marcus Dropik – 1:49.80 (q)
17. Cade Flatt – 1:54.40
19. Carson Turner – 1:58.49
Women's Mile – Prelims
5. Loral Winn – 4:42.07 (AQ)
19. Jocelyn Long – 5:05.16
Men's Mile – Prelims
2. Gabe Scales – 4:02.43 (AQ)
3. Cruz Gomez – 4:02.53 (AQ)
12. Connor Henson – 4:05.68 – PR
14. Landen McNair – 4:06.25 – PR
22. Aidan Hodge – 4:15.33
Men's 5K – Final
2. Toby Gillen – 13:32.66
13. Aiden Britt – 14:12.09
19. Dereck Elkins – 14:21.34
20. Cole Bullock – 14:28.99
23. Jack Meijer – 14:34.38
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
17. Jerricka Ambus – 8.41 – Ole Miss Best, No. 5 Ole Miss History
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
12. Deshaun Jones – 7.92 – Ole Miss Best, No. 8 Ole Miss History
Women's Distance Medley Relay – Final
4. Madison Hulsey, Gabrielle Matthews, Jo-Lauren Keane, Loral Winn – 11:15.64 – No. 8 Ole Miss History
Splits:
Madison Hulsey (1200m) – 3:30.51
Gabrielle Matthews (400m) – 54.51
Jo-Lauren Keane (800m) – 2:12.96
Loral Winn (Mile) – 4:37.68
Men's Distance Medley Relay – Final
9. Cruz Gomez, Carson Turner, Aidan Hodge, Chase Rose – 9:52.57
Splits:
Cruz Gomez (1200m) – 3:03.27
Carson Turner (400m) – 49.71
Aidan Hodge (800m) – 1:52.70
Chase Rose (Mile) – 4:06.92
Women's Pole Vault – Final
T6. Samara McConnell – 4.12m/13-06.25 – SB
Men's Pole Vault – Final
5. Drew O'Connor – 5.25m/17-02.75
T13. Logan Kelley – 4.95m/16-02.75
16. Miles Walden – 4.95m/16-02.75
Women's Weight Throw – Final
1. Jalani Davis – 25.09m/82-03.75 – PR, SEC Meet Record, No. 3 Collegiate History (5th-best throw), No. 9 World History, No. 8 U.S. History, No. 2 Ole Miss History, No. 3 World 2024, Collegiate Record for Career 80-Foot Throws (5)
2. Jasmine Mitchell – 23.73m/77-10.25
7. Skylar Soli – 19.26m/63-02.25
13. Akaoma Odeluga – 16.98m/55-08.50
Men's Weight Throw – Final
1. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 23.55m/77-03.25
8. Costen Campion – 20.56m/67-05.50
13. Mason Hickel – 18.87m/61-11
Men's Heptathlon (Through Four Events)
Pierce Genereux – 2,504 Points, 11th Place
60-Meter Dash: 11th, 7.66 – 662 points
Long Jump: 11th, 6.32m/20-9 – 657 points – PR
Shot Put: 9th, 12.44m/40-09.75 – 633 points – Indoor PR
High Jump: 11th, 1.71m/5-07.25 – 552 points
The Rebels cruised to victory in both competitions, courtesy of winning performances by All-American senior and defending champion Jalani Davis on the women's side, and All-American sophomore Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan on the men's. Ole Miss now stands alongside South Carolina as the lone SEC schools to complete the weight throw sweep, with the Gamecocks doing so twice in 1996 and 1997 – the first two years that the women's weight throw was a championship event at the NCAA level.
Davis put together another historic field series in the women's competition, defending her title on a massive new career-best and SEC meet record of 25.09m/82-03.75 that further cements herself as one of the best weight throwers not just all-time collegiately, but all-time in the history of the world. That heave from the second round moves Davis from No. 5 to No. 3 all-time among collegians, a list that features four Rebels in 2022 NCAA champ Shey Taiwo (No. 2, 25.55m/83-10, 2022), Davis, current senior Jasmine Mitchell (No. 4, 24.94m/81-10, 2022) and former Rebel great Janeah Stewart (No. 10, 24.12m/79-01.75, 2018).
That throw also ranks as the fifth-best overall in collegiate history, the seventh collegiate throw to ever cross 25 meters, and it gives Davis the all-time collegiate record in career 80-foot throws with five. Worldwide, Davis' feat tonight is just as eye-opening, as it moves her to No. 9 on the all-time world list and makes her just the 10th thrower in world history to ever break 25 meters. Worldwide in 2024, her winning throw Friday ranks third.
Davis' title defense made her just the seventh in SEC history to repeat as the women's weight champion, and it makes five in a row for the Rebel women – tying the SEC record of five straight set by Florida from 2001-05. Ole Miss has now won the women's weight throw in seven of the last eight years.
Mitchell – who entered ranked No. 2 on the NCAA list this season behind Davis – was the runner-up Friday at 23.73m/77-10.25 to earn her fifth career medal in the SEC weight throw. Mitchell has never finished worse than second in the event, with back-to-back wins in 2021 and 2022, ending her storied Ole Miss career with a whopping 44 career points in the weight. Mitchell broke 23 meters three times on Friday, extending her lead as the all-time collegiate record holder in 23-meter tosses now with 25.
Combined in the SEC weight throw alone since their freshman year in 2020, Davis and Mitchell account for a staggering four championships, seven medals and 74 meet points.
Also scoring for the Rebels in the women's weight was freshman Skylar Soli in her first SEC meet, finishing seventh at 19.26m/63-02.25.
In the men's competition, Robinson-O'Hagan made history of his own as the first Rebel to ever win the men's edition of the SEC weight throw. His winning throw of 23.55m/77-03.25 came in the third round, and it wound up winning by a wide margin of a full meter. He now moves to 4-0 on the season in the weight, and his season margin of victory still stands at nearly 4.5 feet.
This was the second career SEC title for Robinson-O'Hagan, who last spring also became the first Rebel to ever win the SEC men's hammer title at the outdoor championships. In just three SEC meets, he owns two SEC titles, three medals and 34 meet points – and still with the shot put to come on Saturday.
Junior Costen Campion scored his first career SEC points in the weight throw as well, snaring one point in eighth place at 20.56m/67-05.50.
Junior transfer Toby Gillen claimed his first SEC medal in his first conference race, taking silver in a blazing 5K that wound up historically fast. Gillen was the runner-up by one second at 13:32.66, and he was one of five finishers who flew past the previous SEC meet record of 13:42.95 set by Arkansas legend Alistair Cragg in 2004.
This was the second superb 5K race by Gillen in as many weeks after setting the Ole Miss record at Boston's Valentine Invite, where he clocked in at 13:28.81 to break Ryan Walling's 2016 record of 13:39.44.
The Ole Miss women received five crucial meet points from its distance medley relay to close the night. The quartet of Madison Hulsey (1200m; 3:30.51), Gabrielle Matthews (400m; 54.51), Jo-Lauren Keane (800m; 2:12.96) and Loral Winn (mile; 4:37.68) passed the stick in 11:15.64, the eighth-fastest in Ole Miss history. Winn's anchor was particularly impressive, as it came just hours after qualifying in the women's mile prelims at 4:42.07.
Ole Miss also received scoring performances from both editions of the pole vault. Senior Samara McConnell was clean over her first three bars, ending the day as one of four tied for sixth place at a season-best 4.12m/13-06.25. In the men's pole vault, senior transfer Drew O'Connor took fifth at 5.25m/17-02.75.
On the track, Ole Miss clocked six total finals qualifying performances on Friday as well – including the aforementioned prelim time by Loral Winn.
Almost a year to the day after her big breakout on this very track at the 2023 SEC Indoor Championships, All-American senior McKenzie Long put on a show yet again in the 200-meter dash prelim. Long blazed toward the third-best prelim time at a season-best 22.73, putting her into Saturday's final and squarely into the national conversation for the NCAA Championships coming up in Boston in two weeks. Last year, Long was the SEC silver medalist at what was then a school-record 22.67.
Long also finished 10th in the 60-meter dash prelims at a season-best 7.25, but it was fellow senior Jahniya Bowers who was the story in the event on Friday. Bowers ran a new career-best 7.23 to earn a time qualifier spot to Saturday's final. It also moves her up to No. 3 in Ole Miss history, and puts her into a tie for the ever-crucial 16th qualifying spot on the NCAA descending list.
Other Rebels with finals qualifying times on Friday included the duo of Gabe Scales (second, 4:02.43, AQ) and Cruz Gomez (third, 4:02.53, AQ) in the men's mile prelims, and Marcus Dropik in the men's 800-meter prelims (sixth, 1.49.80q).
Competition resumes for Ole Miss on Day Two at noon CT with the resumption of the men's heptathlon.
Day One Women's Team Scores (Through Six Events)
1. #1 Arkansas – 37
2. #2 Florida – 30
3. #11 Texas A&M – 27
4. #14 Ole Miss – 26.5
4. Kentucky – 26.5
6. #12 Alabama – 21
7. #16 Tennessee – 17
8. Auburn – 16
9. Vanderbilt – 15
10. #9 LSU – 7
11. #13 Georgia – 6
12. Mississippi State – 3
13. Missouri – 2
-- #15 South Carolina
Day One Men's Team Scores (Through Five Events)
1. #3 Arkansas – 44
2. Ole Miss – 23
2. #6 Florida – 23
4. #11 Kentucky – 22.5
5. #9 Alabama – 14
6. #12 Georgia – 12
6. #16 South Carolina – 12
6. #14 Texas A&M – 12
9. LSU – 11.5
10. Auburn – 11
11. Tennessee – 6
12. Missouri – 4
-- Mississippi State
Day One Medalists
Jalani Davis – Women's Weight Throw, Gold Medal
Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – Men's Weight Throw, Gold Medal
Toby Gillen – Men's 5K, Silver Medal
Jasmine Mitchell – Women's Weight Throw, Silver Medal
Other Day One Scorers
Madison Hulsey – Women's Distance Medley Relay, 4th Place
Jo-Lauren Keane – Women's Distance Medley Relay, 4th Place
Gabrielle Matthews – Women's Distance Medley Relay, 4th Place
Loral Winn – Women's Distance Medley Relay, 4th Place
Drew O'Connor – Men's Pole Vault, 5th Place
Samara McConnell – Women's Pole Vault, T-6th Place
Skylar Soli – Women's Weight Throw, 7th Place
Costen Campion – Men's Weight Throw, 8th Place
Day One Finals Qualifiers
Jahniya Bowers – Women's 60-Meter Dash
Marcus Dropik – Men's 800-Meter
Cruz Gomez – Men's Mile
McKenzie Long – Women's 200-Meter Dash
Gabe Scales – Men's Mile
Loral Winn – Women's Mile
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 60-Meter Dash – Prelims
5. Jahniya Bowers – 7.23 (q) – PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History, T-No. 16 NCAA
10. McKenzie Long – 7.25 – SB
Women's 200-Meter Dash – Prelims
3. McKenzie Long – 22.73 (q) – SB, No. 5 NCAA
20. Gabrielle Matthews – 23.72 – PR, T-No. 7 Ole Miss History
Women's 800-Meter – Prelims
18. Jo-Lauren Keane – 2:10.38 – Ole Miss Best, No. 15 Ole Miss History
20. Madison Hulsey – 2:11.50
Men's 800-Meter – Prelims
6. Marcus Dropik – 1:49.80 (q)
17. Cade Flatt – 1:54.40
19. Carson Turner – 1:58.49
Women's Mile – Prelims
5. Loral Winn – 4:42.07 (AQ)
19. Jocelyn Long – 5:05.16
Men's Mile – Prelims
2. Gabe Scales – 4:02.43 (AQ)
3. Cruz Gomez – 4:02.53 (AQ)
12. Connor Henson – 4:05.68 – PR
14. Landen McNair – 4:06.25 – PR
22. Aidan Hodge – 4:15.33
Men's 5K – Final
2. Toby Gillen – 13:32.66
13. Aiden Britt – 14:12.09
19. Dereck Elkins – 14:21.34
20. Cole Bullock – 14:28.99
23. Jack Meijer – 14:34.38
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
17. Jerricka Ambus – 8.41 – Ole Miss Best, No. 5 Ole Miss History
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
12. Deshaun Jones – 7.92 – Ole Miss Best, No. 8 Ole Miss History
Women's Distance Medley Relay – Final
4. Madison Hulsey, Gabrielle Matthews, Jo-Lauren Keane, Loral Winn – 11:15.64 – No. 8 Ole Miss History
Splits:
Madison Hulsey (1200m) – 3:30.51
Gabrielle Matthews (400m) – 54.51
Jo-Lauren Keane (800m) – 2:12.96
Loral Winn (Mile) – 4:37.68
Men's Distance Medley Relay – Final
9. Cruz Gomez, Carson Turner, Aidan Hodge, Chase Rose – 9:52.57
Splits:
Cruz Gomez (1200m) – 3:03.27
Carson Turner (400m) – 49.71
Aidan Hodge (800m) – 1:52.70
Chase Rose (Mile) – 4:06.92
Women's Pole Vault – Final
T6. Samara McConnell – 4.12m/13-06.25 – SB
Men's Pole Vault – Final
5. Drew O'Connor – 5.25m/17-02.75
T13. Logan Kelley – 4.95m/16-02.75
16. Miles Walden – 4.95m/16-02.75
Women's Weight Throw – Final
1. Jalani Davis – 25.09m/82-03.75 – PR, SEC Meet Record, No. 3 Collegiate History (5th-best throw), No. 9 World History, No. 8 U.S. History, No. 2 Ole Miss History, No. 3 World 2024, Collegiate Record for Career 80-Foot Throws (5)
2. Jasmine Mitchell – 23.73m/77-10.25
7. Skylar Soli – 19.26m/63-02.25
13. Akaoma Odeluga – 16.98m/55-08.50
Men's Weight Throw – Final
1. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 23.55m/77-03.25
8. Costen Campion – 20.56m/67-05.50
13. Mason Hickel – 18.87m/61-11
Men's Heptathlon (Through Four Events)
Pierce Genereux – 2,504 Points, 11th Place
60-Meter Dash: 11th, 7.66 – 662 points
Long Jump: 11th, 6.32m/20-9 – 657 points – PR
Shot Put: 9th, 12.44m/40-09.75 – 633 points – Indoor PR
High Jump: 11th, 1.71m/5-07.25 – 552 points
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Multi
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ 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