The University of Mississippi Athletics
Track & Field Wins Nine Event Titles After Impressive Open to Joe Walker Invite
4/5/2024 | Track and Field
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss track & field nabbed nine event titles after an excellent first day of action at the 2024 Joe Walker Invite on a beautiful Friday at the Ole Miss Track & Field Complex.
The bountiful sunshine, cool temperatures and minimal wind proved crucial for the evening distance carnival, where the Rebels shined with four event titles and several impressive performances.
Senior Cruz Gomez and sophomore Gabe Scales clocked a pair of NCAA top-15 times in the men's 1500-meter invite in their event debuts for the season. Gomez won at 3:41.29 in his Rebel debut in the event, good for No. 8 in school history and No. 12 in the nation this season. Scales was the runner-up at a PR of 3:41.70, which moves him to No. 10 on the Ole Miss list all-time and No. 16 currently in the NCAA this year.
The Joe Walker Invite has been a great place for 1500-meter times since its inception in 2017, with the Ole Miss all-time list now featuring five times from this meet within the top-15.
It was more of the same in the women's 800-meter invite, where juniors Madison Hulsey and Jo-Lauren Keane both entered the top-five of the event in Ole Miss history. Hulsey won at a new PR for the second straight meet, clocking in at 2:05.99, while Keane wasn't far behind in second at a season-best 2:06.09 – which rank fourth and fifth all-time at Ole Miss, respectively.
Ole Miss swept the top-three positions in the men's 800-meter invite, led by junior Chase Rose at an overall career-best 1:48.19 – his second 800-meter PR in as many meets. Sophomore Carson Turner was the runner-up at an outdoor PR of 1:49.78, while junior Cole Piotrowski was third at an overall PR of 1:50.32.
In the men's 5K invite, a pair of Rebel newcomers excelled in front of the home crowd. Junior transfer Elyas Ayyoub shaved 24 seconds off his prior best, winning at 13:49.29 to move into the No. 8 slot on the Ole Miss leaderboard. Sophomore transfer Evan Thornton-Sherman dropped 24 seconds off his PR as well, finishing third at 13:52.92 to rank No. 11 in school history.
Ole Miss swept the hammer yet again, with All-American senior Jasmine Mitchell leading the charge yet again. Mitchell was the victor at a season-best 69.37m/227-07, which improves upon her slot at both No. 3 in the NCAA and No. 6 in the United States this season. Mitchell has been either the winner or the top collegiate finisher in the hammer in each attempt so far this season.
Fellow All-American senior and two-time NCAA Champion Jalani Davis had a season-best of her own as the runner-up. Davis let one fly 68.78m/225-08, which moves her to No. 4 in the NCAA and No. 7 in the United States this season.
NCAA Champion sophomore Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan remained undefeated this outdoor season, winning the hammer today on a heave of 71.02m/233-00.
However, it was an all-around great day for the Rebel men's hammer throwers. Senior Jake Dalton finished third at a PR of 66.31m/217-06, his fourth straight improvement this outdoor season that improves upon his spot at No. 3 all-time at Ole Miss. Mason Hickel was the fourth-place finish at 62.91m/206-04, and he was followed by a pair of career-best performances by Joseph Lanham in fifth at 58.84m/193-00 (No. 13 Ole Miss history) and by Keegan Wilfawn in ninth at 53.95m/177-00.
Junior Abigail Green took down a school record to start the day off for the Rebels, winning the women's javelin this morning on a four-foot PR of 46.02m/151-00. With her throw, Green became the first Rebel woman to ever break 46 meters or 150 feet, and her winning toss broke the previous record of 45.50m/149-03 set by Alex Enright in 2019.
Ole Miss also received a pair of victories in the pole vault on Friday, with senior Samara McConnell winning the women's edition at a season-best 3.96m/12-11.75, and junior Frankie Amore winning the men's at 4.76m/15-07.25.
Competition is set to resume on Saturday with the men's decathlon at 10 a.m. CT and the women's heptathlon at 10:15 a.m. CT, followed by a ceremony to honor the Ole Miss senior class at 11 a.m. CT.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 200-Meter Dash
6. Olivia Womack – 24.50 (-0.9) – SB
Men's 200-Meter Dash
15. Tristyn Wooley – 21.91 (-0.2)
Women's 800-Meter (Invite)
1. Madison Hulsey – 2:05.99 – PR, No. 4 Ole Miss History
2. Jo-Lauren Keane – 2:06.09 – SB, No. 5 Ole Miss History
7. Jocelyn Long – 2:16.30
DNF Sophie Baumann
Men's 800-Meter (Invite)
1. Chase Rose – 1:48.19 – Overall PR
2. Carson Turner – 1:49.78 – Outdoor PR
3. Cole Piotrowski – 1:50.32 – Overall PR
6. Jonathan Stock – 1:52.31
DNF Cade Flatt
Women's 1500-Meter (Invite)
8. Frances Luna – 4:32.08
DNF Sophie Baumann
Men's 1500-Meter (Invite)
1. Cruz Gomez – 3:41.29 – SB, No. 8 Ole Miss History, No. 12 NCAA
2. Gabe Scales – 3:41.70 – PR, No. 10 Ole Miss History, No. 16 NCAA
9. Aidan Hodge – 3:49.60
10. Landen McNair – 3:50.63
12. Connor Henson – 3:53.34
DNF Marcus Dropik
Men's 5K (Invite)
1. Elyas Ayyoub – 13:49.29 – PR, No. 8 Ole Miss History
3. Evan Thornton-Sherman – 13:52.92 – PR, No. 11 Ole Miss History
DNF Cole Bullock
DNF Miles Phillips
Women's Pole Vault
1. Samara McConnell – 3.96m/12-11.75 – SB
5. Mary Cate Doughty – 3.66m/12-0
T7. Kathryn Hosp – 3.46m/11-04.25 – SB
T7. Raylynn Gibbs – 3.46m/11-04.25 – SB
Men's Pole Vault
1. Frankie Amore – 4.76m/15-07.25
T2. Ford Maberry – 4.56m/14-11.50
NH Drew O'Connor
NH Logan Kelley
NH Miles Walden
Women's Long Jump
12. Skye Gross – 5.30m/17-04.75 (+0.9)
Men's Long Jump
5. Guy Bond – 6.94m/22-09.25 (+0.7)
14. Carson Walls – 6.41m/21-00.50 (+1.5)
Women's Hammer
1. Jasmine Mitchell – 69.37m/227-07 – SB, No. 3 NCAA
2. Jalani Davis – 68.78m/225-08 – SB, No. 4 NCAA
6. Skylar Soli – 59.61m/195-07
10. Akaoma Odeluga – 53.42m/175-03 – PR, No. 13 Ole Miss History
16. Naomi Woolfolk – 48.78m/160-00
22. Brooke Franke – 42.64m/139-10 – SB
Men's Hammer
1. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 71.02m/233-00
3. Jake Dalton – 66.31m/217-06 – PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
4. Mason Hickel – 62.91m/206-04
5. Joseph Lanham – 58.84m/193-00 – PR, No. 13 Ole Miss History
9. Keegan Wilfawn – 53.95m/177-00 – PR
13. Costen Campion – 50.71m/166-04
Women's Javelin
1. Abigail Green – 46.02m/151-00 – PR, School Record
Men's Decathlon (Through Five Events)
Pierce Genereux – 3,230 Points, 2nd Place
100-Meter Dash: 3rd, 11.72 (+1.3) – 707 points
Long Jump: 2nd, 6.22m/20-5 (+0.7) – 635 points – Outdoor PR
Shot Put: 1st, 12.82m/42-00.75 – 656 points – Overall PR
High Jump: T-3rd, 1.77m/5-09.75 – 602 points
400-Meter Dash: 3rd, 54.24 – 630 points – SB
Women's Heptathlon (Through Four Events)
Laurel Fulcher – 2,695 Points, 5th Place
100-Meter Hurdles: 8th, 15.55 (-0.5) – 770 points
High Jump: 10th, 1.46m/4-09.50 – 577 points
Shot Put: 9th, 9.33m/30-07.50 – 486 points – Outdoor PR
200-Meter Dash: 1st, 25.27 (+1.0) – 862 points – Overall PR
Annie Strong – 1,878 Points, 13th Place
100-Meter Hurdles: 11th, 15.96 (-0.5) – 719 points – SB
High Jump: NH
Shot Put: 4th, 10.54m/34-7 – 565 points – Overall PR
200-Meter Dash: 13th, 28.48 (+1.0) – 594 points – SB
The bountiful sunshine, cool temperatures and minimal wind proved crucial for the evening distance carnival, where the Rebels shined with four event titles and several impressive performances.
Senior Cruz Gomez and sophomore Gabe Scales clocked a pair of NCAA top-15 times in the men's 1500-meter invite in their event debuts for the season. Gomez won at 3:41.29 in his Rebel debut in the event, good for No. 8 in school history and No. 12 in the nation this season. Scales was the runner-up at a PR of 3:41.70, which moves him to No. 10 on the Ole Miss list all-time and No. 16 currently in the NCAA this year.
The Joe Walker Invite has been a great place for 1500-meter times since its inception in 2017, with the Ole Miss all-time list now featuring five times from this meet within the top-15.
It was more of the same in the women's 800-meter invite, where juniors Madison Hulsey and Jo-Lauren Keane both entered the top-five of the event in Ole Miss history. Hulsey won at a new PR for the second straight meet, clocking in at 2:05.99, while Keane wasn't far behind in second at a season-best 2:06.09 – which rank fourth and fifth all-time at Ole Miss, respectively.
Ole Miss swept the top-three positions in the men's 800-meter invite, led by junior Chase Rose at an overall career-best 1:48.19 – his second 800-meter PR in as many meets. Sophomore Carson Turner was the runner-up at an outdoor PR of 1:49.78, while junior Cole Piotrowski was third at an overall PR of 1:50.32.
In the men's 5K invite, a pair of Rebel newcomers excelled in front of the home crowd. Junior transfer Elyas Ayyoub shaved 24 seconds off his prior best, winning at 13:49.29 to move into the No. 8 slot on the Ole Miss leaderboard. Sophomore transfer Evan Thornton-Sherman dropped 24 seconds off his PR as well, finishing third at 13:52.92 to rank No. 11 in school history.
Ole Miss swept the hammer yet again, with All-American senior Jasmine Mitchell leading the charge yet again. Mitchell was the victor at a season-best 69.37m/227-07, which improves upon her slot at both No. 3 in the NCAA and No. 6 in the United States this season. Mitchell has been either the winner or the top collegiate finisher in the hammer in each attempt so far this season.
Fellow All-American senior and two-time NCAA Champion Jalani Davis had a season-best of her own as the runner-up. Davis let one fly 68.78m/225-08, which moves her to No. 4 in the NCAA and No. 7 in the United States this season.
NCAA Champion sophomore Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan remained undefeated this outdoor season, winning the hammer today on a heave of 71.02m/233-00.
However, it was an all-around great day for the Rebel men's hammer throwers. Senior Jake Dalton finished third at a PR of 66.31m/217-06, his fourth straight improvement this outdoor season that improves upon his spot at No. 3 all-time at Ole Miss. Mason Hickel was the fourth-place finish at 62.91m/206-04, and he was followed by a pair of career-best performances by Joseph Lanham in fifth at 58.84m/193-00 (No. 13 Ole Miss history) and by Keegan Wilfawn in ninth at 53.95m/177-00.
Junior Abigail Green took down a school record to start the day off for the Rebels, winning the women's javelin this morning on a four-foot PR of 46.02m/151-00. With her throw, Green became the first Rebel woman to ever break 46 meters or 150 feet, and her winning toss broke the previous record of 45.50m/149-03 set by Alex Enright in 2019.
Ole Miss also received a pair of victories in the pole vault on Friday, with senior Samara McConnell winning the women's edition at a season-best 3.96m/12-11.75, and junior Frankie Amore winning the men's at 4.76m/15-07.25.
Competition is set to resume on Saturday with the men's decathlon at 10 a.m. CT and the women's heptathlon at 10:15 a.m. CT, followed by a ceremony to honor the Ole Miss senior class at 11 a.m. CT.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 200-Meter Dash
6. Olivia Womack – 24.50 (-0.9) – SB
Men's 200-Meter Dash
15. Tristyn Wooley – 21.91 (-0.2)
Women's 800-Meter (Invite)
1. Madison Hulsey – 2:05.99 – PR, No. 4 Ole Miss History
2. Jo-Lauren Keane – 2:06.09 – SB, No. 5 Ole Miss History
7. Jocelyn Long – 2:16.30
DNF Sophie Baumann
Men's 800-Meter (Invite)
1. Chase Rose – 1:48.19 – Overall PR
2. Carson Turner – 1:49.78 – Outdoor PR
3. Cole Piotrowski – 1:50.32 – Overall PR
6. Jonathan Stock – 1:52.31
DNF Cade Flatt
Women's 1500-Meter (Invite)
8. Frances Luna – 4:32.08
DNF Sophie Baumann
Men's 1500-Meter (Invite)
1. Cruz Gomez – 3:41.29 – SB, No. 8 Ole Miss History, No. 12 NCAA
2. Gabe Scales – 3:41.70 – PR, No. 10 Ole Miss History, No. 16 NCAA
9. Aidan Hodge – 3:49.60
10. Landen McNair – 3:50.63
12. Connor Henson – 3:53.34
DNF Marcus Dropik
Men's 5K (Invite)
1. Elyas Ayyoub – 13:49.29 – PR, No. 8 Ole Miss History
3. Evan Thornton-Sherman – 13:52.92 – PR, No. 11 Ole Miss History
DNF Cole Bullock
DNF Miles Phillips
Women's Pole Vault
1. Samara McConnell – 3.96m/12-11.75 – SB
5. Mary Cate Doughty – 3.66m/12-0
T7. Kathryn Hosp – 3.46m/11-04.25 – SB
T7. Raylynn Gibbs – 3.46m/11-04.25 – SB
Men's Pole Vault
1. Frankie Amore – 4.76m/15-07.25
T2. Ford Maberry – 4.56m/14-11.50
NH Drew O'Connor
NH Logan Kelley
NH Miles Walden
Women's Long Jump
12. Skye Gross – 5.30m/17-04.75 (+0.9)
Men's Long Jump
5. Guy Bond – 6.94m/22-09.25 (+0.7)
14. Carson Walls – 6.41m/21-00.50 (+1.5)
Women's Hammer
1. Jasmine Mitchell – 69.37m/227-07 – SB, No. 3 NCAA
2. Jalani Davis – 68.78m/225-08 – SB, No. 4 NCAA
6. Skylar Soli – 59.61m/195-07
10. Akaoma Odeluga – 53.42m/175-03 – PR, No. 13 Ole Miss History
16. Naomi Woolfolk – 48.78m/160-00
22. Brooke Franke – 42.64m/139-10 – SB
Men's Hammer
1. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 71.02m/233-00
3. Jake Dalton – 66.31m/217-06 – PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
4. Mason Hickel – 62.91m/206-04
5. Joseph Lanham – 58.84m/193-00 – PR, No. 13 Ole Miss History
9. Keegan Wilfawn – 53.95m/177-00 – PR
13. Costen Campion – 50.71m/166-04
Women's Javelin
1. Abigail Green – 46.02m/151-00 – PR, School Record
Men's Decathlon (Through Five Events)
Pierce Genereux – 3,230 Points, 2nd Place
100-Meter Dash: 3rd, 11.72 (+1.3) – 707 points
Long Jump: 2nd, 6.22m/20-5 (+0.7) – 635 points – Outdoor PR
Shot Put: 1st, 12.82m/42-00.75 – 656 points – Overall PR
High Jump: T-3rd, 1.77m/5-09.75 – 602 points
400-Meter Dash: 3rd, 54.24 – 630 points – SB
Women's Heptathlon (Through Four Events)
Laurel Fulcher – 2,695 Points, 5th Place
100-Meter Hurdles: 8th, 15.55 (-0.5) – 770 points
High Jump: 10th, 1.46m/4-09.50 – 577 points
Shot Put: 9th, 9.33m/30-07.50 – 486 points – Outdoor PR
200-Meter Dash: 1st, 25.27 (+1.0) – 862 points – Overall PR
Annie Strong – 1,878 Points, 13th Place
100-Meter Hurdles: 11th, 15.96 (-0.5) – 719 points – SB
High Jump: NH
Shot Put: 4th, 10.54m/34-7 – 565 points – Overall PR
200-Meter Dash: 13th, 28.48 (+1.0) – 594 points – SB
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
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Pole Vault
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Pole Vault
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