The University of Mississippi Athletics
Track & Field’s Akaoma Odeluga Makes U20 Team USA in Shot Put
6/13/2024 | Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Ole Miss track & field freshman Akaoma Odeluga has secured her spot on Team USA for the upcoming World U20 Championships, winning the silver medal in the shot put at the U.S. U20 Championships held at Hayward Field on Thursday.
Odeluga – the current world U20 leader in the shot put – was the silver medalist by just more than two inches, topping out at 16.59m/54-05.25 to champion Gracelyn Leiseth of Florida's 16.65m/54-07.50.
This adds to an already superb freshman season for Odeluga, who was the SEC Outdoor bronze medalist and an NCAA qualifier in the shot put. Her third-place SEC toss of 18.11m/59-5 not only reigns as the 2024 world lead for under-20 athletes, but it also ranks No. 2 in the history of the United States in the U20 category – trailing only former Rebel Raven Saunders' record 18.62m/61-01.25 from her freshman season at Southern Illinois in 2015.
Also competing for Ole Miss this week at the U.S. U20 meet was fellow freshman Naomi Woolfolk, who finished 11th in the hammer yesterday at 47.98m/157-5.
The World Athletics U20 Championships will run August 27-31 in Lima, Peru.
REBELS IN COMPETITION
Women's Shot Put
2. Akaoma Odeluga – 16.59m/54-05.25 – World U20 Qualifier
Women's Hammer
11. Naomi Woolfolk – 47.98m/157-5
Odeluga – the current world U20 leader in the shot put – was the silver medalist by just more than two inches, topping out at 16.59m/54-05.25 to champion Gracelyn Leiseth of Florida's 16.65m/54-07.50.
This adds to an already superb freshman season for Odeluga, who was the SEC Outdoor bronze medalist and an NCAA qualifier in the shot put. Her third-place SEC toss of 18.11m/59-5 not only reigns as the 2024 world lead for under-20 athletes, but it also ranks No. 2 in the history of the United States in the U20 category – trailing only former Rebel Raven Saunders' record 18.62m/61-01.25 from her freshman season at Southern Illinois in 2015.
Also competing for Ole Miss this week at the U.S. U20 meet was fellow freshman Naomi Woolfolk, who finished 11th in the hammer yesterday at 47.98m/157-5.
The World Athletics U20 Championships will run August 27-31 in Lima, Peru.
REBELS IN COMPETITION
Women's Shot Put
2. Akaoma Odeluga – 16.59m/54-05.25 – World U20 Qualifier
Women's Hammer
11. Naomi Woolfolk – 47.98m/157-5
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ 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