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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Track & Field Advances Seven to Open U.S. Olympic Trials
6/21/2024 | Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Ole Miss track & field got to work on its first of 10 busy days in Oregon, advancing seven to the next round of their respective events at the first day of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials on Friday.
Fresh off an incredible triple crown performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships earlier this month, Bowerman Award semifinalist McKenzie Long wowed in her first race as a professional, winning the first heat of the 100-meter and finishing with the third-best qualifying time overall at 10.94 (+0.4). Long – who just signed her professional contract earlier today – has now run three wind-legal sub-11 times in the 100 in the last month after never doing so with a legal wind prior, including her NCAA semifinal career-best of 10.91 (+0.0).
Both the semifinal and potentially the final await Long on Saturday evening, who is also set to compete in the 200-meter dash next week as the current world leader. Long is attempting to become the 20th woman in U.S. history to make Team USA in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
Also running in the 100-meter first round Friday were Rebel alum Shannon Ray – who finished 27th at 11.31 (+0.9), just two hundredths of a second shy of advancing – and Ole Miss senior and NCAA 4x100-meter relay champion Jahniya Bowers, who took 30th at 11.44 (+0.3).
Six-time U.S. finalist and six-time All-American Craig Engels advanced in the men's 1500-meter first round race, claiming an auto bid in a very close first heat at 3:38.69. Also running in that heat was seven-time All-American Rebel great Waleed Suliman, who was near the lead for most of the race but fell heartbreakingly short of advancing at 3:39.12 after getting tripped up in heavy traffic down the final straightaway. However, Suliman was admitted to the semifinal after review late on Friday night into Saturday morning.
Two-time Olympian, 10-time U.S. champion and Oxford native Sam Kendricks took care of business in the men's pole vault qualifying round on Friday, tying for sixth at 5.65m/18-06.50 to advance to Sunday's final. Kendricks is looking to become only the third men's pole vaulter in U.S. history to make it to three Olympiads alongside Bob Richards (1948, '52, '56) and Earl Bell (1976, '84, '88).
Ole Miss sophomore, two-time NCAA Champion and Bowerman Award semifinalist Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan threw his hat in the ring of perhaps one of the toughest U.S. teams to make in shot put qualifying on Friday, advancing to the final after finishing eighth at 20.49m/67-02.75.
Robinson-O'Hagan was the lone collegian to make the final and the youngest by far at just 20 years old, but that's nothing new for the Rhode Island native, who this season became the youngest to complete the NCAA Division I indoor/outdoor men's shot put sweep since 1989 and the fourth-youngest all-time.
Ole Miss also received two additional qualifying performances to start the day in the women's hammer prelim rounds. Former Rebel great and 2018 NCAA hammer champion Janeah Stewart took ninth at 69.03m/226-5 to advance to Sunday's final, while current Ole Miss senior and seven-time All-American Jasmine Mitchell nabbed the final qualifying spot by an inch in 12th place at 65.49m/214-10.
Action resumes for Ole Miss on Saturday with McKenzie Long in the women's 100-meter dash semifinal at 7:58 p.m. CT, followed by Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan in the men's shot put final at 8:40 p.m. CT, Craig Engels in the men's 1500-meter semifinals at 8:56 p.m. CT and then potentially Long again in the women's 100 final at 9:50 p.m. CT if she advances through the semis earlier in the evening. Fans can watch the action live via the NBC family of networks and the Peacock app.
DAY ONE RESULTS
Women's 100-Meter Dash – First Round
3. McKenzie Long – 10.94 (+0.4) AQ
27. Shannon Ray – 11.31 (+0.9)
30. Jahniya Bowers – 11.44 (+0.3)
Men's 1500-Meter – First Round
22. Craig Engels – 3:38.69 AQ
28. Waleed Suliman – 3:39.12 qR
Men's Pole Vault – Qualifying
T6. Sam Kendricks – 5.65m/18-06.50 AQ
Men's Shot Put – Qualifying
8. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 20.49m/67-02.75 AQ
Women's Hammer – Qualifying
9. Janeah Stewart – 69.03m/226-5 AQ
12. Jasmine Mitchell – 65.49m/214-10 AQ
Fresh off an incredible triple crown performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships earlier this month, Bowerman Award semifinalist McKenzie Long wowed in her first race as a professional, winning the first heat of the 100-meter and finishing with the third-best qualifying time overall at 10.94 (+0.4). Long – who just signed her professional contract earlier today – has now run three wind-legal sub-11 times in the 100 in the last month after never doing so with a legal wind prior, including her NCAA semifinal career-best of 10.91 (+0.0).
Both the semifinal and potentially the final await Long on Saturday evening, who is also set to compete in the 200-meter dash next week as the current world leader. Long is attempting to become the 20th woman in U.S. history to make Team USA in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes.
McKenzie Long and Aleia Hobbs flying in the 100m!#TrackFieldTrials24 📺: NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/VbsBEyT0QC
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) June 22, 2024
Also running in the 100-meter first round Friday were Rebel alum Shannon Ray – who finished 27th at 11.31 (+0.9), just two hundredths of a second shy of advancing – and Ole Miss senior and NCAA 4x100-meter relay champion Jahniya Bowers, who took 30th at 11.44 (+0.3).
Six-time U.S. finalist and six-time All-American Craig Engels advanced in the men's 1500-meter first round race, claiming an auto bid in a very close first heat at 3:38.69. Also running in that heat was seven-time All-American Rebel great Waleed Suliman, who was near the lead for most of the race but fell heartbreakingly short of advancing at 3:39.12 after getting tripped up in heavy traffic down the final straightaway. However, Suliman was admitted to the semifinal after review late on Friday night into Saturday morning.
12-wide down the homestretch! 😳#TrackFieldTrials24 📺: NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/0PEUGlofUF
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 22, 2024
Two-time Olympian, 10-time U.S. champion and Oxford native Sam Kendricks took care of business in the men's pole vault qualifying round on Friday, tying for sixth at 5.65m/18-06.50 to advance to Sunday's final. Kendricks is looking to become only the third men's pole vaulter in U.S. history to make it to three Olympiads alongside Bob Richards (1948, '52, '56) and Earl Bell (1976, '84, '88).
Ole Miss sophomore, two-time NCAA Champion and Bowerman Award semifinalist Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan threw his hat in the ring of perhaps one of the toughest U.S. teams to make in shot put qualifying on Friday, advancing to the final after finishing eighth at 20.49m/67-02.75.
Robinson-O'Hagan was the lone collegian to make the final and the youngest by far at just 20 years old, but that's nothing new for the Rhode Island native, who this season became the youngest to complete the NCAA Division I indoor/outdoor men's shot put sweep since 1989 and the fourth-youngest all-time.
Ole Miss also received two additional qualifying performances to start the day in the women's hammer prelim rounds. Former Rebel great and 2018 NCAA hammer champion Janeah Stewart took ninth at 69.03m/226-5 to advance to Sunday's final, while current Ole Miss senior and seven-time All-American Jasmine Mitchell nabbed the final qualifying spot by an inch in 12th place at 65.49m/214-10.
Action resumes for Ole Miss on Saturday with McKenzie Long in the women's 100-meter dash semifinal at 7:58 p.m. CT, followed by Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan in the men's shot put final at 8:40 p.m. CT, Craig Engels in the men's 1500-meter semifinals at 8:56 p.m. CT and then potentially Long again in the women's 100 final at 9:50 p.m. CT if she advances through the semis earlier in the evening. Fans can watch the action live via the NBC family of networks and the Peacock app.
DAY ONE RESULTS
Women's 100-Meter Dash – First Round
3. McKenzie Long – 10.94 (+0.4) AQ
27. Shannon Ray – 11.31 (+0.9)
30. Jahniya Bowers – 11.44 (+0.3)
Men's 1500-Meter – First Round
22. Craig Engels – 3:38.69 AQ
28. Waleed Suliman – 3:39.12 qR
Men's Pole Vault – Qualifying
T6. Sam Kendricks – 5.65m/18-06.50 AQ
Men's Shot Put – Qualifying
8. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 20.49m/67-02.75 AQ
Women's Hammer – Qualifying
9. Janeah Stewart – 69.03m/226-5 AQ
12. Jasmine Mitchell – 65.49m/214-10 AQ
Players Mentioned
Sprints
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