The University of Mississippi Athletics
Robinson-O’Hagan Eighth in Shot Put, Engels to 1500 Final at Day Two of U.S. Olympic Trials
6/22/2024 | Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Ole Miss track & field star sophomore Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan proved his worth in the toughest men's shot put team final in the world, while former Rebel great Craig Engels booked passage to his seventh career U.S. final in the 1500-meter on the second day of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials at Hayward Field on Saturday night.
Robinson-O'Hagan – a Bowerman Award semifinalist – was up against some of the best shot putters in the history of the world in Saturday's final, but was still able to make the top-eight and break his own outdoor school record in the process.
He was in ninth heading into his third and final prelim throw, where he was able to find an improvement of 20.85m/68-5 to take a foot and a half lead over the final qualifying spot in eighth place. Having securely made the final, Robinson-O'Hagan unleashed a new outdoor PR and Ole Miss outdoor record 20.98m/68-10 in the fourth round, which ended up as his best of the day in eighth.
Just making this final is a considerable accomplishment, as it featured four of the current top-seven shot putters worldwide in 2024 – led by U.S. Champion and world record holder, Ryan Crouser. Meanwhile, as a 20-year-old, Robinson-O'Hagan was the youngest competitor to make the top-eight by four years. That is just the latest in a long string of early career accomplishments for Robinson-O'Hagan, who two weeks ago became the youngest to sweep the NCAA Division I indoor and outdoor men's shot put titles since 1989, and indoors was the first underclassman to win since Crouser did himself as a redshirt sophomore at Texas in 2014.
Robinson-O'Hagan isn't done yet in Eugene either, as he is scheduled to compete in the men's hammer next Friday, June 28.
Ole Miss had two representatives in the second heat of the men's 1500-meter semifinals on Saturday in the form of All-American alums Craig Engels and Waleed Suliman. Engels had nabbed an auto qualifier in a chaotic first qualifying heat on Friday evening, while Suliman was reinstated to the semifinal after a late-night review following his ninth-place finish in that same heat.
In Saturday's semifinal, Engels and Suliman were neck-and-neck for what ended up being the final time qualifier, with Engels edging out Suliman by roughly three-quarters of a second. Engels was the seventh-fastest overall at a season-best 3:35.08 for the last time qualifier slot to Monday night's final, while Suliman was the first one out at a PR time of 3:35.72.
This is the seventh career U.S. final in the 1500 for Engels, who is looking for his first career Team USA bid on an Olympic roster. Engels has finished fourth twice at the Trials, first in the 800-meter final in 2016 and then in the 1500 final last time out in 2021. Engels will need a fast time in the final in addition to a top-three spot, though, as he currently does not own the Olympic qualifying standard of 3:33.50.
In the women's 100-meter dash semifinals, recent NCAA triple crown winner McKenzie Long was unable to advance through to the final, finishing 12th overall at 11.15 (+0.0). This is not the end of Long's Olympic journey, though, as she will compete in the 200-meter next Thursday, June 27 – an event in which she currently owns the three-fastest times in the world for 2024.
Fellow Rebel grad Shannon Ray was added to the 100 semifinals after a late scratch by Abby Steiner, her second consecutive U.S. semifinal appearance after doing so in the 200-meter in 2023. Ray finished 24th overall in Saturday's semifinal, running 11.37 (+0.4).
Ole Miss athletes will compete in two separate events on Sunday: Janeah Stewart and Jasmine Mitchell will represent the Rebels in the women's hammer final at 7 p.m. CT, while Sam Kendricks will look for his third career Olympic qualifying berth in the men's pole vault at 7:40 p.m. CT.
DAY TWO RESULTS
Women's 100-Meter Dash – Semifinals
12. McKenzie Long – 11.15 (+0.0)
24. Shannon Ray – 11.37 (+0.4)
Men's 1500-Meter – Semifinals
7. Craig Engels – 3:35.08q – SB
8. Waleed Suliman – 3:35.72 – PR
Men's Shot Put – Final
8. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 20.98m/68-10 – Outdoor PR, Ole Miss Outdoor Record
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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
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
Robinson-O'Hagan – a Bowerman Award semifinalist – was up against some of the best shot putters in the history of the world in Saturday's final, but was still able to make the top-eight and break his own outdoor school record in the process.
He was in ninth heading into his third and final prelim throw, where he was able to find an improvement of 20.85m/68-5 to take a foot and a half lead over the final qualifying spot in eighth place. Having securely made the final, Robinson-O'Hagan unleashed a new outdoor PR and Ole Miss outdoor record 20.98m/68-10 in the fourth round, which ended up as his best of the day in eighth.
Just making this final is a considerable accomplishment, as it featured four of the current top-seven shot putters worldwide in 2024 – led by U.S. Champion and world record holder, Ryan Crouser. Meanwhile, as a 20-year-old, Robinson-O'Hagan was the youngest competitor to make the top-eight by four years. That is just the latest in a long string of early career accomplishments for Robinson-O'Hagan, who two weeks ago became the youngest to sweep the NCAA Division I indoor and outdoor men's shot put titles since 1989, and indoors was the first underclassman to win since Crouser did himself as a redshirt sophomore at Texas in 2014.
Robinson-O'Hagan isn't done yet in Eugene either, as he is scheduled to compete in the men's hammer next Friday, June 28.
Ole Miss had two representatives in the second heat of the men's 1500-meter semifinals on Saturday in the form of All-American alums Craig Engels and Waleed Suliman. Engels had nabbed an auto qualifier in a chaotic first qualifying heat on Friday evening, while Suliman was reinstated to the semifinal after a late-night review following his ninth-place finish in that same heat.
In Saturday's semifinal, Engels and Suliman were neck-and-neck for what ended up being the final time qualifier, with Engels edging out Suliman by roughly three-quarters of a second. Engels was the seventh-fastest overall at a season-best 3:35.08 for the last time qualifier slot to Monday night's final, while Suliman was the first one out at a PR time of 3:35.72.
This is the seventh career U.S. final in the 1500 for Engels, who is looking for his first career Team USA bid on an Olympic roster. Engels has finished fourth twice at the Trials, first in the 800-meter final in 2016 and then in the 1500 final last time out in 2021. Engels will need a fast time in the final in addition to a top-three spot, though, as he currently does not own the Olympic qualifying standard of 3:33.50.
In the women's 100-meter dash semifinals, recent NCAA triple crown winner McKenzie Long was unable to advance through to the final, finishing 12th overall at 11.15 (+0.0). This is not the end of Long's Olympic journey, though, as she will compete in the 200-meter next Thursday, June 27 – an event in which she currently owns the three-fastest times in the world for 2024.
Fellow Rebel grad Shannon Ray was added to the 100 semifinals after a late scratch by Abby Steiner, her second consecutive U.S. semifinal appearance after doing so in the 200-meter in 2023. Ray finished 24th overall in Saturday's semifinal, running 11.37 (+0.4).
Ole Miss athletes will compete in two separate events on Sunday: Janeah Stewart and Jasmine Mitchell will represent the Rebels in the women's hammer final at 7 p.m. CT, while Sam Kendricks will look for his third career Olympic qualifying berth in the men's pole vault at 7:40 p.m. CT.
DAY TWO RESULTS
Women's 100-Meter Dash – Semifinals
12. McKenzie Long – 11.15 (+0.0)
24. Shannon Ray – 11.37 (+0.4)
Men's 1500-Meter – Semifinals
7. Craig Engels – 3:35.08q – SB
8. Waleed Suliman – 3:35.72 – PR
Men's Shot Put – Final
8. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 20.98m/68-10 – Outdoor PR, Ole Miss Outdoor Record
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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
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
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