The University of Mississippi Athletics
Handful of Rebels Advance in Productive Eighth Day of U.S. Olympic Trials
6/28/2024 | Track and Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Ole Miss track & field athletes – past and present – all had excellent days of competition, with five advancing to their respective national finals at the eighth day of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials on Friday night.
Recent NCAA triple crown winner McKenzie Long took care of business in the women's 200-meter dash semifinals, booking passage to her first career U.S. final. Long won the second heat at 22.01 (+0.6) for her auto-bid to Saturday's 200 final, where she will look to become the first Ole Miss woman to qualify for the Olympics in a track event.
Long has reigned as the world leader in the 200 for nearly two months since first running 22.03 (+0.6) to win the SEC Outdoor Championships on May 11, before then running 21.95 (+0.3) in the NCAA semifinal and finally her career-best 21.83 (+1.0) to win the national title on June 8. However, two others have joined her in the wind-legal sub-22 club for 2024 in the past two nights. U.S. 100-meter champion Sha'Carri Richardson broke the barrier both in last night's qualifying (21.99/+0.5) and tonight's semifinal (21.92/+1.8), while Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas snared the world lead from Long on her winning 21.78 (+1.4) in the semifinals tonight.
Ole Miss was heavily represented in the women's shot put qualifying round on Friday night, and will remain well represented in the final on Saturday night. Two-time Olympian and 2021 silver medalist Raven Saunders only needed one throw to advance on Friday, tossing a season-best 19.54m/64-01.25 in the first round.
Freshman standout Akaoma Odeluga, though, made waves by jumping into qualifying position after a third-round PR of 18.13m/59-05.75. Odeluga – who is already on Team USA for the 2024 World U20 Championships in August – improved her place as the No. 2 under-20 thrower in U.S history (behind Saunders) as well as the No. 3 thrower in Ole Miss history outdoors. On the world U20 list, Odeluga ranks second after recently being usurped for the world lead by South Africa's Ashley Erasmus on June 24 on a throw of 18.17m/59-07.50.
Two-time NCAA Champion and 2023 U.S. bronze medal shot putter Jalani Davis also found passage to the final on her third-round attempt, improving by more than 5.5 feet to 18.07m/59-03.50 to finish ninth in the qualifying round. Davis made the World Championships roster for Team USA last summer. Freshman Mensi Stiff finished three spots shy after throwing an outdoor PR of 17.38m/57-00.25 to finish 15th overall, improving upon her spot at No. 5 all-time at Ole Miss outdoors.
Earlier in the evening, star sophomore and two-time NCAA Champion Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan continued to prove his worth among the most talented throwers in the United States, snaring a spot to his second U.S. final of the past week – this time in the hammer.
A week after making the U.S. shot put final and finishing eighth at an outdoor PR and Ole Miss record 20.98m/68-10, Robinson-O'Hagan once again broke one of his own school records, improving by a half-foot in the hammer to 72.96m/239-4. He sat in fifth at the end of the first flight, and was able to hang on for the 12th and final qualifying position after the conclusion of the second flight. Robinson-O'Hagan not only is the lone collegian to make both the men's shot put and hammer finals, he is also the first collegian to do so at the U.S. Olympic Trials since Auburn's Cory Martin in 2008.
Olympic berths will be on the line in all three events contested by Rebels on Saturday night: Brian Williams in the men's discus final at 6:30 p.m. CT; McKenzie Long in the women's 200-meter dash final at 7:27 p.m. CT; and the trio of Saunders, Odeluga and Davis in the women's shot put final at 7:50 p.m. CT.
DAY EIGHT RESULTS
Women's 200-Meter Dash – Semifinals
3. McKenzie Long – 22.01 (+0.6) AQ
Women's Shot Put – Qualifying
2. Raven Saunders – 19.54m/64-01.25 AQ – SB
8. Akaoma Odeluga – 18.13m/59-05.75 AQ – PR, No. 2 U.S. U20 History, No. 3 Ole Miss History, 2024 World U20 No. 2, 2024 U.S. U20 No. 1
9. Jalani Davis – 18.07m/59-03.50 AQ
15. Mensi Stiff – 17.38m/57-00.25 – Outdoor PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History
Men's Hammer – Qualifying
12. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 72.96m/239-4 AQ – PR, Ole Miss Record
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DAY SEVEN RESULTS
Women's 200-Meter Dash – First Round
5. McKenzie Long – 22.49 (+0.8) AQ
Men's 5K – First Round
12. Anthony Camerieri – 13:31.41
Men's 110-Meter Hurdles – Semifinals
20. Ahmad Young Jr. – 13.58 (-0.2)
Men's Discus – Qualifying
7. Brian Williams – 62.56m/205-3 AQ
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DAY SIX
Practice Day
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DAY FIVE
Practice Day
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DAY FOUR RESULTS
Men's 1500-Meter – Final
9. Craig Engels – 3:34.21 – SB
Men's 110-Meter Hurdles – First Round
21. Ahmad Young Jr. – 13.46 (+1.8) – Ties PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
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DAY THREE RESULTS
Men's Pole Vault – Final
1. Sam Kendricks – 5.92m/19-5 – Team USA – Meet Record
Women's Hammer – Final
5. Janeah Stewart – 70.34m/230-9
11. Jasmine Mitchell – 59.74m/196-0
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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
Recent NCAA triple crown winner McKenzie Long took care of business in the women's 200-meter dash semifinals, booking passage to her first career U.S. final. Long won the second heat at 22.01 (+0.6) for her auto-bid to Saturday's 200 final, where she will look to become the first Ole Miss woman to qualify for the Olympics in a track event.
Long has reigned as the world leader in the 200 for nearly two months since first running 22.03 (+0.6) to win the SEC Outdoor Championships on May 11, before then running 21.95 (+0.3) in the NCAA semifinal and finally her career-best 21.83 (+1.0) to win the national title on June 8. However, two others have joined her in the wind-legal sub-22 club for 2024 in the past two nights. U.S. 100-meter champion Sha'Carri Richardson broke the barrier both in last night's qualifying (21.99/+0.5) and tonight's semifinal (21.92/+1.8), while Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas snared the world lead from Long on her winning 21.78 (+1.4) in the semifinals tonight.
Ole Miss was heavily represented in the women's shot put qualifying round on Friday night, and will remain well represented in the final on Saturday night. Two-time Olympian and 2021 silver medalist Raven Saunders only needed one throw to advance on Friday, tossing a season-best 19.54m/64-01.25 in the first round.
Freshman standout Akaoma Odeluga, though, made waves by jumping into qualifying position after a third-round PR of 18.13m/59-05.75. Odeluga – who is already on Team USA for the 2024 World U20 Championships in August – improved her place as the No. 2 under-20 thrower in U.S history (behind Saunders) as well as the No. 3 thrower in Ole Miss history outdoors. On the world U20 list, Odeluga ranks second after recently being usurped for the world lead by South Africa's Ashley Erasmus on June 24 on a throw of 18.17m/59-07.50.
Two-time NCAA Champion and 2023 U.S. bronze medal shot putter Jalani Davis also found passage to the final on her third-round attempt, improving by more than 5.5 feet to 18.07m/59-03.50 to finish ninth in the qualifying round. Davis made the World Championships roster for Team USA last summer. Freshman Mensi Stiff finished three spots shy after throwing an outdoor PR of 17.38m/57-00.25 to finish 15th overall, improving upon her spot at No. 5 all-time at Ole Miss outdoors.
Earlier in the evening, star sophomore and two-time NCAA Champion Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan continued to prove his worth among the most talented throwers in the United States, snaring a spot to his second U.S. final of the past week – this time in the hammer.
A week after making the U.S. shot put final and finishing eighth at an outdoor PR and Ole Miss record 20.98m/68-10, Robinson-O'Hagan once again broke one of his own school records, improving by a half-foot in the hammer to 72.96m/239-4. He sat in fifth at the end of the first flight, and was able to hang on for the 12th and final qualifying position after the conclusion of the second flight. Robinson-O'Hagan not only is the lone collegian to make both the men's shot put and hammer finals, he is also the first collegian to do so at the U.S. Olympic Trials since Auburn's Cory Martin in 2008.
Olympic berths will be on the line in all three events contested by Rebels on Saturday night: Brian Williams in the men's discus final at 6:30 p.m. CT; McKenzie Long in the women's 200-meter dash final at 7:27 p.m. CT; and the trio of Saunders, Odeluga and Davis in the women's shot put final at 7:50 p.m. CT.
DAY EIGHT RESULTS
Women's 200-Meter Dash – Semifinals
3. McKenzie Long – 22.01 (+0.6) AQ
Women's Shot Put – Qualifying
2. Raven Saunders – 19.54m/64-01.25 AQ – SB
8. Akaoma Odeluga – 18.13m/59-05.75 AQ – PR, No. 2 U.S. U20 History, No. 3 Ole Miss History, 2024 World U20 No. 2, 2024 U.S. U20 No. 1
9. Jalani Davis – 18.07m/59-03.50 AQ
15. Mensi Stiff – 17.38m/57-00.25 – Outdoor PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History
Men's Hammer – Qualifying
12. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 72.96m/239-4 AQ – PR, Ole Miss Record
-----
DAY SEVEN RESULTS
Women's 200-Meter Dash – First Round
5. McKenzie Long – 22.49 (+0.8) AQ
Men's 5K – First Round
12. Anthony Camerieri – 13:31.41
Men's 110-Meter Hurdles – Semifinals
20. Ahmad Young Jr. – 13.58 (-0.2)
Men's Discus – Qualifying
7. Brian Williams – 62.56m/205-3 AQ
-----
DAY SIX
Practice Day
-----
DAY FIVE
Practice Day
-----
DAY FOUR RESULTS
Men's 1500-Meter – Final
9. Craig Engels – 3:34.21 – SB
Men's 110-Meter Hurdles – First Round
21. Ahmad Young Jr. – 13.46 (+1.8) – Ties PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
-----
DAY THREE RESULTS
Men's Pole Vault – Final
1. Sam Kendricks – 5.92m/19-5 – Team USA – Meet Record
Women's Hammer – Final
5. Janeah Stewart – 70.34m/230-9
11. Jasmine Mitchell – 59.74m/196-0
-----
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
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