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The University of Mississippi Athletics
WATCH: Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan at the NCAA Indoor Press Conference
3/13/2025 | Track and Field
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Ole Miss men's track & field junior and two-time NCAA champion Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan was one of six total athletes invited to take part in the pre-meet press conference on Thursday for the upcoming 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Robinson-O'Hagan was the lone thrower invited across both genders, and was one of three men's athletes featured alongside North Carolina distance runner Ethan Strand and USC hurdler and long jumper Johnny Brackins Jr.
The Rebel junior – who in addition to being the reigning NCAA Indoor and Outdoor shot put champion has won eight All-America awards and scored 33 NCAA points in just two seasons at Ole Miss – enters as the collegiate leader in the shot put at his career-best heave of 21.11m/69-03.25, as well as No. 4 in the weight throw at his SEC meet record of 24.35m/79-10.75. He's one of three throwers to attempt the shot/weight double this season, the third year in a row Robinson-O'Hagan has done so, and he enters this weekend ranked second in collegiate history in combined shot/weight PRs at 45.46 meters.
The Bowerman watch list member stole the show at Thursday's press conference, displaying his trademark confidence in both of his events and remarking on the importance of the NCAA meet in regards to the health of track & field in the United States.
Below is a transcript of Robinson-O'Hagan's remarks at today's press conference, which can also be viewed in full HERE.
Competition for Ole Miss begins Friday evening with Robinson-O'Hagan in the men's weight throw final. For more info and a full schedule of events, read our meet preview.
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ON THE SEASON AND THE JOURNEY TO THE NATIONAL MEET
"I think this season has been going well for me. Each week we're building and building, Coach John [Smith] has his program setup for me. I go out there, I do my thing. We get off any meet and it's just like let's keep rebuilding, getting back on track of what we're supposed to be doing. And we're here. We're here in two events, not a lot of people are here in two events. Let's see what happens."
ON DOUBLING AGAIN AND ON HIS EXPECTATIONS THIS WEEK
"I'm coming here to double-champ. I'm taking both titles. You just gotta go in there and compete. It's about who's hitting the first throw and who responds to the first throw. I'm pretty good at doing both. If I get out there in the shot put, last year I PR'd by over a foot the first throw. If someone hits a throw before me, depending on the lineup, I have to respond, and that's the sport. If you don't respond, you don't win. I'm usually good at that, my coach [John Smith], he builds me up for that. Each practice we build that, so that's the plan."
ON BEING PART OF THE RICH LEGACY OF OLE MISS THROWS, HEAD COACH CONNIE PRICE-SMITH AND THROWS COACH JOHN SMITH
"I'm gonna stay with Coach John for however long I can and possibly do the same thing on an Olympic team in both events [hammer and shot] because I'm capable of doing it. Coach John's really good at coaching that event, and I also have Coach Connie and [assistant coach] Dempsey [McGuigan], so we have a whole team together and a lot of teams don't have that. We have that and everyone plays a role. As long as I do that then I'll be fine."
ON HAVING ANY PRE-COMPETITION SUPERSTITIONS
"For me, I do the same thing every single week. There's no reason to try something new or try to get in a different mindset. I already go on the track thinking I wanna win every time, I'm gonna win, so I might as well keep the same routine every time. Don't change anything up, that's how you have a bad meet."
ON WHAT IT MEANS TO COMPETE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE
"Just being at this meet in general is a huge opportunity for me and all of us here in the track and field community. Just to be able to represent our schools and our country and do what we have to do. This is one of the biggest stages in the world. My coach preaches it all the time. This is the biggest stage. This is more important than the U.S. meet, because this is where the foundation starts for the U.S. team. For [the three press conference invitees] to go out here and us win, those are three dudes who can be on that USA team to win gold medals for the U.S., and that's not something other countries get unless they come here. We gotta represent for our country, this meet is very important."
Robinson-O'Hagan was the lone thrower invited across both genders, and was one of three men's athletes featured alongside North Carolina distance runner Ethan Strand and USC hurdler and long jumper Johnny Brackins Jr.
The Rebel junior – who in addition to being the reigning NCAA Indoor and Outdoor shot put champion has won eight All-America awards and scored 33 NCAA points in just two seasons at Ole Miss – enters as the collegiate leader in the shot put at his career-best heave of 21.11m/69-03.25, as well as No. 4 in the weight throw at his SEC meet record of 24.35m/79-10.75. He's one of three throwers to attempt the shot/weight double this season, the third year in a row Robinson-O'Hagan has done so, and he enters this weekend ranked second in collegiate history in combined shot/weight PRs at 45.46 meters.
The Bowerman watch list member stole the show at Thursday's press conference, displaying his trademark confidence in both of his events and remarking on the importance of the NCAA meet in regards to the health of track & field in the United States.
Below is a transcript of Robinson-O'Hagan's remarks at today's press conference, which can also be viewed in full HERE.
Competition for Ole Miss begins Friday evening with Robinson-O'Hagan in the men's weight throw final. For more info and a full schedule of events, read our meet preview.
-----
ON THE SEASON AND THE JOURNEY TO THE NATIONAL MEET
"I think this season has been going well for me. Each week we're building and building, Coach John [Smith] has his program setup for me. I go out there, I do my thing. We get off any meet and it's just like let's keep rebuilding, getting back on track of what we're supposed to be doing. And we're here. We're here in two events, not a lot of people are here in two events. Let's see what happens."
ON DOUBLING AGAIN AND ON HIS EXPECTATIONS THIS WEEK
"I'm coming here to double-champ. I'm taking both titles. You just gotta go in there and compete. It's about who's hitting the first throw and who responds to the first throw. I'm pretty good at doing both. If I get out there in the shot put, last year I PR'd by over a foot the first throw. If someone hits a throw before me, depending on the lineup, I have to respond, and that's the sport. If you don't respond, you don't win. I'm usually good at that, my coach [John Smith], he builds me up for that. Each practice we build that, so that's the plan."
ON BEING PART OF THE RICH LEGACY OF OLE MISS THROWS, HEAD COACH CONNIE PRICE-SMITH AND THROWS COACH JOHN SMITH
"I'm gonna stay with Coach John for however long I can and possibly do the same thing on an Olympic team in both events [hammer and shot] because I'm capable of doing it. Coach John's really good at coaching that event, and I also have Coach Connie and [assistant coach] Dempsey [McGuigan], so we have a whole team together and a lot of teams don't have that. We have that and everyone plays a role. As long as I do that then I'll be fine."
ON HAVING ANY PRE-COMPETITION SUPERSTITIONS
"For me, I do the same thing every single week. There's no reason to try something new or try to get in a different mindset. I already go on the track thinking I wanna win every time, I'm gonna win, so I might as well keep the same routine every time. Don't change anything up, that's how you have a bad meet."
ON WHAT IT MEANS TO COMPETE ON THE NATIONAL STAGE
"Just being at this meet in general is a huge opportunity for me and all of us here in the track and field community. Just to be able to represent our schools and our country and do what we have to do. This is one of the biggest stages in the world. My coach preaches it all the time. This is the biggest stage. This is more important than the U.S. meet, because this is where the foundation starts for the U.S. team. For [the three press conference invitees] to go out here and us win, those are three dudes who can be on that USA team to win gold medals for the U.S., and that's not something other countries get unless they come here. We gotta represent for our country, this meet is very important."
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track and FieldSaturday, March 14
Saturday, March 14
Saturday, March 14
Saturday, March 14