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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Track and Field Opens Day One at LSU’s Battle on the Bayou
3/28/2025 | Track and Field
BATON ROUGE, La. – Ole Miss track & field put together several impressive performances to open day one at LSU's Battle on the Bayou on Friday.
Both the Rebel women and men found success in the ring today, with career best performances in the hammer by All-American sophomore Akaoma Odeluga and junior Bryson Smith.
Odeluga led the way for the Ole Miss women in her outdoor season debut with a personal best 61.80m/202-09 to secure runner-up in the hammer throw, the seventh best in Ole Miss history. Fellow sophomore Skylar Soli followed with a heave of 56.59m/185-08 to take third.
In the men's hammer, Smith set a career best for the second time in two consecutive weeks, besting his last mark by one foot with a blast of 67.79m/222-05 to finish runner-up. He now ranks fourth in Ole Miss history and ninth in the current NCAA rankings. Senior Jake Dalton followed in third at 66.80m/219-02 and junior Mason Hickel took eighth with a season-best 63.17m/207-03, just five inches shy of a PR.
Senior Drew O'Connor climbed his way up the NCAA rankings to 12th with a season-best mark of 5.30m/17-04.50 to finish fifth in the men's pole vault. Sophomore John Kendricks took sixth at 5.15m/16-10.75 and junior Logan Kelley tied for seventh with a season-best of 5.15m/16-10.75.
On the track, JUCO transfer junior Joseph Michel made his Ole Miss outdoor debut in the men's 200-meter, clocking 21.11 (+3.7) to take 12th place.
In the men's 1500 meter, junior Gabe Scales made his outdoor season debut by claiming 12th at 3:47.00. Freshman Ky Hehir made his outdoor debut taking 14th at 3:48.68 and senior Landen McNair followed in 15th place at 3:49.34.
Other Rebel athletes with notable performances on Friday included freshman Lily Beattie in the women's pole vault (tied-seventh, 3.95m/12-11.50), senior Abigail Green in the women's javelin (14th, 43.19m/141-08, SB) and freshman Alycia Hart in the women's 1500-meter (16th, 4.28.85).
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 200-Meter Dash
40. Lizzie Hatton – 25.28 (+1.9)
42. Nyajah Gordon – 25.79 (+1.9)
Men's 200-Meter Dash
12. Joseph Michel – 21.11 (+3.7) – Outdoor Debut
24. Wesley Todd – 21.55 (+4.1) – Outdoor Debut
34. Tarique Wright – 21.93 (+2.7)
Women's 1500-Meter
16. Alycia Hart – 4.28.85 – First Collegiate 1500
23. Ella Johnson – 4:32.13 – First Collegiate 1500
40. Brooke Preputnick – 4:50.27 – First Collegiate 1500
Men's 1500-Meter
12. Gabe Scales – 3:47.00 – Season Debut
14. Ky Hehir – 3:48.68
15. Landen McNair – 3:49.34
18. Aidan Hodge – 3:49.85
19. Zack Gilbertson – 3:49.95 – First Collegiate 1500
39. Cole Piotrowski – 3.57.12
40. Jonathan Stock – 3:57.44
Women's Pole Vault
T7. Lily Beattie – 3.95m/12-11.50
NH Katie McFarland
Men's Pole Vault
5. Drew O'Connor – 5.30m/17-04.50 – SB, 2025 NCAA 2025 No. 12
6. John Kendricks – 5.15m/16-10.75
T7. Logan Kelley – 5.15m/16-10.75 – SB
NH Ford Maberry
Women's Long Jump
14. Dieusi Armand – 5.54m/18-02.25 (+2.8)
15. Madison Martinez – 5.45m/17-10.75 (+1.0)
21. Nyajah Gordon – 5.31m/17-05.25 (+2.4) – Outdoor Debut
Men's Long Jump
13. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 6.92m/22-08.50 (+0.0)
Women's Hammer
2. Akaoma Odeluga – 61.80m/202-09 – PR, Season Debut, No. 7 Ole Miss History
3. Skylar Soli – 56.59m/185-08
Men's Hammer
2. Bryson Smith – 67.79m/222-05 – PR, No. 4 Ole Miss History, 2025 NCAA No. 9
3. Jake Dalton – 66.80m/219-02
8. Mason Hickel – 63.17m/207-03 – SB
14. Costen Campion – 53.50m/175-06
16. Keegan Wilfawn – 52.64m/172-08
Women's Javelin
14. Abigail Green – 43.19m/141-08 – SB
Both the Rebel women and men found success in the ring today, with career best performances in the hammer by All-American sophomore Akaoma Odeluga and junior Bryson Smith.
Odeluga led the way for the Ole Miss women in her outdoor season debut with a personal best 61.80m/202-09 to secure runner-up in the hammer throw, the seventh best in Ole Miss history. Fellow sophomore Skylar Soli followed with a heave of 56.59m/185-08 to take third.
In the men's hammer, Smith set a career best for the second time in two consecutive weeks, besting his last mark by one foot with a blast of 67.79m/222-05 to finish runner-up. He now ranks fourth in Ole Miss history and ninth in the current NCAA rankings. Senior Jake Dalton followed in third at 66.80m/219-02 and junior Mason Hickel took eighth with a season-best 63.17m/207-03, just five inches shy of a PR.
Senior Drew O'Connor climbed his way up the NCAA rankings to 12th with a season-best mark of 5.30m/17-04.50 to finish fifth in the men's pole vault. Sophomore John Kendricks took sixth at 5.15m/16-10.75 and junior Logan Kelley tied for seventh with a season-best of 5.15m/16-10.75.
On the track, JUCO transfer junior Joseph Michel made his Ole Miss outdoor debut in the men's 200-meter, clocking 21.11 (+3.7) to take 12th place.
In the men's 1500 meter, junior Gabe Scales made his outdoor season debut by claiming 12th at 3:47.00. Freshman Ky Hehir made his outdoor debut taking 14th at 3:48.68 and senior Landen McNair followed in 15th place at 3:49.34.
Other Rebel athletes with notable performances on Friday included freshman Lily Beattie in the women's pole vault (tied-seventh, 3.95m/12-11.50), senior Abigail Green in the women's javelin (14th, 43.19m/141-08, SB) and freshman Alycia Hart in the women's 1500-meter (16th, 4.28.85).
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Women's 200-Meter Dash
40. Lizzie Hatton – 25.28 (+1.9)
42. Nyajah Gordon – 25.79 (+1.9)
Men's 200-Meter Dash
12. Joseph Michel – 21.11 (+3.7) – Outdoor Debut
24. Wesley Todd – 21.55 (+4.1) – Outdoor Debut
34. Tarique Wright – 21.93 (+2.7)
Women's 1500-Meter
16. Alycia Hart – 4.28.85 – First Collegiate 1500
23. Ella Johnson – 4:32.13 – First Collegiate 1500
40. Brooke Preputnick – 4:50.27 – First Collegiate 1500
Men's 1500-Meter
12. Gabe Scales – 3:47.00 – Season Debut
14. Ky Hehir – 3:48.68
15. Landen McNair – 3:49.34
18. Aidan Hodge – 3:49.85
19. Zack Gilbertson – 3:49.95 – First Collegiate 1500
39. Cole Piotrowski – 3.57.12
40. Jonathan Stock – 3:57.44
Women's Pole Vault
T7. Lily Beattie – 3.95m/12-11.50
NH Katie McFarland
Men's Pole Vault
5. Drew O'Connor – 5.30m/17-04.50 – SB, 2025 NCAA 2025 No. 12
6. John Kendricks – 5.15m/16-10.75
T7. Logan Kelley – 5.15m/16-10.75 – SB
NH Ford Maberry
Women's Long Jump
14. Dieusi Armand – 5.54m/18-02.25 (+2.8)
15. Madison Martinez – 5.45m/17-10.75 (+1.0)
21. Nyajah Gordon – 5.31m/17-05.25 (+2.4) – Outdoor Debut
Men's Long Jump
13. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 6.92m/22-08.50 (+0.0)
Women's Hammer
2. Akaoma Odeluga – 61.80m/202-09 – PR, Season Debut, No. 7 Ole Miss History
3. Skylar Soli – 56.59m/185-08
Men's Hammer
2. Bryson Smith – 67.79m/222-05 – PR, No. 4 Ole Miss History, 2025 NCAA No. 9
3. Jake Dalton – 66.80m/219-02
8. Mason Hickel – 63.17m/207-03 – SB
14. Costen Campion – 53.50m/175-06
16. Keegan Wilfawn – 52.64m/172-08
Women's Javelin
14. Abigail Green – 43.19m/141-08 – SB
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Javelin
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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