The University of Mississippi Athletics
Track & Field Opens Strong at Day One of Rod McCravy Memorial
1/9/2026 | Track and Field
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After a month-long break, Ole Miss men's and women's track & field returned to competition with several strong performances at the first day of Kentucky's Rod McCravy Memorial on Friday.
Senior and reigning NCAA Outdoor men's high jump champion Arvesta Troupe was in midseason form in his first collegiate competition since claiming his national crown last June. Troupe already had the competition won with his first clearance at 2.13m/6-11.75, as no other jumpers in the field were able to clear any higher than 2.05m/6-08.75.
From there, Troupe got to work, passing to 2.20m/7-02.50 and clearing on his first attempt, and then passing again to 2.23m/7-03.75, which he cleared on his third and final attempt. That height stands as an indoor PR and improves upon his spot at No. 3 in the Ole Miss record books indoors.
Troupe went on to take three attempts at 2.26m/7-5 – one quarter-inch off his career-best 2.27m/7-05.25 that won his national title last year – but was unable to convert in today's season debut.
Ole Miss also got straight to work with two powerful performances in the weight throw competitions, particularly in the women's edition.
Junior Akaoma Odeluga unleashed a five-foot PR on her sixth and final attempt of the day to win at 22.95m/75-03.50, moving her to No. 5 in that stacked section of the Ole Miss record book. Fellow junior and reigning SEC silver medalist Skylar Soli had a career day as well, finishing runner-up at a PR of her own at 22.21m/72-10.50 to improve upon her spot in sixth all-time at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss also received two powerful debuts from newcomers Nyah Edwards and Natalie Brown. Edwards, a senior transfer from East Carolina, uncorked a four-foot PR in the third round to finish fourth at 20.50m/67-03.25, good already for ninth in school history. Brown – a freshman from Matthews, North Carolina – began her college career with a ninth-place finish and a finals appearance, topping out at her second-round effort 18.87m/61-11 to already rank 13th in school history.
In the men's weight, All-American senior Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan began his final collegiate season with an impressive opening performance. Robinson-O'Hagan – a member of the preseason watch list for The Bowerman, college track & field's version of the Heisman Trophy – was the top collegiate finisher in second place at 23.78m/78-00.25.
Fellow senior Bryson Smith was right behind him in third place, tossing a career-best heave of 22.11m/72-05.50 that ranks second in school history behind Robinson-O'Hagan. Senior Mason Hickel rounded out the Rebel men in competition, finishing fourth at a strong opener of 21.27m/69-09.50.
Sophomore Lily Beattie, the defending silver medalist in the SEC women's pole vault outdoors, began her second campaign with the Rebels above the four-meter line. Beattie was the fifth-place finisher at 4.05m/13-03.50.
On the track, sophomore Tarique Wright had a superb beginning to his 2026 season. Wright shaved half a tenth off his prior best in the 60-meter dash, finishing seventh in the preliminary round before running that same exact time in the semifinal, where he finished 11th overall. That time moves him into a tie for 11th in Ole Miss history.
Elsewhere on the track, Ole Miss received solid performances from Stone Smith in the men's 1000-meter (second, 2:28.65; event debut), Jonathan Stock in the men's 600-meter (sixth, 1:19.51; PR), multi athletes Caughran Fowler (8.46, PR) and William Numnum (8.66, PR) in the men's 60-meter hurdles, and Lizzie Hatton in the women's 200-meter dash (27th, 25.22; PR).
Competition resumes for Ole Miss at 9:30 a.m. CT with the women's shot put.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Men's 60-Meter Dash – Prelims
7. Tarique Wright – 6.79q – PR, T-No. 11 Ole Miss History
Men's 60-Meter Dash – Semifinals
11. Tarique Wright – 6.79 – Ties PR
Women's 200-Meter Dash
27. Lizzie Hatton – 25.22 – Indoor PR
Women's 400-Meter Dash
13. Patchnalie Compere – 59.17 – Collegiate Debut
Men's 600-Meter
6. Jonathan Stock – 1:19.51 – PR
Men's 1000-Meter
2. Stone Smith – 2:28.65 – Event Debut
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
35. Bayli Major – 8.90 – Collegiate Debut
40. Carmela Coulter – 9.15 – Collegiate Debut
44. Nyajah Gordon – 9.38
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
12. Caughran Fowler – 8.46q – PR
17. William Numnum – 8.80q – Collegiate Debut
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles – Semifinals
12. William Numnum – 8.66 – PR
17. Caughran Fowler – 8.67
Women's High Jump
NH Carmela Coulter
Men's High Jump
1. Arvesta Troupe – 2.23m/7-03.75 – Indoor PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History Indoor
Women's Pole Vault
5. Lily Beattie – 4.05m/13-03.50
T6. Mary Cate Doughty – 3.90m/12-09.50
11. Katie McFarland – 3.75m/12-03.50
13. Aly Francolini – 3.75m/12-03.50
T14. Rachel Homoly – 3.75m/12-03.50 – Ole Miss Debut, No. 15 Ole Miss History Indoors
NH Katelyn Hulsey
Women's Long Jump
10. Indya Dotson – 5.73m/18-09.75
25. Nyajah Gordon – 5.19m/17-00.50
FOUL Lizzie Hatton
Women's Weight Throw
1. Akaoma Odeluga – 22.95m/75-03.50 – 5-foot PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History
2. Skylar Soli – 22.21m/72-10.50 – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History
4. Nyah Edwards – 20.50m/67-03.25 – Ole Miss Debut, 4-foot PR, No. 9 Ole Miss History
9. Natalie Brown – 18.87m/61-11 – Collegiate Debut, No. 13 Ole Miss History
13. Naomi Woolfolk – 17.90m/58-08.75 – PR, No. 15 Ole Miss History
16. Temidayo Owoyemi – 16.66m/54-8 – Collegiate Debut
Men's Weight Throw
2. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 23.78m/78-00.25 – Top Collegiate Finisher
3. Bryson Smith – 22.11m/72-05.50 – PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History
4. Mason Hickel – 21.27m/69-09.50
Senior and reigning NCAA Outdoor men's high jump champion Arvesta Troupe was in midseason form in his first collegiate competition since claiming his national crown last June. Troupe already had the competition won with his first clearance at 2.13m/6-11.75, as no other jumpers in the field were able to clear any higher than 2.05m/6-08.75.
From there, Troupe got to work, passing to 2.20m/7-02.50 and clearing on his first attempt, and then passing again to 2.23m/7-03.75, which he cleared on his third and final attempt. That height stands as an indoor PR and improves upon his spot at No. 3 in the Ole Miss record books indoors.
Troupe went on to take three attempts at 2.26m/7-5 – one quarter-inch off his career-best 2.27m/7-05.25 that won his national title last year – but was unable to convert in today's season debut.
Ole Miss also got straight to work with two powerful performances in the weight throw competitions, particularly in the women's edition.
Junior Akaoma Odeluga unleashed a five-foot PR on her sixth and final attempt of the day to win at 22.95m/75-03.50, moving her to No. 5 in that stacked section of the Ole Miss record book. Fellow junior and reigning SEC silver medalist Skylar Soli had a career day as well, finishing runner-up at a PR of her own at 22.21m/72-10.50 to improve upon her spot in sixth all-time at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss also received two powerful debuts from newcomers Nyah Edwards and Natalie Brown. Edwards, a senior transfer from East Carolina, uncorked a four-foot PR in the third round to finish fourth at 20.50m/67-03.25, good already for ninth in school history. Brown – a freshman from Matthews, North Carolina – began her college career with a ninth-place finish and a finals appearance, topping out at her second-round effort 18.87m/61-11 to already rank 13th in school history.
In the men's weight, All-American senior Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan began his final collegiate season with an impressive opening performance. Robinson-O'Hagan – a member of the preseason watch list for The Bowerman, college track & field's version of the Heisman Trophy – was the top collegiate finisher in second place at 23.78m/78-00.25.
Fellow senior Bryson Smith was right behind him in third place, tossing a career-best heave of 22.11m/72-05.50 that ranks second in school history behind Robinson-O'Hagan. Senior Mason Hickel rounded out the Rebel men in competition, finishing fourth at a strong opener of 21.27m/69-09.50.
Sophomore Lily Beattie, the defending silver medalist in the SEC women's pole vault outdoors, began her second campaign with the Rebels above the four-meter line. Beattie was the fifth-place finisher at 4.05m/13-03.50.
On the track, sophomore Tarique Wright had a superb beginning to his 2026 season. Wright shaved half a tenth off his prior best in the 60-meter dash, finishing seventh in the preliminary round before running that same exact time in the semifinal, where he finished 11th overall. That time moves him into a tie for 11th in Ole Miss history.
Elsewhere on the track, Ole Miss received solid performances from Stone Smith in the men's 1000-meter (second, 2:28.65; event debut), Jonathan Stock in the men's 600-meter (sixth, 1:19.51; PR), multi athletes Caughran Fowler (8.46, PR) and William Numnum (8.66, PR) in the men's 60-meter hurdles, and Lizzie Hatton in the women's 200-meter dash (27th, 25.22; PR).
Competition resumes for Ole Miss at 9:30 a.m. CT with the women's shot put.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
Men's 60-Meter Dash – Prelims
7. Tarique Wright – 6.79q – PR, T-No. 11 Ole Miss History
Men's 60-Meter Dash – Semifinals
11. Tarique Wright – 6.79 – Ties PR
Women's 200-Meter Dash
27. Lizzie Hatton – 25.22 – Indoor PR
Women's 400-Meter Dash
13. Patchnalie Compere – 59.17 – Collegiate Debut
Men's 600-Meter
6. Jonathan Stock – 1:19.51 – PR
Men's 1000-Meter
2. Stone Smith – 2:28.65 – Event Debut
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
35. Bayli Major – 8.90 – Collegiate Debut
40. Carmela Coulter – 9.15 – Collegiate Debut
44. Nyajah Gordon – 9.38
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles – Prelims
12. Caughran Fowler – 8.46q – PR
17. William Numnum – 8.80q – Collegiate Debut
Men's 60-Meter Hurdles – Semifinals
12. William Numnum – 8.66 – PR
17. Caughran Fowler – 8.67
Women's High Jump
NH Carmela Coulter
Men's High Jump
1. Arvesta Troupe – 2.23m/7-03.75 – Indoor PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History Indoor
Women's Pole Vault
5. Lily Beattie – 4.05m/13-03.50
T6. Mary Cate Doughty – 3.90m/12-09.50
11. Katie McFarland – 3.75m/12-03.50
13. Aly Francolini – 3.75m/12-03.50
T14. Rachel Homoly – 3.75m/12-03.50 – Ole Miss Debut, No. 15 Ole Miss History Indoors
NH Katelyn Hulsey
Women's Long Jump
10. Indya Dotson – 5.73m/18-09.75
25. Nyajah Gordon – 5.19m/17-00.50
FOUL Lizzie Hatton
Women's Weight Throw
1. Akaoma Odeluga – 22.95m/75-03.50 – 5-foot PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History
2. Skylar Soli – 22.21m/72-10.50 – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History
4. Nyah Edwards – 20.50m/67-03.25 – Ole Miss Debut, 4-foot PR, No. 9 Ole Miss History
9. Natalie Brown – 18.87m/61-11 – Collegiate Debut, No. 13 Ole Miss History
13. Naomi Woolfolk – 17.90m/58-08.75 – PR, No. 15 Ole Miss History
16. Temidayo Owoyemi – 16.66m/54-8 – Collegiate Debut
Men's Weight Throw
2. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 23.78m/78-00.25 – Top Collegiate Finisher
3. Bryson Smith – 22.11m/72-05.50 – PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History
4. Mason Hickel – 21.27m/69-09.50
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Multi
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and FieldThe Season: New Heights (2025)
Friday, August 01
From Walk-On to National Champ: Arvesta Troupe (T&F)
Monday, June 23
HIGHLIGHTS: Arvesta Troupe Makes History as NCAA High Jump Champ
Friday, June 13
PRESSER: Arvesta Troupe Talks Historic NCAA High Jump Win
Friday, June 13