The University of Mississippi Athletics
Track & Field Wraps Competitive First Day of Split Action
2/13/2026 | Track and Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. / NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ole Miss track & field took part in some of the best competitive fields in the nation at Arkansas' Tyson Invitational, while the Rebel distance runners wrapped the evening with several strong races at Vanderbilt's Music City Challenge to conclude the first day of split action on Friday.
At Arkansas, both weight throw fields rivaled that of an NCAA or even U.S. final. In the women's edition, each of the top six throws by collegiate athletes this season occurred Friday in Fayetteville – which included Rebel juniors Akaoma Odeluga and Skylar Soli.
Both Rebels scored career-bests, with Odeluga sixth at 23.08m/75-08.75 and Soli seventh at 22.34m/73-03.50. This season, those marks respectively rank eighth and 13th worldwide, sixth and eighth in the United States, fifth and sixth in the NCAA, and second and third in the SEC.
Former Rebel and two-time NCAA weight throw champion Jalani Davis led the spectacular field, winning on a career-best blast of 25.47m/83-06.75 that ranks eighth in world history as well as second worldwide this season. In total, seven of the world's top-15 women's weight throwers competed in this final.
Rebel senior Nyah Edwards notched a PR of her own in 10th place at 20.81m/68-03.25, improving upon her spot at No. 9 in school history.
The men's final was just as powerful, as it took 72 feet to even make the final. All-American senior Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan finished fifth at 22.82m/74-10.50, but the story of the day was senior Mason Hickel, who unleashed a one-foot PR of 22.25m/73-0 to finish eighth – making him the second 73-footer in school history behind Robinson-O'Hagan. This season, that throw by Hickel ranks him 13th in the NCAA.
On the track at Arkansas, senior Alicia Burnett did not waste her opportunity in the championship division of the 60-meter dash among some of the most accomplished professional sprinters on the planet. Burnett made the final with a 7.32 in the prelim before ripping off an Ole Miss career-best 7.23 in the final to finish fifth. That time moves Burnett into a tie for third in school history, and it currently has her within contention for the national meet at No. 13 on the NCAA list.
At Vanderbilt, junior Evan Thornton-Sherman became the 13th Rebel to break the four-minute barrier in the mile, winning on a career-best 3:59.67. Senior Gabe Scales just narrowly missed pulling off the feat, finishing right behind him at a career-best 4:00.15 that ranks him 14th in Ole Miss history. Freshman John Shoemaker had an impressive PR of his own in sixth place, shaving off four seconds from his previous best to tonight's 4:01.92.
In the women's mile, junior Sophie Baumann took the crown on a career-best 4:37.45, which improves upon her previous spot at No. 3 in the Ole Miss record books. Sophomore Ella Johnson found her way onto the Rebel top-15 list as well, finishing eighth at a PR 4:48.18 that snared her the 15th spot all-time at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss closed the night with a pair of victories in the 5Ks. Senior Beth Arentz crossed the line at an indoor PR of 16:14.25, good for No. 5 all-time at Ole Miss, while fellow senior Aiden Britt took the men's title at an overall best 13:43.69 – also good for No. 5 all-time on the men's side.
Competition resumes for Ole Miss at Vanderbilt with the unseeded women's 3K races at 9:30 a.m. CT, with action at Arkansas beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT with the open section of the women's pole vault.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (Tyson Invitational)
Women's 60-Meter Dash (Championship) – Prelims
7. Alicia Burnett – 7.32q
Women's 60-Meter Dash (Championship) – Final
5. Alicia Burnett – 7.23 – Ole Miss Career-Best, T-No. 3 Ole Miss History, 2026 NCAA No. 13, SEC No. 7
Men's 400-Meter Dash (University)
31. Wesley Todd – 47.05
44. Joshua Knox – 47.49
Men's 800-Meter (University)
12. Carson Turner – 1:49.99 – SB
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles (University) – Prelims
45. Nyajah Gordon – 8.96
47. Jordan Rochester – 9.01
Men's Pole Vault (University)
T3. Logan Kelley – 5.35m/17-06.50
Women's Long Jump (University)
10. Lizzie Hatton – 6.06m/19-10.75
Women's Weight Throw (University)
6. Akaoma Odeluga – 23.08m/75-08.75 – PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History, 2026 World No. 8, U.S. No. 6, NCAA No. 5, SEC No. 2
7. Skylar Soli – 22.34m/73-03.50 – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History, 2026 World No. 13, U.S. No. 8, NCAA No. 6, SEC No. 3
10. Nyah Edwards – 20.81m/68-03.25 – PR, No. 9 Ole Miss History
27. Naomi Woolfolk – 17.48m/57-04.25
29. Natalie Brown – 17.13m/56-02.50
Men's Weight Throw (University)
5. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 22.82m/74-10.50
8. Mason Hickel – 22.25m/73-0 – PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History, 2026 NCAA No. 13
13. Bryson Smith – 21.17m/69-05.50
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (Music City Challenge)
Women's 600-Meter
4. Jo-Lauren Keane – 1:32.55 – PR
Women's Mile
1. Sophie Baumann – 4:37.45 – PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
8. Ella Johnson – 4:48.18 – PR, No. 15 Ole Miss History
34. Madison Archdale – 4:57.96 – PR
40. Addy Mitchell – 4:59.69
Men's Mile
1. Evan Thornton-Sherman – 3:59.67 – PR, No. 13 Ole Miss History
2. Gabe Scales – 4:00.15 – PR, No. 14 Ole Miss History
6. John Shoemaker – 4:01.92 – PR
19. Zack Gilbertson – 4:07.16
43. Stone Smith – 4:16.93
Women's 5K
1. Beth Arentz – 16:14.25 – Indoor PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History Indoors
21. Leah Penick – 17:04.61 – First Collegiate 5K
Men's 5K
1. Aiden Britt – 13:43.69 – Overall PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History Indoors
At Arkansas, both weight throw fields rivaled that of an NCAA or even U.S. final. In the women's edition, each of the top six throws by collegiate athletes this season occurred Friday in Fayetteville – which included Rebel juniors Akaoma Odeluga and Skylar Soli.
Both Rebels scored career-bests, with Odeluga sixth at 23.08m/75-08.75 and Soli seventh at 22.34m/73-03.50. This season, those marks respectively rank eighth and 13th worldwide, sixth and eighth in the United States, fifth and sixth in the NCAA, and second and third in the SEC.
Former Rebel and two-time NCAA weight throw champion Jalani Davis led the spectacular field, winning on a career-best blast of 25.47m/83-06.75 that ranks eighth in world history as well as second worldwide this season. In total, seven of the world's top-15 women's weight throwers competed in this final.
Rebel senior Nyah Edwards notched a PR of her own in 10th place at 20.81m/68-03.25, improving upon her spot at No. 9 in school history.
The men's final was just as powerful, as it took 72 feet to even make the final. All-American senior Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan finished fifth at 22.82m/74-10.50, but the story of the day was senior Mason Hickel, who unleashed a one-foot PR of 22.25m/73-0 to finish eighth – making him the second 73-footer in school history behind Robinson-O'Hagan. This season, that throw by Hickel ranks him 13th in the NCAA.
On the track at Arkansas, senior Alicia Burnett did not waste her opportunity in the championship division of the 60-meter dash among some of the most accomplished professional sprinters on the planet. Burnett made the final with a 7.32 in the prelim before ripping off an Ole Miss career-best 7.23 in the final to finish fifth. That time moves Burnett into a tie for third in school history, and it currently has her within contention for the national meet at No. 13 on the NCAA list.
At Vanderbilt, junior Evan Thornton-Sherman became the 13th Rebel to break the four-minute barrier in the mile, winning on a career-best 3:59.67. Senior Gabe Scales just narrowly missed pulling off the feat, finishing right behind him at a career-best 4:00.15 that ranks him 14th in Ole Miss history. Freshman John Shoemaker had an impressive PR of his own in sixth place, shaving off four seconds from his previous best to tonight's 4:01.92.
In the women's mile, junior Sophie Baumann took the crown on a career-best 4:37.45, which improves upon her previous spot at No. 3 in the Ole Miss record books. Sophomore Ella Johnson found her way onto the Rebel top-15 list as well, finishing eighth at a PR 4:48.18 that snared her the 15th spot all-time at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss closed the night with a pair of victories in the 5Ks. Senior Beth Arentz crossed the line at an indoor PR of 16:14.25, good for No. 5 all-time at Ole Miss, while fellow senior Aiden Britt took the men's title at an overall best 13:43.69 – also good for No. 5 all-time on the men's side.
Competition resumes for Ole Miss at Vanderbilt with the unseeded women's 3K races at 9:30 a.m. CT, with action at Arkansas beginning at 10:30 a.m. CT with the open section of the women's pole vault.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (Tyson Invitational)
Women's 60-Meter Dash (Championship) – Prelims
7. Alicia Burnett – 7.32q
Women's 60-Meter Dash (Championship) – Final
5. Alicia Burnett – 7.23 – Ole Miss Career-Best, T-No. 3 Ole Miss History, 2026 NCAA No. 13, SEC No. 7
Men's 400-Meter Dash (University)
31. Wesley Todd – 47.05
44. Joshua Knox – 47.49
Men's 800-Meter (University)
12. Carson Turner – 1:49.99 – SB
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles (University) – Prelims
45. Nyajah Gordon – 8.96
47. Jordan Rochester – 9.01
Men's Pole Vault (University)
T3. Logan Kelley – 5.35m/17-06.50
Women's Long Jump (University)
10. Lizzie Hatton – 6.06m/19-10.75
Women's Weight Throw (University)
6. Akaoma Odeluga – 23.08m/75-08.75 – PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History, 2026 World No. 8, U.S. No. 6, NCAA No. 5, SEC No. 2
7. Skylar Soli – 22.34m/73-03.50 – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History, 2026 World No. 13, U.S. No. 8, NCAA No. 6, SEC No. 3
10. Nyah Edwards – 20.81m/68-03.25 – PR, No. 9 Ole Miss History
27. Naomi Woolfolk – 17.48m/57-04.25
29. Natalie Brown – 17.13m/56-02.50
Men's Weight Throw (University)
5. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 22.82m/74-10.50
8. Mason Hickel – 22.25m/73-0 – PR, No. 2 Ole Miss History, 2026 NCAA No. 13
13. Bryson Smith – 21.17m/69-05.50
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (Music City Challenge)
Women's 600-Meter
4. Jo-Lauren Keane – 1:32.55 – PR
Women's Mile
1. Sophie Baumann – 4:37.45 – PR, No. 3 Ole Miss History
8. Ella Johnson – 4:48.18 – PR, No. 15 Ole Miss History
34. Madison Archdale – 4:57.96 – PR
40. Addy Mitchell – 4:59.69
Men's Mile
1. Evan Thornton-Sherman – 3:59.67 – PR, No. 13 Ole Miss History
2. Gabe Scales – 4:00.15 – PR, No. 14 Ole Miss History
6. John Shoemaker – 4:01.92 – PR
19. Zack Gilbertson – 4:07.16
43. Stone Smith – 4:16.93
Women's 5K
1. Beth Arentz – 16:14.25 – Indoor PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History Indoors
21. Leah Penick – 17:04.61 – First Collegiate 5K
Men's 5K
1. Aiden Britt – 13:43.69 – Overall PR, No. 5 Ole Miss History Indoors
Players Mentioned
Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Distance
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Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
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Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
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Multi
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
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Distance
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Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
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