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Rebel Roundabout: Three Ole Miss Rebels headed to Paris as members of Team USA

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•06/30/24•

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Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan set a new personal-best and smashed the Ole Miss record in the hammer toss at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Sunday.

Robinson-O’Hagan is a sophomore Rebel and two-time NCAA champion. His sixth-place finish stood out in an historic final that featured — for the first time in history — five throws beyond 76 meters. Robinson-O’Hagan managed a 74.54m/244-7 throw on his second attempt.

“Beating a few people who are in the pro scene right now was pretty cool,” he said afterwards. “I can keep leveling up, and they have to worry about me now.”

Robinson O’Hagan came in eighth in the men’s shot put. Robinson O’Hagan this season emerged as one of just 17 throwers in NCAA history to win indoor and outdoor titles in a single season. 

Ole Miss produced three Team USA members over 10 days of Trials: Sam Kendricks (men’s pole vault), McKenzie Long (women’s 200-meter dash) and Raven Saunders (women’s shot put). 

The Summer Olympic Games in Paris are set for July 26-August 11.

Long, last month, became one of just six women ever to sweep the 100 and 200, while also running a leg of a winning 4×1 relay. 

Ole Miss product and 2022 NCAA women’s 1500-meter champion Sintayehu Vissa was the runner-up in the 1500 and could make Italy’s national team. Mario Garcia Romo won the title for Ole Miss in the 2022 men’s mile. He was the bronze medalist in the Spanish final.

Other former Rebels in international competition: Kristel van den Berg in the Dutch steeplechase final (second, 10:17.03); Shane Bracken in Ireland’s 1500-meter final (fourth, 3:44.82); Sean Tobin in Ireland’s 5K final (fourth, 14:02.84, SB); and Tiarnan Crorken in Great Britain’s 800-meter prelims (30th, 2:13.44).

OLE MISS TRACK AND FIELD HIRES TURNER AS ASSISTANT

Morrie Turner has been hired as the new sprints and hurdles coach for Ole Miss track and field.

Head coach Connie Price-Smith made the announcement on Friday. Turner is a native of nearby Batesville and assisted one of the top sprint programs in the country at South Carolina last season.

“Track and field has taken me around the world,” Turner said in an official statement. “I’ve experienced places I could only dream of (and) done amazing things with many people in this sport: Hoisting trophies, producing national champions and Olympians, and building lifelong relationships. 

“Now I have the opportunity to do all of those things right here at home.”

Turner spent one season in Columbia. The Gamecocks had two Top 15 national team finishes. 

Turner helped coached their national-title women’s 4×400-meter relay in indoors, which also claimed an SEC championship. He made Alabama State a SWAC powerhouse in 2022 and 2023, producing eight NCAA qualifiers, 20 NCAA East Region qualifiers and four first-team All-Americans. 

He also coached previously at Coffeyville and Hinds Community College, among other stops.

TRIO OF ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLARS FOR OLE MISS WOMEN’S GOLF

Ole Miss women’s golf continues to pile up the off-course awards. 

The Women’s Golf Coaches Association named Justine Fournand, Andrea Lignell and Natacha Host Husted 2023-24 All-American Scholars.  

This marks the third consecutive year for Fournand to receive the honor. Both Lignell and Husted picked it up in 2022, too. 

Selection requires student-athletes have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. Further, they must be an amateur and on the team’s roster throughout the conclusion of the team’s season and have played in 50 percent of competitive rounds.

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