Best in the World: Long, O’Hagan have delivered for Ole Miss this week in TitleTown
Ole Miss has been the talk of college track and field over the few days.
Wednesday delivered the first throwing title in Ole Miss history. Sophomore Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan posted a personal-record 30.88 (68-9) in the shot put to secure the 12th national title in school history. He completed just the 23rd indoor/outdoor sweep in history.
Robinson O’Hagan also finished an Ole-Miss-record seventh in the hammer.
“Competition is competition,” Robinson-O’Hagan said. “I don’t care who is in the competition; I’m not scared of anyone. Nobody makes me nervous.”
Robinson O’Hagan is already a seven-time All-American despite only being a sophomore. His is the first-ever championship for Ole Miss in the men’s shot put but eighth in men’s competition overall.
Robinson O’Hagan is one of 17 to sweep in a single season and the youngest since Mike Stulce (Texas A&M) in 1989.
Senior All-American Ahmad Young, Jr., didn’t win in the 110-meter hurdles. However, he still became one of just three Rebels in history to run a sub-13.50.
RELATED: OLE MISS TRACK AND FIELD HEADS TO 2024 NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Fastest 200m races in collegiate history #NCAATF
— Travis Miller (@travismillerx13) June 7, 2024
21.80 – Abby Steiner (2022)
21.91 – Julien Alfred (2023)
21.95 – McKenzie Long (2024)⬇️ @kenzielong21 pic.twitter.com/Aa79nmDaSR
The Ole Miss women had four advancements on Thursday to set up a jam-packed Saturday of final competition.
The headliner was McKenzie Long, a senior short-sprinter and the world leader in the 200-meter.
Long ran the second leg of the Rebels’ history-marking 4×100-meter relay. Ole Miss was the fastest qualifier from the semifinals with a school-record time of 42.22. It’s the fifth-best mark in NCAA history.
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But Long was only getting started.
She dusted her competition with a personal-best 10.91 in the 100-meter. She became the third-fastest ever in the 200-meter with her 21.95.
No one else in the world has run a sub-22 200m this year.
“I can’t even put that into words,” Long said. “It means so much to me. I’m just going to execute even more on Saturday and drop my times even more.”
Gabrielle Matthews punched her own ticket to the finals when she ran a 56.19 in the 400-meter.
Additionally, Jalani Davis, Skylar Soli, Mensi Stiff and Iangelo Atkinstall-Daleywere named All-Americans. Davis, a senior hammer thrower, finished her Rebel career as a two-time NCAA champion and eight-time All-American.
Competition in Eugene, Oregon, resumes Saturday at 8:20 p.m. CT.
“This is my last year here at Ole Miss,” Long said. “This season has been a journey. I lost my mom this indoor season. I’m just really proud of myself for making it this far. I’m just excited about what I’m about to do this week.”
