Ole Miss Men’s Track & Field Ties Program Record with No. 5 National Ranking

The University of Mississippi men’s track and field team has tied its highest-ever national ranking at No. 5, according to the USTFCCCA’s Track & Field Rating Index released Tuesday. This marks the best outdoor start for the Rebels, surpassing a previous top ranking of No. 7 in Week One of the 2024 season.

The No. 5 outdoor ranking matches the Rebels’ indoor ranking from Week One of the 2023 season and aligns with the No. 5 rank achieved by the women’s team in Week Two of the 2024 outdoor season. Overall, Ole Miss has achieved 41 top-10 rankings in program history, with head coach Connie Price-Smith responsible for 38 of those appearances, including 15 of 17 outdoor top-10 finishes.

The USTFCCCA’s system uses an algorithm emphasizing individual performances, assigning points to marks that contribute to a team’s overall score. Ole Miss track & field returns to competition this week, with the distance squad heading to the Stanford Invitational and the rest of the team competing at LSU for the Battle on the Bayou.

Among the men’s top performers are Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan, who leads the team with a shot put throw of 20.42 meters (67-0) and a hammer throw of 77.62 meters (254-7). The relay teams also posted strong marks, with the 4×100-meter relay clocking a time of 38.98 seconds. On the women’s side, Akaoma Odeluga has posted a shot put mark of 17.42 meters (57-01.75), contributing significantly to the No. 33 national ranking.

Ole Miss’s track & field teams continue their season with meets scheduled throughout the coming weeks, aiming to build on their top-5 momentum heading into postseason competitions, including SEC and NCAA championships.

Source: Original Article