Ole Miss Track & Field’s Akaoma Odeluga Named SEC Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Ole Miss track and field athlete Akaoma Odeluga has been named the SEC Outdoor Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the conference announced Monday. Odeluga, a junior and All-American, is only the third woman in Ole Miss history to earn the award, joining teammate Loral Winn and Olympian McKenzie Long.

Odeluga has had a standout season, leading the SEC and ranking second in the NCAA with a career-best throw of 19.23 meters (63 feet, 1.25 inches) at the Virginia Challenge last month. That mark ranks seventh in outdoor collegiate history, ninth in all-time collegiate performance (indoor and outdoor) and 19th in U.S. history. Her performance on the 2026 world list places her fourth outdoors and eighth overall, and she is second on the U.S. absolute list.

The athlete also ranks fourth in the SEC and 18th nationally in the hammer throw with a season-best of 64.92 meters (213 feet). Odeluga is one of only two women in collegiate history to reach 63 feet in the shot put and 210 feet in the hammer throw. Academically, she maintains a 3.94 GPA in political science and has been a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree. She also made the 2025 CSC Academic All-District team.

Ole Miss track and field begins its postseason this week at Auburn, which will host the SEC Outdoor Championships from May 14 to 16.

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