Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan Wins Third Straight NCAA Indoor Shot Put Title for Ole Miss
Fayetteville, Ark. — Ole Miss wrapped up its indoor track and field season with strong performances at the NCAA Championships on Saturday. The Rebels finished 14th in women’s team scoring with 18 points and tied for 15th in men’s scoring with 16 points.
Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan claimed his third consecutive NCAA indoor shot put title, leading wire-to-wire. The senior opened with a 20.42-meter (67-0) throw and improved to 20.52 meters (67-4) in the third round. Nebraska’s Cade Moran briefly challenged with a 20.40-meter (66-11.25) effort, but Robinson-O’Hagan responded with his best throw of 20.65 meters (67-9) in the fifth round to secure the victory.
Robinson-O’Hagan’s third straight indoor shot put title makes him only the fourth Division I male athlete to win three consecutive indoor shot put championships, joining Kansas’ Karl Salb (1969-71), UTEP’s Hans Hoglund (1973-75), and Arizona State’s Ryan Whiting (2008-10). He finished his indoor career with seven All-America honors and 50 NCAA points, ranking second in collegiate history in combined shot and weight throw distance at 45.53 meters (149-3).
On the women’s side, Akaoma Odeluga earned NCAA runner-up in the weight throw, posting her best of 18.45 meters (60-6.5). She led wire-to-wire and finished behind Nebraska’s Axelina Johansson, who threw 19.55 meters (64-1.75). Odeluga’s finish marks the best by a Rebel woman since Raven Saunders’ title in 2017 and contributed 13 of Ole Miss’s 18 team points this week.
Senior Alicia Burnett also scored for Ole Miss, finishing fourth in the women’s 60-meter dash in 7.18 seconds, earning her first All-America honor. Her performance is the second-best in school history in the event, behind only Teneeshia Jones’ third-place finish in 2000. Ole Miss also received second-team All-America finishes from Sterling Scott in the men’s triple jump and Arvesta Troupe in the high jump.
The Rebels will now shift focus to the outdoor season, hosting the Ole Miss Classic at Prefontaine Stadium on March 20-21. Final team scores saw Arkansas and Oregon leading the men’s and women’s team standings, respectively.
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