Jan. 14, 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Ole Miss men and women’s track and field teams both got off to successful starts Saturday at the Alabama Invitational. The meet, which was held at the new CrossPlex Indoor Track and Field Facility in Birmingham, had six SEC schools competing and 10 schools total.

“We had a great first meet,” Rebel head coach Joe Walker said. “I was really happy with our fitness after the (winter) break and we competed well in a very quality meet-and in all event areas. It was a great start.”

2011 NCAA First Team All-American Ricky Robertson began his junior campaign impressively by winning the triple jump with a leap of 50-01.75. He finished second in the high jump with a jump of 7-03.75 (tied for first, but placed second on misses).

The No. 19 nationally ranked Rebel men also saw strong opening performances from juniors Mike Granger and Isiah Young.

Granger, a 2011 NCAA First Team All-American, placed second in the 60 meters on the afternoon clocking a time of 6.68. Young earned a second-place finish in the 200 meters with a time of 21.45.

On the women’s side, a few athletes broke into the top five in the school record books in the 2012 indoor season opener.

Senior Logan Waites broke her previous school record 3000 meter time by running a 9:39.64 Saturday, while Kelsey Breathitt and Anne Threlkeld both produced top-five school record book finishes in the mile. Breathitt finished sixth in the mile, running a time of 5:05.28, whereas Threlkheld finished eighth with a 5:06.95 mile time.

Also, senior Kristin Bridges ran a personal-best time of 54.54 in the 400 meters Saturday, which topped her previous mark from last season. She now ranks fifth in that event in school history.

Junior Neal Tisher appeared to pick up right where she left off last season as she claimed the pole vault title with a mark of 13-03.50, while Jazmin Miller also displayed brilliance in capturing the weight throw crown with a measurement of 61-11.50.

Junior Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen won the 800 meters with a time of 2:14.93. Also competing Saturday was former Rebel All-American and World Champion long jumper Brittney Reese. Reese, who is a frontrunner to win an Olympic gold medal this summer in the London Games, won the event rather easily with a jump of 21-08.75.

The Rebels will continue practice this week and visit Birmingham again next weekend to compete in the Auburn Invitational.

AGATE

MEN

60 Meter Finals
2. Mike Granger - 6.68
6. Isiah Young – 6.77

60 Meters Prelims
1. Isiah Young – 6.71q
2. Mike Granger – 6.72q
18. Bradley Shields – 6.94

200 Meters
2. Isiah Young – 21.45
3. Mike Granger – 21.66
12. Bradley Shields – 22.22

400 Meters
9. Montez Griffin – 48.75
10. Creighton Serrette – 49.12
16. Brian Word – 50.08
Carson Blanks DQ (Out of Lane)

800 Meters
6. Riley Young – 1:56.24

3000 Meters
4. Loren Newsom – 8:39.76
6. Max Holman – 8:42.20
7. Kipchirchir Kiptoo – 8:42.33
8. Al Lowe – 8:57.73

4x400 Meter Relay
2. Ole Miss ‘A’ (Blanks, Word, Serrette, Griffin) – 3:12.23

High Jump
2. Ricky Robertson – 7-03.75
7. Malcolm Davis – 6-08.75

Pole Vault
t3. Sam Kendricks – 16-06.75
14. Stephen Greer – 15-01.00
15. Jason Anderson – 14-07.25
Garrett Ferguson – NH

Long Jump
6. Ricky Robertson – 23-09.50
10. Malcolm Davis - 22-06.50
14. Alec Arena – 21-10.00
17. Morris Kersh – 21-04.25

Triple Jump
1. Ricky Robertson - 50-01.75
3. Morris Kersh – 49-07.25

WOMEN

60 Meter Prelims
11. Jasmine Williams – 7.69
13. Shari Russell – 7.89
17. LorRena DeJurnett – 8.00
18. Amber Wilson – 8.08

60 Meter Hurdle Finals
7. Taryn Hartfield - 8.75

60 Meter Hurdles Prelims
6. Taryn Hartfield - 8.73q
8. Fabia McDonald - 8.82q
15. Mary Ashton Nall - 8.96
24. Brittany Bozeman - 9.45
25. Christiana Coleman – 10.21

200 Meter
7. Jasmine Williams – 24.99
14. Amber Wilson – 26.85
15. LorRena DeJurnett - 27.26

400 Meters
2. Kristin Bridges - 54.54
6. Lauren Hollingsworth – 56.20
18. Monica Williams - 58.35

800 Meters
1. Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen – 2:14.93
5. Giana Leone – 2:20.39
8. Ryan Flore – 2:23.98

1 Mile Run
6. Kelsey Breathitt - 5:05.28
8. Anne Threlkeld - 5:06.95
15. Emily Haberstroh - 5:25.02

3000 Meters
2. Logan Waites - 9:39.64 (SR)
5. Kayleigh Skinner – 9:55.95

4x400 Meter Relay
3. Ole Miss ‘A’ (Hollingsworth, Hartfield, Hellberg-Jonsen, Bridges) – 3:41.01

High Jump
12. Fabia McDonald – 5-05.00
14. Pamela Lee – 5-05.00
Mary Ashton Nall - NH
Taylor Irby - NH

Pole Vault
1. Neal Tisher – 13-03.50
9. Kelly McCormick – 11-01.75

Long Jump
5. Deonna Walton - 19-00.00
9. Rachel Jenkins – 18-08.50
10. Marci Morman – 18-05.00
11. Fabia McDonald – 18-04.50
16. Shari Russell – 17-09.75

Triple Jump
3. Aria Gaines – 41-07.00
7. Marci Morman – 39-10.00

Shot Put
10. Pamela Lee – 35-06.00
11. Brittany Bozeman – 34-07.00
13. Mary Ashton Nall – 30-09.25
14. Christiana Coleman – 28-04.50

Weight Throw
1. Jazmin Miller – 61-11.50