The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
NCAA Championships
Granger, Moore Advance At NCAA Outdoor Championships
6/8/2011 | Track and Field
June 8, 2011
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship Central
DES MOINES, Iowa - Ole Miss athletes Mike Granger and Lee Ellis Moore turned in strong performances on the first day of the NCAA Division I Track & Field Outdoor Championships to advance to the finals of their events at Drake Stadium.
Granger, a sophomore, finished second in his heat of the 100 meter semifinals to advance to Friday's finals at 7:02 p.m. CDT. The Hickory, Miss., native clocked a 10.37 against a strong headwind at the premier track facility that also hosts the Drake Relays.
"Granger beat some of the fastest people in the country to advance," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker.
Granger came into the meet ranked 14th in the nation in his top event. He was an Indoor All-American in the 60 meters earlier this year.
Moore, the 2011 SEC Champion in the 400 meter hurdles, also finished second in his heat to advance to the finals of that event, Friday at 6:45 p.m. Moore's time of 50.06 was fifth among all competitors on Wednesday. The senior from Cordova, Tenn., entered the meet ranked sixth in the country in the 400 meter hurdles. He was a 2009 Outdoor All-American in the event.
"Lee ran an excellent race and I feel he can run low 49's in the finals to contend for a national title," Walker said.
Several other Rebels had their fantastic seasons and careers come to an end on Wednesday.
Junior Carson Blanks finished 12th in the men's 400 meter hurdles (50.73) to just miss a spot in the finals.
Senior Sofie Persson ran a 58.40 in the women's 400 meter hurdles to place 20th overall. The Sweden native will anchor the Rebels' 4x400 meter relay team in the semifinals on Thursday at 8 p.m.
The Ole Miss women placed 19th in the 4x100 meter relay semifinals. The squad of Kristin Bridges, Lauren Hollingsworth, Jasmine Williams and LaJada Baldwin clocked a season-best time of 44.71 that ranks them fifth-best in school history. Bridges and Hollingsworth will compete with Persson in the 4x400 meter relay on Thursday. Baldwin's stellar collegiate career comes to a close after the St. Louis native earned three All-America honors and racked up some of the top times in the school record books.
"Blanks actually ran really well, but a lane 1 draw in the 400 hurdles makes it hard to run a time it takes to advance," Walker said. "Persson had step problems to the first hurdle and ran well after that. The best athletes in the country are here, and there is little difference between them all as evidenced by several favorites not advancing today."
Competing for Ole Miss on Thursday will be Jonathan Juin (men's 200 meters), Caleb Lee (men's long jump) and the women's 4x400 meter relay team.
AGATE
Men
100 Meter Semifinals
10. Mike Granger - 10.37q
400 Meter Hurdle Semifinals
5. Lee Ellis Moore - 50.06q
12. Carson Blanks - 50.73
Women
400 Meter Hurdle Semifinals
20. Sofie Persson - 58.40
4x100 Meter Relay Semifinals
19. Ole Miss - 44.71
