NCAA

Track & Field’s Throwers, Newcomers Shine on First Day of Commodore Challenge

Track & Field’s Throwers, Newcomers Shine on First Day of Commodore Challenge


NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It was a powerful opening day for Ole Miss track & field, as the Rebels excelled in the weight throw while smashing two school records on an excellent first day of action at the Commodore Challenge on Friday night.
 
Ole Miss reasserted its dominance as the NCAA’s preeminent program in the women’s weight throw following an early-season display of might on Friday. Already the only program in NCAA history to have four 75-foot women’s weight throwers, All-American Jalani Davis took that another step further tonight when she unleashed a four-foot career best toss of 24.13m/79-2 – giving Ole Miss four Rebels within the all-time collegiate top-10 in the event, and all beyond 79 feet.
 
That toss by Davis – overall the 23rd-best throw in collegiate history – moved her ahead of Rebel great Janeah Stewart for eighth on the all-time top-10 list, as well as No. 3 in the Ole Miss history books. Davis and the professional Stewart actually went toe-to-toe on Friday night, with Stewart winning at a new world lead of 24.48m/80-03.75. Davis was relegated to top collegiate finisher at her best of the night, which now ranks second worldwide and atop the NCAA leaderboards for 2023.
 
Reigning NCAA runner-up Jasmine Mitchell had a strong open of her own, finishing third at 23.81m/78-01.50 to rank No. 3 worldwide and No. 2 in the NCAA.
 
As of Friday night, Ole Miss now occupies spot No. 2 (Shey Taiwo, 25.55m/83-10; 2022), No. 3 (Mitchell, 24.94m/81-10; 2022), No. 8 (Davis, 24.13m/79-2; 2023) and No. 9 (Stewart, 24.12m/79-01.75; 2018) on the all-time collegiate top-10 in the women’s weight throw.
 
On the men’s side, star Rebel freshman Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan wasted no time in putting his mark on the Ole Miss record books, shattering the weight throw record on his final attempt of the competition to win by more than seven feet at 22.24m/72-11.75. That throw breaks All-American Dempsey McGuigan‘s record of 21.11m/69-03.25 that had stood since 2018.
 
It also puts Robinson-O’Hagan at No. 3 in the NCAA at this early point of the 2023 indoor season, and makes him just the fourth collegiate freshman to break 22 meters since 2014 – the third in Division I. In that same time span, Robinson-O’Hagan is the lone collegiate freshman to break the 22-meter barrier in their first career meet.
 
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