Track & Field Wins Three Events to Open Ole Miss Classic

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss track & field opened home competition with three event victories on a short but productive first day of action at the Ole Miss Classic on Friday.
 
The Rebels swept both hammer throws, with Jalani Davis taking the women’s crown in her first competition since winning the NCAA Indoor weight throw title two weeks ago, and freshman phenom Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan claiming the men’s title in his first outdoor action of 2023 as well.
 
Davis – who was also a First-Team All-American and U.S. qualifier in the hammer last year – opened her season at 67.82m/222-06 in the fifth round. That distance currently puts her at No. 2 in the NCAA, the East Region and the SEC. Davis beat out teammate Shey Taiwo by five inches, who took second at a season-best 67.69m/222-01 (No. 3 NCAA). Fellow All-American senior Jasmine Mitchell was third at 65.42m/214-07 in her outdoor debut (No. 5 NCAA).
 
Robinson-O’Hagan won the men’s edition in impressive fashion by 31 feet at a debut distance of 68.53m/224-10. That mark puts him at No. 2 in the Ole Miss record books, and this season that currently ranks No. 6 in the NCAA, No. 4 in the East Region and No. 2 in the SEC. Redshirt freshman Mason Hickel was the runner-up at a new career-best 58.86m/193-01 (No. 10 Ole Miss history).
 
Ole Miss also had a one-two punch to close the day in the women’s 200-meter dash. Senior Ariyonna Augustine took the win at a season-best 23.87 (+0.8), with fellow senior Jayda Eckford not far behind as the runner-up at a season-best 23.91 (+0.8).
 
Other notable finishes for Ole Miss on Friday were Tristyn Wooley (second, 21.47, SB) and Keith Robinson (third, 21.48, PR) in the men’s 200-meter dash, Skye Gross (second, 5.83m/19-01.50, SB) and Kyla McLaurin (third, 5.67m/18-07.25, PR) in the women’s long jump, and Emma Freeman (third, 42.36m/139-0, No. 8 Ole Miss history) in the women’s javelin.
 

Competition resumes at the Ole Miss Track & Field Complex at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday.
 
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION
 
Women’s 200-Meter Dash
1. Ariyonna Augustine – 23.87 (+0.8) – SB
2. Jayda Eckford – 23.91 (+0.8) – SB
7. Graycyn Yelverton – 25.49 (+0.3) – PR
9. Meg Goebel – 25.60 (+0.3) – SB
14. Laurel Fulcher – 25.87 (-0.5) – PR
24. Sara Van Aken – 26.73 (-0.5) – SB
28. Annie Strong – 27.68 (-1.4) –…