The University of Mississippi Athletics

Track & Field’s Olivia Womack Named National 2024 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year
3/26/2024 | Baseball, Football, Softball, Track and Field, Women's Basketball, Rifle, Soccer, Women's Tennis, Volleyball, Student-Athlete Development
FAIRFAX, Va. – Ole Miss track & field's Olivia Womack has been named the national winner of the 2024 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year, highlighting several prestigious awards won by Rebels as announced by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine on Tuesday and for its upcoming April 25 issue.
Womack, a senior majoring in legal studies, is a three-time All-American, two-time NCAA East Region qualifier, and two-time SEC Scorer for the Ole Miss track & field team, and she has run on four of the eight fastest 4x100-meter relay times ever at Ole Miss.
Off-the-track community service is a huge part of Womack's life. In her local community, she has volunteered in literacy programs, food drives, water bottle collection, and preparation of holiday gift baskets to help those in need during the holiday season. She participated in the Tim Tebow Foundation prom night event to support those with disabilities, and supported the university's Black Faculty and Staff Organization members in collection of new books and stuffed bears to donate to the families of Ole Miss Facility employees.
In addition to Womack, Ole Miss women's basketball senior Madison Scott was a finalist for the women's award as well, finishing as the third runner-up. Womack and Scott were both semifinalists for the award alongside fellow track All-American senior McKenzie Long.
Womack was also one of five Rebels to be crowned a national sport winner alongside softball's Jalia Lassiter, volleyball's Bailee Middleton, rifle's Emma Pereira and baseball's Xavier Rivas.
A total of 18 Rebels were named as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars, and will be included in the upcoming April issue.
Women's Sports Scholars are: Jerricka Ambus (Track & Field), Elauna Eaton (Basketball), Tenly Grisham (Softball), Jalia Lassiter (Softball), Anaëlle Leclercq-Ficher (Tennis), McKenzie Long (Track & Field), Samara McConnell (Track & Field), Bailee Middleton (Volleyball), Aubrey Mister (Soccer), Emma Pereira (Rifle), Madison Scott (Basketball) and Olivia Womack (Track & Field).
Rebel men earning Sports Scholar status are: Joshua Aka (Football), Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley (Track & Field), Marcus Dropik (Track & Field), Richard O'Bryant (Football), Xavier Rivas (Baseball) and DeSanto Rollins (Football).
The annual Arthur Ashe edition recognizes young, outstanding minority men and women who have distinguished themselves in their academic and athletic pursuits. Student-athletes named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5, be at least a sophomore academically, and be active on their campuses or in their communities.
Past Ashe Scholars have included the Wisconsin's Russell Wilson (2011), Tennessee's Kara Lawson (2003), San Diego State's Marshall Faulk (1993), and Stanford's Simone Manuel (2017), to name a few who have gone on to achieve great success.
2024 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year Finalists
Olivia Womack – Ole Miss (Track & Field) – Winner
Gabi Albiero – Louisville (Swimming & Diving) – Runner-Up
Charlisse Leger-Walker – Washington State (Basketball) – 2nd Runner-Up
Madison Scott – Ole Miss (Basketball) – 3rd Runner-Up
Women's Semifinalists
Gabi Albiero – Louisville (Swimming & Diving)
Jacqueline Azevedo – Cal Merced (Water Polo)
Elizabeth Cruz – George Washington (Soccer)
Vanessa Deniz – Georgia (Gymnastics)
Natasha Kim – Indiana (Soccer)
Charlisse Leger-Walker – Washington State (Basketball)
McKenzie Long – Ole Miss (Track & Field)
Ana Morett – Weber State (Tennis)
Madison Scott – Ole Miss (Basketball)
Olivia Womack – Ole Miss (Track & Field)
Ole Miss Arthur Ashe Jr. Women's Sport Winners
Jalia Lassiter – Softball
Bailee Middleton - Volleyball
Emma Pereira – Rifle
Olivia Womack – Track & Field
Ole Miss Arthur Ashe Jr. Men's Sport Winners
Xavier Rivas – Baseball
Ole Miss Arthur Ashe Jr. Women's Sport Scholars
Jerricka Ambus – Track & Field
Elauna Eaton – Basketball
Tenly Grisham – Softball
Jalia Lassiter – Softball
Anaëlle Leclercq-Ficher – Tennis
McKenzie Long – Track & Field
Samara McConnell – Track & Field
Bailee Middleton – Volleyball
Aubrey Mister – Soccer
Emma Pereira – Rifle
Madison Scott – Basketball
Olivia Womack – Track & Field
Ole Miss Arthur Ashe Jr. Men's Sport Scholars
Joshua Aka – Football
Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – Track & Field
Marcus Dropik – Track & Field
Richard O'Bryant – Football
Xavier Rivas – Baseball
DeSanto Rollins – Football
FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center and Ole Miss Student-Athlete Development Mission
The mission of the FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center is to promote academic and personal achievement through quality developmental and need-based programs designed to empower and holistically develop student-athletes for life after collegiate athletics.
Womack, a senior majoring in legal studies, is a three-time All-American, two-time NCAA East Region qualifier, and two-time SEC Scorer for the Ole Miss track & field team, and she has run on four of the eight fastest 4x100-meter relay times ever at Ole Miss.
Off-the-track community service is a huge part of Womack's life. In her local community, she has volunteered in literacy programs, food drives, water bottle collection, and preparation of holiday gift baskets to help those in need during the holiday season. She participated in the Tim Tebow Foundation prom night event to support those with disabilities, and supported the university's Black Faculty and Staff Organization members in collection of new books and stuffed bears to donate to the families of Ole Miss Facility employees.
In addition to Womack, Ole Miss women's basketball senior Madison Scott was a finalist for the women's award as well, finishing as the third runner-up. Womack and Scott were both semifinalists for the award alongside fellow track All-American senior McKenzie Long.
Womack was also one of five Rebels to be crowned a national sport winner alongside softball's Jalia Lassiter, volleyball's Bailee Middleton, rifle's Emma Pereira and baseball's Xavier Rivas.
A total of 18 Rebels were named as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars, and will be included in the upcoming April issue.
Women's Sports Scholars are: Jerricka Ambus (Track & Field), Elauna Eaton (Basketball), Tenly Grisham (Softball), Jalia Lassiter (Softball), Anaëlle Leclercq-Ficher (Tennis), McKenzie Long (Track & Field), Samara McConnell (Track & Field), Bailee Middleton (Volleyball), Aubrey Mister (Soccer), Emma Pereira (Rifle), Madison Scott (Basketball) and Olivia Womack (Track & Field).
Rebel men earning Sports Scholar status are: Joshua Aka (Football), Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley (Track & Field), Marcus Dropik (Track & Field), Richard O'Bryant (Football), Xavier Rivas (Baseball) and DeSanto Rollins (Football).
The annual Arthur Ashe edition recognizes young, outstanding minority men and women who have distinguished themselves in their academic and athletic pursuits. Student-athletes named Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5, be at least a sophomore academically, and be active on their campuses or in their communities.
Past Ashe Scholars have included the Wisconsin's Russell Wilson (2011), Tennessee's Kara Lawson (2003), San Diego State's Marshall Faulk (1993), and Stanford's Simone Manuel (2017), to name a few who have gone on to achieve great success.
2024 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year Finalists
Olivia Womack – Ole Miss (Track & Field) – Winner
Gabi Albiero – Louisville (Swimming & Diving) – Runner-Up
Charlisse Leger-Walker – Washington State (Basketball) – 2nd Runner-Up
Madison Scott – Ole Miss (Basketball) – 3rd Runner-Up
Women's Semifinalists
Gabi Albiero – Louisville (Swimming & Diving)
Jacqueline Azevedo – Cal Merced (Water Polo)
Elizabeth Cruz – George Washington (Soccer)
Vanessa Deniz – Georgia (Gymnastics)
Natasha Kim – Indiana (Soccer)
Charlisse Leger-Walker – Washington State (Basketball)
McKenzie Long – Ole Miss (Track & Field)
Ana Morett – Weber State (Tennis)
Madison Scott – Ole Miss (Basketball)
Olivia Womack – Ole Miss (Track & Field)
Ole Miss Arthur Ashe Jr. Women's Sport Winners
Jalia Lassiter – Softball
Bailee Middleton - Volleyball
Emma Pereira – Rifle
Olivia Womack – Track & Field
Ole Miss Arthur Ashe Jr. Men's Sport Winners
Xavier Rivas – Baseball
Ole Miss Arthur Ashe Jr. Women's Sport Scholars
Jerricka Ambus – Track & Field
Elauna Eaton – Basketball
Tenly Grisham – Softball
Jalia Lassiter – Softball
Anaëlle Leclercq-Ficher – Tennis
McKenzie Long – Track & Field
Samara McConnell – Track & Field
Bailee Middleton – Volleyball
Aubrey Mister – Soccer
Emma Pereira – Rifle
Madison Scott – Basketball
Olivia Womack – Track & Field
Ole Miss Arthur Ashe Jr. Men's Sport Scholars
Joshua Aka – Football
Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – Track & Field
Marcus Dropik – Track & Field
Richard O'Bryant – Football
Xavier Rivas – Baseball
DeSanto Rollins – Football
FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center and Ole Miss Student-Athlete Development Mission
The mission of the FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center is to promote academic and personal achievement through quality developmental and need-based programs designed to empower and holistically develop student-athletes for life after collegiate athletics.
Players Mentioned
HIGHLIGHTS: Ole Miss at Kentucky (9/6/2025)
Saturday, September 06
Austin Simmons Scores First Career Rushing Touchdown
Saturday, September 06
Austin Simmons Scores First Career Rushing Touchdown
Saturday, September 06
Melia Johnson vs Wyoming
Saturday, September 06