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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Friday, April 18
Charlottesville, Va.
4:25 PM
Ole Miss
at
Virginia Challenge
Track & Field’s Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan Sets Collegiate Lead in Outdoor Debut
4/18/2025 | Track and Field
GAINESVILLE, Fla. / CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Ole Miss track & field's Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan claimed the NCAA lead in men's shot put during his outdoor debut at Florida's Tom Jones Memorial, while the distance squad made improvements to the Ole Miss record book at the Virginia Challenge to wrap a busy Friday for the Rebels.
Robinson-O'Hagan's outdoor debut came in a stacked competition in the invitational section of the men's shot, testing The Bowerman watch list member early. The three-time reigning national shot put champion found himself in second place heading into his sixth and final throw after South Carolina's Christopher Licata's sixth-round heave of 20.23m/66-04.50 took the lead.
Licata was part of a South Carolina duo that was able to best Robinson-O'Hagan at this very meet a year ago – the last time the Rebel star has lost to collegiate competition in the shot put – and it was Licata who nearly toppled Robinson-O'Hagan at the indoor national meet back in March, coming up three centimeters short.
Trailing on his final throw, Robinson-O'Hagan launched a blast of 20.75m/68-1 – not only winning the event, but also giving him a two-foot commanding lead of the NCAA rankings for the outdoor season.
The men's sprinters also found success of their own in Gainesville with two overall career-best performances. Junior Joseph Michel took the crown in the collegiate men's 200-meter dash to start the morning, running into a headwind with an overall PR of 20.91 (-1.5). He now ranks 14th in program history and is only the 15th Rebel to break 21 seconds outdoors.
In the invitational section of the men's 200-meter dash, freshman Jordan Urrutia clocked an overall career-best 21.08 (-1.3) in his first collegiate 200-meter outdoors – falling just shy of cracking the all-time list as well.
Meanwhile, in the men's pole vault invite, senior Drew O'Connor and sophomore John Kendricks captured a pair of runner-up finishes after both cleared 5.30m/17-04.50. That ties O'Connor's season-best performance at LSU's Battle on the Bayou last month and improves on Kendricks previous outdoor PR, tying him for seventh in Ole Miss history outdoors.
All-American sophomore Akaoma Odeluga proved herself yet again with an impressive 18.86m/61-10.50 heave that placed her runner-up in a tough women's shot put invite. Odeluga broke the 60-foot barrier twice today, and she escaped with her national lead intact as Illinois' Abria Smith fell one centimeter shy on her winning throw of 18.92m/62-1.
Fellow All-American Arvesta Troupe also proved consistent with a runner-up performance in the men's high jump invitational after clearing 2.18m/7-01.75.
Junior Mason Hickel took third in the men's hammer with a career-best heave of 64.06m/210-2, marking his third consecutive improvement on the season already and moving him to ninth in program history.
In the meantime, the Rebel distance squad found their own success in updating the record book at the Virginia Challenge on Friday evening.
In the invitational section of the men's 5K, senior transfer and 10K school record holder Kidus Misgina finished runner-up with an impressive 29-second PR of 13:37.29 in his outdoor season debut in the 5K. His performance places him fourth in the Ole Miss history books and made him the sixth Rebel to break 13:40 outdoors – the fourth since 2023 alone.
Fellow senior Aiden Britt followed in sixth place with a massive 49-second PR of 13:54.96, moving him to 14th in Ole Miss history.
In the women's 3000-meter steeplechase invite, senior Emilia Mikszuta finished second with a season best of 10:26.37 – missing her career-best by a quarter of a second. She now ranks ninth in program history.
Other notable performances in Charlottesville tonight included senior Beth Arentz in the women's 5K (16:02.45; PR, No. 6 Ole Miss history), junior Gabe Scales in the men's 1500-meter (3:41.38; PR, No. 9 Ole Miss history) and senior Toby Gillen in the men's 1500-meter (3:41.92; PR, No. 12 Ole Miss history).
Ole Miss returns to action at Florida's Tom Jones Memorial on Saturday morning, beginning with the women's 100-meter hurdles at 8:30 a.m. CT.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (TOM JONES MEMORIAL)
Men's 200-Meter Dash
1. Joseph Michel – 20.91 (-1.5) – Overall PR, No. 14 Ole Miss History
Men's 200-Meter Dash (Invite)
19. Jordan Urrutia – 21.08 (-1.3) – Overall PR
Men's 1500-Meter
10. Aidan Hodge – 3:50.89
17. Stone Smith – 3:54.24
18. Cole Piotrowski – 3:54.45
Men's 3000-Meter Steeplechase
3. Samuel Ferguson – 9:22.56 – PR, No. 14 Ole Miss History
Men's High Jump
T13. Guy Bond – 1.96m/6-5 – Season Debut
Men's High Jump (Invite)
2. Arvesta Troupe – 2.18m/7-01.75
Men's Pole Vault
12. Ford Maberry – 4.75m/15-7
Men's Pole Vault (Invite)
T2. Drew O'Connor – 5.30m/17-04.50 – Ties SB
T2. John Kendricks – 5.30m/17-04.50 – Outdoor PR, T-No. 7 Ole Miss History Outdoors
Women's Long Jump
21. Lizzie Hatton – 5.71m/18-08.75 (-1.0)
Men's Long Jump
13. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 6.99m/22-11.25 (+1.4)
Men's Shot Put (Invite)
1. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 20.75m/68-1, Outdoor Debut, 2025 NCAA Lead
Women's Shot Put (Invite)
2. Akaoma Odeluga – 18.86m/61-10.50
Men's Hammer
3. Mason Hickel – 64.06m/210-2 – PR, T-No. 8 Ole Miss History
15. Costen Campion – 57.16m/187-6
Women's Javelin
16. Abigail Green – 43.17m/141-7
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (VIRGINIA CHALLENGE)
Women's 1500-Meter
17. Ella Johnson – 4:33.90
Men's 1500-Meter
5. Ky Hehir – 3:49.73
Men's 1500-Meter (Invite)
5. Gabe Scales – 3:41.38 – PR, No. 9 Ole Miss History
7. Toby Gillen – 3:41.92 – PR, No. 12 Ole Miss History
10. Evan Thornton-Sherman – 3:43.86 – PR
19. Landen McNair – 3:48.43
Women's 5K (Invite)
5. Beth Arentz – 16:02.45 – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History
16. Sarah Schiffmann – 16:38.91
19. Sophie Baumann – 17:00.51
Men's 5K (Invite)
2. Kidus Misgina – 13:37.29 – PR, No. 4 Ole Miss History
6. Aiden Britt – 13:54.96 – PR, No. 14 Ole Miss History
12. Elyas Ayyoub – 14:08.55
25. Benjamin Bayless – 14:54.00
Women's 3000-Meter Steeplechase (Invite)
2. Emilia Mikszuta – 10:26.37 – SB, No. 9 Ole Miss History
Robinson-O'Hagan's outdoor debut came in a stacked competition in the invitational section of the men's shot, testing The Bowerman watch list member early. The three-time reigning national shot put champion found himself in second place heading into his sixth and final throw after South Carolina's Christopher Licata's sixth-round heave of 20.23m/66-04.50 took the lead.
Licata was part of a South Carolina duo that was able to best Robinson-O'Hagan at this very meet a year ago – the last time the Rebel star has lost to collegiate competition in the shot put – and it was Licata who nearly toppled Robinson-O'Hagan at the indoor national meet back in March, coming up three centimeters short.
Trailing on his final throw, Robinson-O'Hagan launched a blast of 20.75m/68-1 – not only winning the event, but also giving him a two-foot commanding lead of the NCAA rankings for the outdoor season.
TARIK. ROBINSON. O'HAGAN.
— Paul Hof-Mahoney (@phofmahoney) April 18, 2025
20.75M IN ROUND 6 FOR THE WIN!!! pic.twitter.com/XCWGCjvgZR
The men's sprinters also found success of their own in Gainesville with two overall career-best performances. Junior Joseph Michel took the crown in the collegiate men's 200-meter dash to start the morning, running into a headwind with an overall PR of 20.91 (-1.5). He now ranks 14th in program history and is only the 15th Rebel to break 21 seconds outdoors.
In the invitational section of the men's 200-meter dash, freshman Jordan Urrutia clocked an overall career-best 21.08 (-1.3) in his first collegiate 200-meter outdoors – falling just shy of cracking the all-time list as well.
Meanwhile, in the men's pole vault invite, senior Drew O'Connor and sophomore John Kendricks captured a pair of runner-up finishes after both cleared 5.30m/17-04.50. That ties O'Connor's season-best performance at LSU's Battle on the Bayou last month and improves on Kendricks previous outdoor PR, tying him for seventh in Ole Miss history outdoors.
All-American sophomore Akaoma Odeluga proved herself yet again with an impressive 18.86m/61-10.50 heave that placed her runner-up in a tough women's shot put invite. Odeluga broke the 60-foot barrier twice today, and she escaped with her national lead intact as Illinois' Abria Smith fell one centimeter shy on her winning throw of 18.92m/62-1.
Fellow All-American Arvesta Troupe also proved consistent with a runner-up performance in the men's high jump invitational after clearing 2.18m/7-01.75.
Junior Mason Hickel took third in the men's hammer with a career-best heave of 64.06m/210-2, marking his third consecutive improvement on the season already and moving him to ninth in program history.
In the meantime, the Rebel distance squad found their own success in updating the record book at the Virginia Challenge on Friday evening.
In the invitational section of the men's 5K, senior transfer and 10K school record holder Kidus Misgina finished runner-up with an impressive 29-second PR of 13:37.29 in his outdoor season debut in the 5K. His performance places him fourth in the Ole Miss history books and made him the sixth Rebel to break 13:40 outdoors – the fourth since 2023 alone.
Fellow senior Aiden Britt followed in sixth place with a massive 49-second PR of 13:54.96, moving him to 14th in Ole Miss history.
In the women's 3000-meter steeplechase invite, senior Emilia Mikszuta finished second with a season best of 10:26.37 – missing her career-best by a quarter of a second. She now ranks ninth in program history.
Other notable performances in Charlottesville tonight included senior Beth Arentz in the women's 5K (16:02.45; PR, No. 6 Ole Miss history), junior Gabe Scales in the men's 1500-meter (3:41.38; PR, No. 9 Ole Miss history) and senior Toby Gillen in the men's 1500-meter (3:41.92; PR, No. 12 Ole Miss history).
Ole Miss returns to action at Florida's Tom Jones Memorial on Saturday morning, beginning with the women's 100-meter hurdles at 8:30 a.m. CT.
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (TOM JONES MEMORIAL)
Men's 200-Meter Dash
1. Joseph Michel – 20.91 (-1.5) – Overall PR, No. 14 Ole Miss History
Men's 200-Meter Dash (Invite)
19. Jordan Urrutia – 21.08 (-1.3) – Overall PR
Men's 1500-Meter
10. Aidan Hodge – 3:50.89
17. Stone Smith – 3:54.24
18. Cole Piotrowski – 3:54.45
Men's 3000-Meter Steeplechase
3. Samuel Ferguson – 9:22.56 – PR, No. 14 Ole Miss History
Men's High Jump
T13. Guy Bond – 1.96m/6-5 – Season Debut
Men's High Jump (Invite)
2. Arvesta Troupe – 2.18m/7-01.75
Men's Pole Vault
12. Ford Maberry – 4.75m/15-7
Men's Pole Vault (Invite)
T2. Drew O'Connor – 5.30m/17-04.50 – Ties SB
T2. John Kendricks – 5.30m/17-04.50 – Outdoor PR, T-No. 7 Ole Miss History Outdoors
Women's Long Jump
21. Lizzie Hatton – 5.71m/18-08.75 (-1.0)
Men's Long Jump
13. Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley – 6.99m/22-11.25 (+1.4)
Men's Shot Put (Invite)
1. Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan – 20.75m/68-1, Outdoor Debut, 2025 NCAA Lead
Women's Shot Put (Invite)
2. Akaoma Odeluga – 18.86m/61-10.50
Men's Hammer
3. Mason Hickel – 64.06m/210-2 – PR, T-No. 8 Ole Miss History
15. Costen Campion – 57.16m/187-6
Women's Javelin
16. Abigail Green – 43.17m/141-7
REBELS IN DAY ONE COMPETITION (VIRGINIA CHALLENGE)
Women's 1500-Meter
17. Ella Johnson – 4:33.90
Men's 1500-Meter
5. Ky Hehir – 3:49.73
Men's 1500-Meter (Invite)
5. Gabe Scales – 3:41.38 – PR, No. 9 Ole Miss History
7. Toby Gillen – 3:41.92 – PR, No. 12 Ole Miss History
10. Evan Thornton-Sherman – 3:43.86 – PR
19. Landen McNair – 3:48.43
Women's 5K (Invite)
5. Beth Arentz – 16:02.45 – PR, No. 6 Ole Miss History
16. Sarah Schiffmann – 16:38.91
19. Sophie Baumann – 17:00.51
Men's 5K (Invite)
2. Kidus Misgina – 13:37.29 – PR, No. 4 Ole Miss History
6. Aiden Britt – 13:54.96 – PR, No. 14 Ole Miss History
12. Elyas Ayyoub – 14:08.55
25. Benjamin Bayless – 14:54.00
Women's 3000-Meter Steeplechase (Invite)
2. Emilia Mikszuta – 10:26.37 – SB, No. 9 Ole Miss History
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Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
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Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
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Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
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Distance
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Javelin
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Pole Vault
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and FieldThe Season: New Heights (2025)
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