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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Track & Field’s Robinson-O’Hagan, Odeluga Out for Season Following Injuries
5/20/2026 | Track and Field
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss track & field star All-American throwers Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan and Akaoma Odeluga will miss the remainder of the 2026 season following separate injuries sustained since last Saturday.
Odeluga, the SEC Champion in the shot put and third-place finisher in the hammer, injured her foot in the discus during the final day of the outdoor conference meet last Saturday. Robinson-O'Hagan, fresh off becoming the winningest individual men's athlete in SEC history across all sports, suffered a significant leg injury during his first practice back since the SEC Championships.
This is a heartbreaking end to an outstanding Ole Miss career for Robinson-O'Hagan, who finishes as one of the best all-around throwers in collegiate history and one of the more promising young American prospects in recent memory in both the shot put and hammer.
The Woonsocket, Rhode Island native leaves with four national titles, 14 All-America awards, his all-time record 13 SEC titles, 14 SEC medals and five SEC Field Athlete of the Year awards with an incredible 75 NCAA points and 144 SEC points scored across his superb career. He also leaves with the collegiate record in combined outdoor shot/hammer distance (98.50m), second all-time in combined indoor shot/weight distance (45.53m), and spots on the collegiate all-time top-25 lists in the shot, weight and hammer after dismantling the Ole Miss record books.
Odeluga was in the midst of her best year at Ole Miss, scoring her first national points indoors as the NCAA runner-up in the shot put and fourth-place finisher in the weight throw. Outdoors she was in prime form as well, winning her first career SEC title in the shot put while ranking among the national scoring contenders in both the shot and hammer. The junior native of Munster, Indiana will have her full senior season available for 2027.
Ole Miss track & field awaits the first declaration lists for the NCAA East Regional, which will be held at the University of Kentucky on May 27-30.
Statement from Head Coach Connie Price-Smith
"Two freak accidents in three days, no one ever said life was fair. This year's national championship meet will look a lot different for the Rebels without Tarik and Akaoma there vying for a championship title.
"It has been an honor and a pleasure having Tarik in our program for the last four years. He is truly one of the most talented athletes that I have had in my 25 years of coaching, and I am sad that I will not get to see him compete in his final NCAA collegiate championship.
"He has accomplished so much in his four years here at Ole Miss, and I can't wait to see him back in the ring, heaving the shot put and throwing the hammer as a professional athlete. My dad always said that you can't keep a good man down, and I know that he will bounce back and be better than ever.
"Akaoma is every coach's dream athlete. She does everything right, both on and off the field. It has been a joy watching her grow and become the athlete she is today. It is unfortunate that she will miss this year's championship, but she will be ready for 2027."
Statement from Assistant Coach John Smith
"Tarik is the best male athlete of my career. I see Olympic teams in his future. I front-loaded all his training this outdoor season for the NCAA meet to win both the shot and hammer, and we just started his one-month peaking sequence. His training numbers said 80 meters in the hammer and 71-72 feet in the shot. It's a shame that he will never get his NCAA meet back, but like they say, life is not fair. Tarik is an alpha predator competitor. It's been an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to work with him for the last few years.
"Koko was on her way to 65 feet in the shot, and was making big moves in the hammer, I could see 70 meters by NCAAs. Koko will have more time to finish out, which will put her in position to go after an Olympic spot. She can be Tarik in the next couple of years. Koko is always very entertaining at practice, always makes it fun."
Statement from Assistant Coach Dempsey McGuigan
"Akaoma's season ending the way it did was tough to watch, but she's handled it like an absolute champion. Everyone who knows her knows this is just another challenge she'll attack head-on, and she'll come back stronger and better than ever. Honestly, she'll probably turn recovery into a competition and set out to become the fastest healer of all time — that's just who she is.
"As for Tarik, no soppy words from me, just thank you for making me look like a great coach. Standing in your corner is the easiest thing in the world, and I can't wait to keep fighting alongside you as you make your comeback. From your very first practice, we knew we had someone special. I've been spoiled over the last few years getting to be around you and the other hammer boys, living out so many of my own aspirations through all of you.
"To the greatest to ever do it, thank you for setting the standard so high."
Odeluga, the SEC Champion in the shot put and third-place finisher in the hammer, injured her foot in the discus during the final day of the outdoor conference meet last Saturday. Robinson-O'Hagan, fresh off becoming the winningest individual men's athlete in SEC history across all sports, suffered a significant leg injury during his first practice back since the SEC Championships.
This is a heartbreaking end to an outstanding Ole Miss career for Robinson-O'Hagan, who finishes as one of the best all-around throwers in collegiate history and one of the more promising young American prospects in recent memory in both the shot put and hammer.
The Woonsocket, Rhode Island native leaves with four national titles, 14 All-America awards, his all-time record 13 SEC titles, 14 SEC medals and five SEC Field Athlete of the Year awards with an incredible 75 NCAA points and 144 SEC points scored across his superb career. He also leaves with the collegiate record in combined outdoor shot/hammer distance (98.50m), second all-time in combined indoor shot/weight distance (45.53m), and spots on the collegiate all-time top-25 lists in the shot, weight and hammer after dismantling the Ole Miss record books.
Odeluga was in the midst of her best year at Ole Miss, scoring her first national points indoors as the NCAA runner-up in the shot put and fourth-place finisher in the weight throw. Outdoors she was in prime form as well, winning her first career SEC title in the shot put while ranking among the national scoring contenders in both the shot and hammer. The junior native of Munster, Indiana will have her full senior season available for 2027.
Ole Miss track & field awaits the first declaration lists for the NCAA East Regional, which will be held at the University of Kentucky on May 27-30.
Statement from Head Coach Connie Price-Smith
"Two freak accidents in three days, no one ever said life was fair. This year's national championship meet will look a lot different for the Rebels without Tarik and Akaoma there vying for a championship title.
"It has been an honor and a pleasure having Tarik in our program for the last four years. He is truly one of the most talented athletes that I have had in my 25 years of coaching, and I am sad that I will not get to see him compete in his final NCAA collegiate championship.
"He has accomplished so much in his four years here at Ole Miss, and I can't wait to see him back in the ring, heaving the shot put and throwing the hammer as a professional athlete. My dad always said that you can't keep a good man down, and I know that he will bounce back and be better than ever.
"Akaoma is every coach's dream athlete. She does everything right, both on and off the field. It has been a joy watching her grow and become the athlete she is today. It is unfortunate that she will miss this year's championship, but she will be ready for 2027."
Statement from Assistant Coach John Smith
"Tarik is the best male athlete of my career. I see Olympic teams in his future. I front-loaded all his training this outdoor season for the NCAA meet to win both the shot and hammer, and we just started his one-month peaking sequence. His training numbers said 80 meters in the hammer and 71-72 feet in the shot. It's a shame that he will never get his NCAA meet back, but like they say, life is not fair. Tarik is an alpha predator competitor. It's been an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to work with him for the last few years.
"Koko was on her way to 65 feet in the shot, and was making big moves in the hammer, I could see 70 meters by NCAAs. Koko will have more time to finish out, which will put her in position to go after an Olympic spot. She can be Tarik in the next couple of years. Koko is always very entertaining at practice, always makes it fun."
Statement from Assistant Coach Dempsey McGuigan
"Akaoma's season ending the way it did was tough to watch, but she's handled it like an absolute champion. Everyone who knows her knows this is just another challenge she'll attack head-on, and she'll come back stronger and better than ever. Honestly, she'll probably turn recovery into a competition and set out to become the fastest healer of all time — that's just who she is.
"As for Tarik, no soppy words from me, just thank you for making me look like a great coach. Standing in your corner is the easiest thing in the world, and I can't wait to keep fighting alongside you as you make your comeback. From your very first practice, we knew we had someone special. I've been spoiled over the last few years getting to be around you and the other hammer boys, living out so many of my own aspirations through all of you.
"To the greatest to ever do it, thank you for setting the standard so high."
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Track and Field
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