Ole Miss track during the 2014 Ole Miss Open on Saturday, March 22, 2014 in Oxford, Miss. (Photo/Ignacio Murillo)
NEW YORK – Led by superb sprinting from sophomore Jalen Miller, Ole Miss athletes performed on the biggest stage and came away with some remarkable highlights at the Armory Track Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
Over the weekend, Ole Miss claimed three event victories, accomplished two school records and broke a significant meet record.
“We came here with a mission to compete at a high level, and I thought for the most part we did,” head coach Brian O’Neal said. “We started the meet strong and had some strong events through the middle of the meet. We’re trying to learn how to finish meets. Although our attitude and effort was there, we just came up a bit short.”
Miller showed off his consistency and prowess in the 60 meters with more electrifying times this weekend. On Friday, he broke former Tennessee star Justin Gatlin’s 2002 meet record of 6.56 when Miller clocked 6.55 in the semifinals to tie Mike Granger’s all-time school record. He ranks third in the NCAA and sixth in the world with that personal-best time.
Miller won Saturday’s final in 6.59, despite a slow start and a slip out of the blocks. It was his sixth race of 6.60 or better this season. Only three other runners in the NCAA have run 6.60 or better at all.
The Rebels’ other two victories came in field events, with senior Phillip Young claiming the triple jump crown and junior Adam Aguirre tying for the high jump title.
Young leapt an indoor personal-best 52-8 not once but twice en route to victory Saturday. It moves him up to sixth in the NCAA this year and fourth in school history.
Aguirre tied for the high jump title with a clearance of 6-11.5. He also was the Rebels’ top finisher in the long jump at 14th place (season-best 22-10.75).
Junior MJ Erb made his 3,000-meter debut in an Ole Miss uniform, and it was one to remember. The Syracuse transfer clocked a personal-best 8:07.54 to break former All-American Barnabas Kirui’s school record of 8:08.17 set in 2010. Erb placed fourth in the race, while eighth-place finisher senior Daniel Bulmer ran an indoor PR of 8:11.22 that ranks him third in the school record books.
The event of the day was the invitational men’s distance medley relay. While Team USA shattered the world record in 9:19.93, the Ole Miss squad of sophomore Craig Engels, junior Dameon Morgan, junior Holland Sherrer and sophomore Robert Domanic came in seventh in 9:40.51, which ranks them fourth in school history.
On the women’s side, a trio of newcomers shined brightly for the Rebels.
Freshman Shannon Ray made the finals of the 60 meters after her semifinal time of 7.47 on Friday moved her up to ninth in school history.
Fellow freshman Brooke Feldmeier who leads the country in the 800 meters, had another strong run at that distance with a time of 2:07.13 to finish third.
Junior newcomer Britt Ummels did not lower her school mile record from last week but had another solid performance with a time of 4:50.63 to place fifth.
A portion of the Ole Miss team also traveled to Jonesboro, Arkansas, for the A-State Invitational. A pair of Rebel women picked up victories, as senior Jhorden Hunter claimed the 55-meter dash in 6.92 and sophomore Saga Barzowski won the mile in 5:07.71. Hunter’s time of 6.92 ranks her third all-time in the school record books.
