OLEMISSSPORTS.COM
GAINESVILLE, Fla. and Stanford, Calif. – A pair of school records and some of the nation’s fastest times in a few events highlighted the Ole Miss Rebels’ weekend of competition at the Pepsi Florida Relays and Stanford Invitational.
In a weekend at two of the most prestigious and well-attended meets in the country, Ole Miss athletes compiled the two school records, four top-two individual finishes and 18 outdoor personal bests. Many of the Rebels’ times run this weekend will rank among the top 25 or 30 in the nation.
“The trips to Florida and California were both very successful,” head coach Connie Price-Smith said. “I was very pleased with the outcome of the competitions. School records and personal bests are always exciting to see. I think the men and women are doing a great job and progressing nicely.”
It was quite an outdoor season debut for sophomore Craig Engels and junior Trevor Gilley in the Florida Relays 1500 meters on Friday. Engels placed runner-up in 3:38.82, breaking his own school record of 3:40.28 from last year. His time ranks him No. 2 in the NCAA this year and would have been the second-best time in the country for all of last season. Gilley placed third in a personal-best 3:41.77, ranking him No. 2 in school history and No. 3 in the NCAA this year. Sophomore Derek Gutierrez also ran a personal-best time of 3:47.07.
Over at Stanford, the three Rebels in the women’s 10,000 meters all came away with personal-best times that were better than the previous school record, led by sophomore Emily Bean’s 33.39.36. Junior Mary Alex England, who previously claimed the school record, ran 33:47.91, while sophomore Shelby Brown checked in at 34:41.08. No Ole Miss woman had ever broken 34 minutes in the 10K before this weekend.
The Rebel men’s hammer throwers showed off their strength in the Florida sun. In the invite section, sophomore Dempsey McGuiganearned seventh place with a mark of 68.00m/223-1, just off his school record of 223-7. In the college division, senior Nathan Loe was runner-up with a personal-best heave of 65.41m/214-7 that continues to rank him No. 2 in school history and should move him up into the top 20 or so nationally this season.
In the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase, sophomore MJ Erb made his Ole Miss debut in the event with a time of 9:00.27 that ranks him No. 5 in the school record books. Sophomores Brandon Harvey (9:19.89 – No. 9 in school history) and Abraham Merinar (9:38.31) both clocked personal bests in the event.
The Stanford Invitational saw junior Wesley Gallagher clock a personal-best time of 29:13.67 that ranks him No. 3 in school history and among the nation’s leaders early this outdoor season.
The Ole Miss women had a number of strong performances throughout the weekend in Florida to add to the fantastic 10,000-meter performance at Stanford.
Sophomore Raven Saunders took the event title in the women’s shot put invite with a winning mark of 17.26m/56-7.5.
The 4×100-meter relay squad of Nicole Henderson, Shannon Ray, Breanna Tate and Khadijah Suleman raced to sixth place in a season-best 44.03 that ranks them 12th in the NCAA this year.
In the 4×400-meter relay, the Rebels’ squad of Kiannah Alexander, Jolie Carbo, Mercedes Mattix and Deanna Tate finished fifth in the college division in a season-best 3:39.72.
Sophomore Lindsey Murray finished runner-up in the pole vault with a height of 4.20m/13-9.25 that matched her season best and is a half-inch shy of the school record. She entered the weekend ranked 11th nationally in the event.
Senior McKenna Coughlin placed sixth in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best time of 10:36.70 that moves her up from fourth to third in the school record books. She came into the weekend ranked 17th nationally in the event.
Junior Breanna Tate ran a personal-best 23.43 to finish 14th in the open 200 meters. It was her second straight weekend with a career-best time in the event and moves her up to No. 5 in school history.
Sophomore Shannon Ray ran a season-best 11.52 in the 100 meters for 21st place.
Sophomore Leanne Zimmer clocked an outdoor personal-best time of 2:10.10 in the 800 meters, while the women’s 1500 meter runners had solid days, including Britt Ummels (4:26.24, 15th place), Bo Ummels (4:27.70, 19th place) and Anna Braswell (PR 4:30.67, 26th place).
