Isiah Young participates in the 100 meter race during the Mississippi Open Saturday / Tyler Jackson
For the second weekend in a row, Ole Miss senior Isiah Young posted two of the world’s best times this year in the 100 and 200 meters, while he led the No. 11 Rebel men at the Mississippi Open on Saturday.
The Ole Miss men and women racked up 13 total victories at the Ole Miss Track & Field Complex in their final home meet of the year and defeated Mississippi State in dual meet scoring.
“It’s good any time you can have your in-state rivals come and compete,” said Ole Miss head coach Brian O’Neal. “It’s good for our sport. Anytime we host a meet on our campus, we want to make sure we’re putting our best foot forward.”
Young was on fire Saturday, blazing to victorious times of 10.09 in the 100 and 20.39 in the 200 and also helping the 4×100 meter relay squad to a winning time of 39.90 and the 4×400 meter relay team to a victory in 3:10.57.
Young’s 10.09 in the 100 is tied for third-best in the world this year and is second among collegians in 2013. The Junction City, Kan., native finished just .01 second from his school-record 10.08 from last year.
His 20.39 in the 200 ranks him third in the world and second in the NCAA, as well. He also holds the school record in that event with a 20.16 last year.
The 4×100 relay team of Quintavius Burdette, Anthony Branch, Creighton Serrette and Young clocked a season-best 39.90 to win the event. That time is tied for fourth-best in school history and ranks Ole Miss 14th in the NCAA this year.
This year’s world leader in the pole vault, sophomore Sam Kendricks, had another strong outing with a facility record for the second week in a row. He cleared 18-1.25 to beat his facility record of 18-1 from last week. The world leader with a mark of 19-0.75 has now won nine straight regular-season pole vault titles.
“You always want your stars to step up, and I thought again that Sam and Isiah had really good days for us,” O’Neal said. “As we get ready to head into championship season, we’re going to continue to lean on our stars.”
Robert Semien claimed victory in the 110-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 14.10 that moves him up to No. 5 in the school record books. He also moves into the top 50 nationally this year.
Benjamin Lapane broke the meet record in the javelin with a personal-best heave of 218-0 to win the event. He remains third in school history with that throw.
Other winners on the men’s side were Seumas O’Reilly in the 5,000 meters (14:58.88), the 4×400 meter relay (3:10.57), Malcolm Davis in the long jump (23-4.75) and Hunter Harrison in the discus (170-0).
Haley Cutright continues to lead the Rebel women with her outstanding sophomore year. She won the 1,500 meters in a personal-best time of 4:25.40 that moves her up to No. 2 in the school record books. She also ranks top two in school history in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000 meters.
Other Ole Miss victories on the women’s side included Marci Morman in the long jump (19-6) and the 4×100 meter relay squad of Shari Russell, Destiny Lundy, Jasmine Williams and Asia Cooper (45.61).
The Rebels will be back in action this coming Thursday-Saturday at the prestigious Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. That is the same site as the upcoming 2013 USA Track & Field Championships in June.
