BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WTVA/Ole Miss Athletics) — The Ole Miss men's and women’s track and field teams both got off to successful starts Saturday at the Alabama Invitational. The meet, which was held at the new CrossPlex Indoor Track and Field Facility in Birmingham, had six SEC schools competing and 10 schools total.
“We had a great first meet,” Rebel head coach Joe Walker said. “I was really happy with our fitness after the (winter) break and we competed well in a very quality meet-and in all event areas. It was a great start.”
2011 NCAA First Team All-American Ricky Robertson began his junior campaign impressively by winning the triple jump with a leap of 50-01.75. He finished second in the high jump with a jump of 7-03.75 (tied for first, but placed second on misses).
The No. 19 nationally ranked Rebel men also saw strong opening performances from juniors Mike Granger and Isiah Young.
Granger, a 2011 NCAA First Team All-American, placed second in the 60 meters on the afternoon clocking a time of 6.68. Young earned a second-place finish in the 200 meters with a time of 21.45.
On the women’s side, a few athletes broke into the top five in the school record books in the 2012 indoor season opener.
Senior Logan Waites broke her previous school record 3000 meter time by running a 9:39.64 Saturday, while Kelsey Breathitt and Anne Threlkeld both produced top-five school record book finishes in the mile. Breathitt finished sixth in the mile, running a time of 5:05.28, whereas Threlkheld finished eighth with a 5:06.95 mile time.
Also, senior Kristin Bridges ran a personal-best time of 54.54 in the 400 meters Saturday, which topped her previous mark from last season and ranks as the fifth-best 400 meter time in school history.
Junior Neal Tisher appeared to pick up right where she left off last season as she claimed the pole vault title with a mark of 13-03.50, while Jazmin Miller also displayed brilliance in capturing the weight throw crown with a measurement of 61-11.50.
Junior Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen won the 800 meters with a time of 2:14.93.
Also competing Saturday was former Rebel All-American and World Champion long jumper Brittney Reese. Reese, who is a frontrunner to win an Olympic gold medal this summer in the London Games, won the event rather easily with a jump of 21-08.75.
The Rebels will continue practice this week and visit Birmingham again next weekend to compete in the Auburn Invitational.
