Ole Miss Track & Field Secures Top-10 Finish at NCAA Indoor Championships, Led by Robinson-O’Hagan’s Historic Three-Peat
Ole Miss men’s track & field wrapped up a successful showing at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships with a top-10 national finish, thanks to standout performances from junior Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan in the shot put and junior Arvesta Troupe in the high jump. The Rebels finished the meet tied for 10th place with 20 points, marking the second-best indoor finish in program history and the third-best across all seasons. This achievement also extends the team’s streak of top-15 national finishes indoors to five consecutive years—the longest such stretch in program history, indoors or outdoors. Seven of the ten total top-10 finishes in Ole Miss track & field history have occurred under the leadership of their head coach, now in their tenth season.
Robinson-O’Hagan Claims Third Consecutive National Shot Put Title
Robinson-O’Hagan played a major role in Ole Miss’ success, contributing 14 of the team’s 20 total points. The three-time Bowerman watch list nominee secured his third consecutive national title in the shot put, though the victory was far from easy. Entering the competition as the top-ranked athlete, he had already placed fifth in the weight throw final the night before.
In the shot put final, Robinson-O’Hagan set the leading mark early, unleashing a first-round throw of 20.49m (67-02.75). This mark held the top spot throughout the competition, but he faced serious pressure in the final round when South Carolina’s Christopher Licata produced a personal-best throw of 20.46m (67-01.50), falling just three centimeters short of overtaking him.
With this win, Robinson-O’Hagan joins an elite group of just 11 athletes in collegiate history to secure at least three consecutive NCAA men’s shot put titles across indoor and outdoor seasons. This victory follows his 2024 sweep of both the indoor and outdoor shot put championships. Additionally, his latest title marks the 14th indoor national championship in Ole Miss history and the third-ever by a men’s field athlete, alongside his own 2024 victory and an earlier win in the long jump from 2001. He is also now only the second Rebel to win back-to-back NCAA Indoor titles, joining a former 60-meter hurdles champion who accomplished the feat in 2004 and 2005.
Robinson-O’Hagan’s dominance has earned him 10 career All-America honors, including eight First-Team selections, and he has now amassed a total of 47 NCAA points over his collegiate career.
Arvesta Troupe Claims Bronze in NCAA High Jump Debut
Another crucial contributor for Ole Miss was Arvesta Troupe, who made an impressive debut at the NCAA Championships in the men’s high jump. The junior from Fulton, Mississippi, cleared his first two heights with ease before successfully clearing 2.19m (7-02.25) on his second attempt. His performance secured a third-place finish, earning him First-Team All-America honors.
Troupe was even in contention for the title, narrowly missing his attempts at 2.22m (7-03.25), a height that would have matched his career-best set two weeks prior at the SEC Championships. His bronze-medal finish makes him the first Ole Miss athlete to score in the men’s high jump at the NCAA level since an Olympian finished sixth indoors in 2013.
Reflecting on his performance, Troupe emphasized the importance of consistency and a clear mindset in major competitions. He also expressed pride in contributing points for Ole Miss in the jumps category, an area often overshadowed by the team’s strong showings in throwing and sprinting events.
Other Notable Performances
In the women’s shot put, sophomore Akaoma Odeluga finished ninth with a mark of 17.26m (56-07.50), earning Second-Team All-America honors.
With the indoor season now complete, Ole Miss track & field turns its focus to the outdoor season, beginning with the Ole Miss Classic on March 21-22.
Final Men’s Team Standings (Top Finishers)
1. USC – 39
2. Georgia – 33
3. Auburn – 32
4. Arkansas – 30
5. Oklahoma State – 26
6. Mississippi State & Virginia (Tied) – 23
7. North Carolina & Texas Tech (Tied) – 22
8. Ole Miss & Texas A&M (Tied) – 20
Ole Miss NCAA Champions & All-Americans
NCAA Champion
Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – Men’s Shot Put (Facility Record)
First-Team All-Americans
Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – Men’s Shot Put (1st Place)
Arvesta Troupe – Men’s High Jump (3rd Place)
Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – Men’s Weight Throw (5th Place)
Second-Team All-Americans
Akaoma Odeluga – Women’s Shot Put (9th Place)
Event Highlights
Men’s High Jump – Final
Arvesta Troupe – 2.19m (7-02.25), 3rd Place, First-Team All-American
Women’s Shot Put – Final
Akaoma Odeluga – 17.26m (56-07.50), 9th Place, Second-Team All-American
Men’s Shot Put – Final
Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – 20.49m (67-02.75), 1st Place, Facility Record, First-Team All-American
Men’s Weight Throw – Final
Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – 24.09m (79-00.75), 5th Place, First-Team All-American
With a strong indoor season behind them, the Rebels now look ahead to the upcoming outdoor campaign, hoping to build on their momentum and continue their success.