A bit of an unknown program to the wider world of college athletics is the sheer dominance and powerhouse that is Ole Miss track and field. The team has churned out multiple Olympians and several Southeastern Conference and NCAA champions. 

At the NCAA level, the Rebels have secured a total of 34 NCAA champions in events and 25 runner-ups. Additionally, they have had an impressive 54 NCAA top-25 finishes in track and field competitions, alongside an astonishing 331 First or Second-Team All-Americans.

At the SEC level, too, the Rebels have a firm stronghold in track and field. Consisting of 155 SEC champions, 31 SEC Athletes of the Year awards and 16 SEC commissioner’s trophies, which are given to the athlete who scores the most individual points at their respective championship competition. 

The Rebels have found the bulk of their successes under current head coach Connie Price-Smith, a four-time Olympian herself in shot put. 

Price-Smith has helped foster 20 NCAA champions (14 titles), 172 first or second-team All-Americans, and 76 SEC champions. She has also secured 31 NCAA Top-25 team finishes (17 in track, 14 in cross country).

Additionally, under the guidance of Price-Smith, six of the nine all-time NCAA top-10 finishes in Ole Miss history have come within the last three calendar years: 2024 women’s outdoor (5th), 2024 women’s indoor (5th), 2023 women’s indoor (10th), 2022 women’s indoor (T-6th) and 2022 men’s indoor (T-10th).

Not only has Ole Miss produced many world-class level athletes and champions at the collegiate level, but the Rebels also have a history of producing Olympic-level talent, boasting many Olympians dating back to the 1988 Games in Seoul.

Consisting of 21 total Olympians, five of which competed in this year’s Games, these athletes have competed in various events like the pole vault or the shot put, among others, representing a total of five different countries.

Four of these Olympians have achieved their Olympic dreams. Britteny Reese is the most decorated, winning gold in 2012 and silver in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics in the women’s long jump event. Raven Saunders won silver in 2021 in the women’s shot put and Sam Kendricks also won in 2020 in the men’s pole vault. Additionally, Tony Dees won silver in 1992 in the 100-meter hurdles.

At this year’s 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, there was strong Rebel representation, with five Ole Miss track and field athletes representing three different countries. 

Three of them represented Team USA: Sam Kendricks participated in the pole vault, McKenzie Long in the women’s 200 meter and Raven Saunders in the women’s shot put. Mario Garcia Romo represented Spain in the men’s 1500-meter and Sintayehu Vissa represented Italy in the women’s 1500-meter.

Ole Miss track and field is an established beacon of success and dominance within collegiate athletics, marked with a rich history of achievements at the conference and national level and even international athletics garnering representatives at the Olympic games.