Number of Ole Miss Track & Field Athletes Competing in Olympics Grows to Seven

Khadijah Suleman (Photo by Joshua McCoy, @olemisspix)

Two days after Ole Miss announced it will have a school-record six representatives competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics, another Rebel has qualified for the trip of a lifetime.

Khadijah Suleman, who completed her eligibility and earned a bachelor’s degree from Ole Miss this year, has been named to the 4×100-meter relay pool for the Nigerian national team.

Suleman is a two-time All-American as a member of the record-setting Ole Miss 4×100 relay squad. She also ranks third in school history in the 100 meters (11.39), fourth in the 200 (23.26), fourth in the indoor 60 (7.38) and second in the indoor 200 (23.65). She was Ole Miss’ nominee for 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year.

The other six Rebels who are set to compete in Rio:

Gwen Berry, USA – women’s hammer throw
Antwon Hicks, Nigeria – men’s 110-meter hurdles
Sam Kendricks, USA – men’s pole vault
Brittney Reese, USA – women’s long jump (three-time Olympian; 2012 gold medalist)
Ricky Robertson, USA – men’s high jump
Raven Saunders, USA – women’s shot put

The all-time total of Ole Miss representatives to compete at the Olympics will balloon to 13 in Rio. Other past Ole Miss Olympians include Allan Ince (1988, Barbados), Gary Kinder (1988, USA), Alvin Haynes (1992, Barbados), Tony Dees (1992, USA), Savante’ Stringfellow (2000, USA) and Isiah Young (2012, USA).

In addition to these athletes, Ole Miss will be represented in a big way in Rio by head coach Connie Price-Smith, who serves as the women’s Olympic head coach for Team USA. Price-Smith was a four-time Olympian (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000) and 25-time U.S. champion during her days as one of the world’s best shot put and discus throwers.

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