Photo by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics
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Ole Miss Track and Field and Cross Country head coach Connie Price-Smith recently received one of the top athletic honors. Price-Smith was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame on November 3, 2016.
“It is one of the greatest honors, and I am humbled to be included in a Hall of Fame with such a talented and exceptional group of athletes,” Price-Smith said.
The four-time Olympian, Price-Smith, is also known as the winningest American female in athlete history in discus and shot put.
“She deserves it, and I am happy to call her my coach,” junior Ole Miss sprinter Jolie Carbo said.
She also had the pleasure of being the Women’s throws coach in the Rio 2016 Olympics. There, she not only had the chance of meeting new athletes, but she was able to coach some of her own. Raven Saunders, three-time NCAA collegiate title holder was one of the few Rebels that competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Saunders incredibly finished 5th overall in the women’s shot put.
She also coached Ole Miss volunteer assistant Gwen Berry in the hammer throw. Berry just missed the Olympic final with her 14th place finish.
Price-Smith is beginning her second season as head coach for the Ole Miss Track and Field team coming from her alma mater Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC).
“As the head coach of Ole Miss Track and Field and Cross Country, I hope that I bring a sense of pride and desire to be successful to the program. I expect everyone to work hard and strive to be the best that they can be,” Price-Smith said about her expectations of the Rebel team.
“Coach Connie was a great addition to the team,” senior Deanna Tate said.
Tate is a sprinter on the Rebels team and is beginning her final season on the Ole Miss Track and Field team.
“Although her specialty is throws, Coach Connie is always at our practices helping and supporting us throughout our training,” Tate said.
Like Tate, senior jumper Branden Greene was also present during Price-Smith’s arrival to the team.
“It’s not easy transitioning from a different coaching staff, but Coach Connie has really helped the Ole Miss track team climb the charts in the SEC,” Greene said.
Both nationally ranked Rebel men and women cross country teams are set to compete for the NCAA South Region Championships Friday. The Ole Miss Track and Field team is scheduled for their season opener January 13, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.
By D’Lacia McKinley, a student of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media. She can be reached at dmckinle@go.olemiss.edu.
