The Next Generation of Champions: Made in Oxford-Lafayette County

Ole Miss

When Sam Kendricks won a silver medal in pole vaulting at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the stories chronicling his accomplishment inevitably mentioned that he is a native of Oxford-Lafayette County. It was yet another example of sports success emitting far and wide from the University of Mississippi. 

Kendricks, who also won a bronze medal in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio, is just the latest in a long line of track athletes to have called Ole Miss home. In fact, the school’s current head track and field coach, Connie Price-Smith, was a four-time Olympian in the discus throw and shot put. 

During her nine seasons with the school, Price- Smith has coached 20 NCAA individual champions and 14 runners-up. In addition to Kendricks, the list of Ole Miss Olympians includes Brittney Reese (long jump), Raven Saunders (shot put) and Isiah Young (sprinting). 

“We have a great facility, and the administrators support the work we’re doing,” Price-Smith says. “I tell athletes that you can be an Olympian or whatever you want to be, but you need people surrounding you to help you get there. We have that here, and our team has been doing great things.” 

The same can be said about the entire Oxford-Lafayette County sports scene. There is the Ole Miss football team, of course, which single-handedly turns the campus into a Hotty Toddy celebration seven times each year. All one has to do is visit that 10-acre grassy plot of ground affectionately known as “The Grove” during any home game weekend to experience just how much Ole Miss fans love supporting their Rebels (and having a good time doing so). 

But, as the track team shows, it’s not all about football when it comes to athletic success in Oxford. The baseball team won the College World Series in 2022, the women’s golf team captured the 2021 NCAA national title and the men’s golf team was ranked No. 1 in the nation (as of fall 2024). And off the field, the university demonstrated a financial commitment with a $45.7 million renovation of the Manning Athletics Performance Center. 

“We have a lot of campus amenities and community support here,” Price-Smith says. “The whole sporting vibe around the university is just wonderful.” 

Track Training and Ball Playing 

Great sports facilities extend beyond the university. Before he left for Paris this year, Kendricks opened The Refuge Training Center. The facility initially is focusing only on training for pole vaulters, but Kendricks plans to eventually expand the offerings and open the facility to all sports. 

“I want to put the spotlight on my event first and foremost, but then also move into the coaching and upbringing of young athletes in general.” Kendricks says. “I want it to be a place where people can come and get faster, stronger and smarter about their athletic programming. 

“For an athlete to grow, you need a place to train and compete, but you also need support. You need an organizer and motivator who gives a perspective of what you can achieve through sports. That’s what I want to bring to the Oxford area.” 

Meanwhile, for athletes who are too young for the Olympics or college, mTrade Park is providing plenty of sports activities to local children as well as traveling teams. The 75-acre facility has 14 baseball/softball fields and five fields for soccer/ football, and it is in nearly constant use, according to mTrade Park director Brad Freeman. 

mTrade

“We have about 2,000 children under age 14 participate in sports programs during the week, and then last year we held 44 weekend events and tournaments with teams from outside the region,” Freeman says. “We’ve had soccer events that bring in well over 100 teams from more than 20 states. In June and July each year, we are covered up with teams and out-of-towners.” 

The facility is a significant quality-of-life highlight in Oxford/Lafayette County, providing a place for local events during the week and bringing people to the area on the weekends. 

“When you combine Ole Miss athletics with all our events and activities at mTrade Park, there’s a lot going on in the sports world in Oxford,” Freeman says.