Ole Miss Track and Field inks three to NLIs

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss track and field head coach Joe Walker announced Friday the signing of Alexis Hightower, Mary Ashton Nall and Garrett Ferguson to national letters of intent.

A native of Lancaster, Texas, by way of Lancaster High School, Hightower owns a personal best mark of 41-08.00 in the triple jump and 19-04.50 in the long jump. As a sophomore, Hightower was the Texas state runner-up in the triple jump and placed third in the long jump. She went on to place second in the triple jump at the USATF Junior National meet, while also turning in a fourth place finish in the long jump.

“We have a great jump tradition here at Ole Miss and she will immediately impact our program,” Walker said.

A three-time Alabama 6A state pole vault champion, Nall will arrive in Oxford via Auburn, Ala., and Auburn High School. She holds the Alabama 6A pole vault record and was runner-up in the heptathlon. Nall is a member of the National Honor Society, won the Hal Moore Leadership Award and was an Alabama Girl’s State representative. She is the daughter of former Ole Miss football assistant coach Hugh Nall

“We are excited that Mary Ashton will be able to contribute as both a pole vaulter and as a heptathlete,” Walker said.

A native of Sulfur Springs, Texas, Furguson is also expected to compete in the pole vault for the Rebels next season. He was the Texas District 13 champion in the pole vault and a member of the Sulfer Springs High School 4×400 relay and was a starter on the Texas 4A state championship team. Ferguson is a member of the National Honor Society and ranked in the top 15 percent of his class.

“We are excited to have another addition to our pole vault corps and equally proud of what kind of student Garrett is,” Walker said. “We feel like he has potential to be a fine vaulter for us.”

-UM-
February 5, 2010
Athletics Media Relations