House Concurrent Resolution 61

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING TARIK ROBINSON-O'HAGAN FOR WINNING THE NATIONAL TITLE IN SHOT PUT AT THE NCAA DIVISION I INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS AS WELL AS FOR HIS NUMEROUS OTHER SUCCESSES.

WHEREAS, Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan, an athlete at the University of Mississippi, reigned supreme at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships at The Track at New Balance in Boston, Massachusetts, when he won the national title in the shot put at a massive personal best of 69 feet, 0.75 inches, making him the first Ole Miss Rebel to ever win a men's shot put title and the first underclassman nationally to win the men's shot indoors since 2014; and

WHEREAS, the son of Keila and Dwayne O'Hagan, Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan grew up in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, where he attended Woonsocket High School, where he stood out not only as a talented multi-sport athlete, but as one of the best all-around boys shot put throwers in United States history; and

WHEREAS, Robinson-O'Hagan has won two national titles, two U.S. U20 titles, and one Junior Olympics title, and on the international stage, he won the 2022 World U20 gold medal in the shot put, and in the all-time United States boys record books, he ranks number 4 in the shot put, as well as number 3 in the 6kg hammer and number 7 in the 12-pound hammer; and

WHEREAS, in less than two years, Robinson-O'Hagan has already established himself as one of the best shot put throwers in Ole Miss history and one of the most dynamic men's throwers nationally in recent memory, as he already owns an NCAA title in addition to six NCAA qualifying berths, six All-America honors, 21 NCAA points, three SEC titles and 44 SEC points; and

WHEREAS, additionally, Robinson-O'Hagan also already owns four Ole Miss records, with his indoor weight throw record from 2023 also standing as the collegiate freshman record at 77 feet, 6 inches; and

WHEREAS, his NCAA victory was just the second ever by an Ole Miss men's field athlete indoors, alongside Olympian Savante' Stringfellow's long jump win in 2001, and earlier in the season, Robinson-O'Hagan became the first in SEC history to sweep the men's shot put and weight throw at the conference meet, and he ended his sophomore campaign already ranked third in collegiate history in combined shot put/weight throw distance; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and honor fine Mississippi student-athletes, especially those such as Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan, whose extraordinary talent, athleticism and strength has brought honor to his community, to the University of Mississippi and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan for winning the national title in shot put at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships as well as for his numerous other successes, and extend our best wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Tarik Robinson-O'Hagan and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.