Especially for Division 1 athletes, making the jump as one of the top dogs in high school doesn’t always work out as planned as a collegian where there’s a bunch of top dogs as teammates and/or competitors.
That has never been the case with Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan. Since his freshman year began in the fall of 2021 at the University of Mississippi, the former Woonsocket High standout has simply been locked in and has not missed a beat. Some might argue, the ultra-confident weight-thrower and shot-putter may have even exceeded the already-high expectations that were bestowed upon him once he graduated as a multiple All American, national titlists and World junior champion at Woonsocket.
Last week at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., Robinson-O’Hagan gave further proof of his continued excellence in the throwing events. Three months after winning his first individual title with a victory in the shot at the indoor nationals, the Mississippi sophomore completed the sweep of his specialty last Wednesday with an outdoor PR and Ole Miss record of 68 feet, 6 inches.
In addition to the shot, Robinson O’Hagan achieved All American status in the hammer, too. With a PR of 238-10, he finished seventh overall against the nation’s best.
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On Thursday night, former Moses Brown standout Sophia Gorriaran earned gold in the 800m at the USATF U20 Championships in Oregon. The Harvard freshman was timed in 2:01.90, more than two seconds ahead of her closest rival.
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Robinson-O’Hagan and Gorriaran are two of four former R.I. high school stars that have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials, to be held June 14-21 at Hayward Field. Robinson-O’Hagan earned spots in both the shot and hammer. The Woonsocket alum ranks No. 14 in the weight with his recent effort at the NCAAs and is ninth overall in the shot after his winning performance at the indoor nationals where he had his all-time best of 69-.0.75.
For the second straight time, Gorriaran will be making the trip to Oregon for the Olympic Trials. Three years after becoming the youngest track & field athlete to qualify for Trials at the age of 16 in 2021, she once again earned a spot in the 800m. On Feb. 16, the Harvard frosh clocked a qualifying 2:01.68 to win the Boston University DMR Challenge. She improved on that time thrice during the spring. She matched her PR by placing fourth at the NCAA East Regionals in late May with a time of 2:00.65. Gorriaran was ninth (2:00.87) at the recent NCAA Championships and earlier in the season was third (2:01.60) at the Wake Forest Invitational.
Along with Robinson-O’Hagan, making their inaugural trip to the Trials are Darius Kipyego (St. Raphael Academy) and Maddy Berkson (Classical).
Kipyego, a sophomore at Iowa State, earned his qualifier by winning the Hurricane Alumni Invitational in early April with an all-time best of 1:45.76. During this past outdoor season, Kipyego went under 1:47 two other times. He was second (1:46.27) at the Drake Relays and third (1:46.69) at the Big 12 Championships.
Berkson, a Stanford grad, attained her longtime goal of qualifying for the Trials with a stellar year in 2024. She’ll be in the 1,500m, punching her ticket out west with her PR of 4:08.50 from the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix on May 17. She has gone under 4:10 three times over the last few months. In addition to the Grand Prix, she was second (4:09.60) at the Oregon Relays on April 20 and was fifth (4:09.68) this past weekend at the Adrian Martinez Classic in Concord, Mass. Berkson currently competes for the Battle Roads TC.
