Ole Miss track and field junior Arvesta Troupe has made history as the program’s first-ever high jump champion.
The Fulton native’s Friday performance at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships concluded a remarkable junior season for Troupe, who went from high school basketball star to surprise state champion high jumper to asking to walk on to Ole Miss to one of the best high jumpers in the U.S.
At Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., Troupe sailed cleanly over his first three bars. Troupe needed two tries at 2.23m/7-03.75, which eventually proved to be his winning jump as no other competitor could match him at the height, including the national leader, Riyon Rankin of Georgia, along with the defending indoor national champion, Tyus Wilson of Nebraska.
Troupe later asked the officials to raise his first free attempt as the national champion up to a career-best 2.27m/7-05.25. He glided over without issue on his first attempt. Troupe attempted to keep the magic flowing by having the bar move up to 2.30m/7-06.50, but after three solid tries, his day was done but not without earning a title crown.
Say hello to the first NCAA high jump champion in Ole Miss history! 👋🥹 @arvestaa #HottyToddy x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/lGGxdlf3Br
— Ole Miss Track & XC (@OleMissTrack) June 14, 2025
In addition to becoming the first national high jump champion in Ole Miss history, he is the first overall men’s champion in the jumps since Olympian and Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer Savante’ Stringfellow won the long jump outdoors in 2001, as well as the first Rebel overall since four-time Olympian Brittney Reese claimed the 2008 long jump title outdoors.
Troupe’s new personal record height improved upon his spot at No. 2 in Ole Miss history behind Olympian Ricky Robertson’s 2.32m/7-07.25 from 2012. Overall, Troupe is the 36th NCAA Champion in Ole Miss men’s and women’s track and field history and the 19th outdoors. Among just Rebel men, Troupe is the 20th NCAA Champion, while outdoors, he is now the ninth national champ.
As for how the Rebels fared as a team in the national championships, No. 11 Ole Miss ended the meet with 22 points, which tied for eighth with both No. 15 Florida and No. 23 Kentucky. That eighth-place showing by the Rebels ties with the 2013 men’s outdoor squad for the best ever by an Ole Miss men’s team.
