OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi track star Rodney
Lydale Lockhart was found dead around 10 a.m. Saturday
(Sept. 29) at his apartment at Taylor Pointe Apartments in
Oxford, near the UM campus.
Lockhart, 20, a junior psychology major from Vaiden, was a
member of the gold medal-winning U.S. 4×400 relay team in
the 2006 World Junior Championships in Beijing.
“We are deeply saddened by Rodney’s death,” said UM Head
Track Coach Joe Walker. “Our thoughts and prayers are with
Rodney’s family and friends. Our coaches and our
student-athletes offer our deepest sympathy to his family.”
Lockhart was shot and was pronounced dead at the scene by
Lafayette County Coroner Lonnie Weaver, according to a
release issued earlier today by Oxford Police Chief Mike
Martin.
Lockhart’s death is being investigated as a homicide by the
Oxford Police Department and the Mississippi Bureau of
Investigations, Martin said.
“This is an unbelievable thing, and I’m having difficulty
processing it,” Walker said.
To help Ole Miss track athletes and coaches deal with the
tragedy, Dean of Students Thomas J. “Sparky” Reardon and
University Counseling Center Director Mark Showalter met
with the team Saturday evening.
At the 2006 SEC Outdoor Championships, Lockhart finished
ninth in the 400 meters and was a member of the 4×400-meter
relay team that finished eighth. At the 2006 SEC Indoor
Championships, he finished eighth in the 400 meters and was
a member of the 4×400-meter relay team that finished
fifth.
At the McCravy Memorial, Lockhart was the top collegiate
finisher in the 400 meters, posting a time of 47.70.
“We had a great team, and we were going to have a great
year,” said Associate Men’s Track Coach Brian O’Neal. “We
had high goals, and Lockhart was an integral part of them.”
OPD officers and an ambulance were dispatched to Taylor
Pointe Apartments shortly after 10 a.m., following a 911
call from a male who stated he entered Lockhart’s apartment
and found him lying on the floor.
Lockhart is the son of Ronnie and Clarissa Lockhart of
Vaiden. Arrangements are pending.