Track and Field Works to Keep Winning Momentum Strong – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Jan. 20, 2000
Continuing with Confidence
Most of Ohio State’s track team increased their seasonal best times last week at New York. This week, they will continue to push themselves and each other as they compete against Washington , Big Ten-rival Indiana and last year’s Southern Conference Champions Western Carolina, at 10 a.m. at the French Field House.
New York Invitational Recap
Ohio State’s men’s and women’s track teams were successful as they traveled to the Armory in New York, Saturday and competed against nine teams at the New York Sports Museum Collegiate Invitational. The men tore through their competition by placing first and earning 54.5 points more than second-place Seton Hall. The women showed a strong performance and placed a close second to Seton Hall.
“I was very, very impressed with the way both teams ran this past weekend,” Head Coach Russ Rogers said.
The men performed well in all areas, especially in the relays. They placed first in both the distance medley (9:49.92) and the 4×400 meter relay (3:12.75). Andrew Pierce broke the 400 record he set at last year’s invitational with this year’s time of 46.70. Pierce also captured first in 200 (21.72) with teammate Courtney Cornwall placing second in both the 200 (21.92) and the 400 (47.43). In the field events, Corey Johnson placed first in the pole vault (15’09”).
Sprints were the women’s strong area with Dominque Calloway and Donica Merriman leading the way for the Buckeyes. Calloway shattered her 60-meter high hurdles record at the Armory with this year’s first-place time of 8.23. Merriman also broke Calloway’s 60-meter high hurdle record and placed second (8.30). The Buckeyes placed first and third in the high jump with Cathy Carlin jumping 5’06-1/2” and Tamara Smith jumping 5’04-1/2.”
Buckeyes Step Closer to NCAA’s
Pierce, Calloway and Merriman all recorded NCAA provisional qualifying times at New York’s Invitational. Pierce and Calloway recorded a provisional times in the 400 and Calloway and Merriman in the 60-meter hurdles. Indiana Off to Good Start
Indiana’s track and field teams have started their seasons off strong. Last week, the women defeated Michigan,the two-time defending Big Ten Champions. Indiana’s men kept the Michigan meet close, but were defeated 85-78.
The Hoosiers’ key runners include Danielle Carruthers, who ran her season best last week in both the 60-meter hurdles (8.58) and 60-meter dash (7.45) and Tia Trent in the 400 (56.09)
Russell Brooks of Indiana captured two victories in the 60 (6.78) and the 200 (21.81).
Washington Poses a Challenge
The Washington Huskies competed against Penn State last weekend, but fell short from victory. The women finished second and the men finished fourth. Two of Washington’s runners had provisional qualifying times for the NCAA Champioinships. Ja’Warren Hooker qualified in the 200 (21.21) and ran well in the 60 (6.75). Melinda Cambell recorded a provisional qualifying time in the 3,000 run.
Meet the Coach
In his 12 years at Ohio State, Russ Rogers has produced 100 Big Ten indoor and outdoor track and field champions, ten NCAA indoor and outdoor champions and 65 All-Americans. His 1993 teams alone produced 16 All-Americans and 12 Big Ten champions in both indoor and outdoor events.
Rogers was recently chosen as the head coach of the national team that participated in the 1999 World Indoor Championships in Macbashi, Japan.
Rogers has more than 30 years of head coaching experience in national and international track and field.
His most recent experience was with the U.S. team at the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia. He was also the 1988 sprint coach for the U.S. Olympic Team which competed in Seoul, Korea, the 1987 coach of the World University Games team, the 1985-86 head coach of the U.S. track team and has numerous other coaching credentials.
Rogers came to Ohio State from Fairleigh Dickinson University, located in Teaneck, N.J., where he was the head coach for both the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams for 10 years.
Next Week’s Action
Next week the Buckeyes travel to State College, Pa. for the National Invitational on Jan. 29.
