Track and Field Look for Top 4 Finish at Big Ten Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/17/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
May 17, 2000
COLUMBUS, Ohio – %^$
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%^$Buckeyes Ready for Big Ten%^$
%^$The Ohio State track and field teams travel to Iowa City, Iowa, for the Outdoor Big Ten Track and Field Championships Friday through Sunday, May 19-21. The University of Iowa is hosting the championships at the Cretzmeyer Track. This will be the Big Ten’s 100th men’s outdoor championship. Events are scheduled to begin Friday at 2 p.m., Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. (EST). A complete schedule of events is available at www.bigten.org and www.hawkeyesports.com.%^$
%^$All session tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students. Single-day tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Gates will open 90 minutes before the start of competition each day.%^$
%^$Currently in comparison to other Big Ten schools, Ohio State has 21 events in which they hold Top 5 positions. The other favorable factor is in last weekend’s Len Paddock and Billy Hayes Invitationals, the Buckeyes emerged with 25 new personal records showing they are reaching the peak of their season just in time for the Championships.%^$
%^$”We are looking for a Top 4 finish from both the men’s and women’s teams,” head coach Russ Rogers. “Everyone is looking good and if we have good weather, I think we will do very well.”%^$
%^$Fortunately this year more of the Buckeyes have made it through the season without injuries. This was a problem which plagued the Buckeyes during last year’s championships and caused the men to finish 10th and the women sixth.%^$
%^$”Last year we had many athletes injured during the championships, which put a lot of pressure on the other athletes and hurt some of their performances,” Rogers said. “This year is better. Everyone has been carrying their own load and they are more relaxed and focused.”%^$
%^$Injuries still affected a few members of the team. Joel Brown (Fr., Baltimore, Mar./ Woodlawn), Courtney Cornwall (Jr., Inwood, N.Y./Lawrence) and women’s pole vaulter Rachel Zukowski (Fr., Rockford, Mich./Catholic Central) are all injured and will not be able to compete this weekend.%^$
%^$”Because of our three injuries, it will take away from some of our team points, making it very difficult for us to win,” Rogers said. “We need more people in the events.”%^$
%^$Last week, Ohio State used the Len Paddock and Billy Hayes Invitational as their final tune-ups for the Championships.%^$
%^$ “Our main goal was to keep everyone healthy and focused, so we only had our athletes run in one event and one relay. We will need them to compete in many events at the championships, so we want them to be feeling 100 percent.”%^$
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%^$Last Week’s Recap%^$
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%^$The Ohio State track and field teams finished off their regular season Friday and Saturday at the Len Paddock Invitational, hosted by the University of Michigan and the Billy Hayes Invitational hosted by the University of Indiana.%^$
%^$At the Len Paddock Invitational, the Buckeyes competed against 18 teams including Michigan and Michigan State.%^$
%^$Throughout the two-day invitational, many Buckeyes reached new personal records, proving that they are approaching the peak of their season just in time for the Big Ten Championships. Andrew Pierce (Jr., Yellow Springs/Yellow Springs) won the 200-meter dash with his fastest time this season, 21.06. Corey Johnson (Jr., Muskegon, Ohio/Muskegon Reeths-Puffer) improved his personal record by a foot in the pole vault with a height of 17’0-3/4?. George Hoover (Fr., Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) won the javelin with a school record-breaking throw of 220’6?, and John Lageman (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville) set a personal record in the hammer throw with distance of 181’5? (third-place). John Norman (So., Kent, Ohio/Field) placed eighth in the discus (155’5?) and improved his personal record seven feet. He also placed sixth in the hammer throw earning him a new personal record of 171’5?.%^$
%^$Top finishers for the women were Tina Johnson (Jr., Burlington, N.J./Burlington Regional), who placed first in the 400-meter dash (55.82). Nicholette Chambers (Fr., New Haven, Conn./James Hillhouse) competed in four events and earned new personal records in the 100-meter hurdles, high jump and long jump. In the 100 hurdles, she placed second with the time of 13.99. She placed third in the long jump, with a distance of 19’10-1/2? and in the high jump she placed ninth clearing a height of 5’2-1/4?. Erin Carter (Fr., Logan, Ohio/Logan) placed second in the shot put and improved her personal record to a distance of 46’5-1/4?. Molly Logan (Fr., Darby, Pa.) placed second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.15, Katy Craig (So., Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) placed third in the hammer throw (170’9?) and fourth in the discus (148’1?) and Keeley Hancox (So., Franklin, Pa./Franklin) placed third in the javelin with a school record-breaking distance of 134’6?.%^$
%^$Five of the men’s distance runners traveled to Bloomington, Ind., and competed in the 22nd Billy Hayes Invite at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex at Billy Hayes Track.%^$
%^$The Buckeyes ran in two events, the 800-meter run and the 1,500-meter run, and they won both. Ian Connor (Jr., Lexington, Ohio/Northmor Local) placed first in the 1,500 run earning a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 3:43.90.%^$
%^$Winning the 800 was Rob Myers (Fr., Rushville, Ohio/Fairfield Union), who earned a new personal record time of 1:49.51, which also gives him the fastest time so far this season in the Big Ten.%^$
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%^$Meet the Coach%^$
%^$In his 12 years at Ohio State, Russ Rogers has produced 100 Big Ten indoor and outdoor track and field champions, 10 NCAA indoor and outdoor champions and 65 All-Americans. His 1993 teams alone produced 16 All-Americans and 12 Big Ten champions in both indoor and outdoor events.%^$
%^$ Rogers was 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.%^$
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%^$What’s Next%^$
%^$The Buckeyes who qualified for the NCAA Championships will be traveling to Durham, N.C., May 30-June 3 to compete against the nation’s best track and field athletes.%^$
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%^$Buckeyes’ Level in the Big Ten%^$Women’s Events%^$100-Meter Dash%^$ 1. Donica Merriman Ohio State 11.16%^$200-Meter Dash%^$ 1. Donica Merriman Ohio State 22.75%^$800-Meter Run%^$ 1. Stephanie Pesch Wisconsin 2:08.65%^$ 2. Andrea Geurtsen Wisconsin 2:10.24%^$ 3. Erica Murdock Michigan 2:10.45%^$ 4. Mandy Osmond Ohio State 2:11.98%^$1,500-Meter Run%^$ 1. Stephanie Pesch Wisconsin 4:20.33%^$ 2. Susanne Heyer Penn State 4:21.48%^$ 3. Raza Michniovaite Minnesota 4:27.50%^$ 4. Mandy Osmond Ohio State 4:28.52%^$100-Meter Hurdles%^$ 1. Donica Merriman Ohio State 12.70%^$ 2. Dominque Calloway Ohio State 12.86%^$400-Meter Hurdles%^$ 1. Dominque Calloway Ohio State 57.22%^$ 2. Ayanna Reece Ohio State 58.75%^$ 3. Krissy Liphardt Purdue 59.41%^$ 4. Angela Craft Purdue 1:01.44%^$ 5. Molly Logan Ohio State 1:02.15%^$4×100-Meter Relay%^$ 1. Indiana 44.22%^$ 2. Ohio State 44.99%^$4×400-Meter Relay%^$ 1. Indiana 3:38.02%^$ 2. Ohio State 3:40.15%^$High Jump%^$ 1. Carri Long Purdue 5’10-1/2?%^$ 2. Tami Smith Ohio State 5’8-1/2?%^$ 3. Kacy Childs Iowa 5’7?%^$ 4. Beth Ried Purdue 5’7?%^$ 5. Kathy Messner Penn State 5’6-1/2?%^$ 6. Cathy Carlin Ohio State 5’6?%^$ 7. Desiree Jones Ohio State 5’6?%^$Long Jump%^$ 1. Brandi Bently Michigan 21’6-1/4?%^$ 2. Tisha Ponder Illinois 20’9-3/4?%^$ 3. Nicolette Chambers Ohio State 19’10-3/4?%^$Women’s Hammer Throw%^$ 1. Beth Howard Minnesota 194’1?%^$ 2. Serene Ross Purdue 185’8?%^$ 3. Katy Craig Ohio State 175’5?%^$
%^$Men’s Events%^$200-Meter Dash%^$ 1. Mike Bennett Wisconsin 20.66%^$ 2. Babutrunde Ridley Illinois 20.98%^$ 3. Andrew Pierce Ohio State 21.06%^$400-Meter Dash%^$ 1. Andrew Pierce Ohio State 45.49%^$800-Meter Dash%^$ 1. Rob Myers Ohio State 1:49.51%^$1,500-Meter Run%^$ 1. Andrew McKessock Minnesota 3:41.39%^$ 2. Ian Connor Ohio State 3:43.90%^$ 3. Nate Clay Minnesota 3:46.38%^$ 4. Dan Horyn Illinois 3:48.28%^$ 5. Rob Myers Ohio State 3:48.32%^$3,000-Meter Steplechase%^$ 1. Eric Pierce Minnesota 8:44.33%^$ 2. Jared Cordes Wisconsin 8:46.77%^$ 3. Ian Connor Ohio State 8:47.21%^$110-Meter Hurdles%^$ 1. T.J. Nelson Wisconsin 13.85%^$ 2. Sherman Armstrong Illinois 13.85%^$ 3. Ryan Grear Ohio State 14.02%^$4×100-Meter Relay%^$ 1. Wisconsin 39.77%^$ 2. Minnesota 40.09%^$ 3. Illinois 40.30%^$ 4. Michigan 40.54%^$ 5. Ohio State 40.58%^$4×400-Meter Relay%^$ 1. Ohio State 3:06.33%^$Javelin%^$ 1. Dan Ralph Iowa 227’10%^$ 2. George Hoover Ohio State 220’6?%^$Pole Vault%^$ 1. Charles DeWilt Michigan 17’5?%^$ 2. Justin Norberg Illinois 17’4-1/2?%^$ 3. Pooh Williams Purdue 17’1?%^$ 4. Corey Johnson Ohio State 17’0-3/4?%^$
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%^$Men’s%^$Event Time/Mark Athlete Date%^$100-Meter Dash 10.51 Ryan Grear 5/13/00%^$ 10.59 Edison Francis 5/7/00%^$200-Meter Dash 21.06 Andrew Pierce 5/13/00%^$ 21.22 Ryan Grear 5/7/00%^$ 21.34 Edison Francis 5/7/00%^$ 21.57 Kambon Sampson 5/13/00%^$400-Meter Dash 45.49 Andrew Pierce 4/15/00%^$ 47.56 Thomas Dickson 3/25/00%^$ 48.16 Kambon Sampson 4/15/00%^$ 49.70 Courtney Cornwall 5/13/00%^$800-Meter Dash 1:49.51 Rob Myers 5/13/00%^$ 1:54.49 Brian Ely 5/13/00%^$ 1:54.53 Marcus Harris 4/15/00%^$ 1:54.78 Ian Connor 4/7/00%^$1,500-Meter Run 3:43.90 Ian Connor 5/13/00%^$ 3:48.42 Rob Myers 4/15/00%^$ 3:51.02 David Gonzalez 4/15/00%^$ 3:56.39 J.J. O’Rielly 5/13/00%^$ 3:56.63 Derrick Butler 5/13/00%^$3,000-Meter Run 8:31.37 David Gonzalez 4/15/00%^$5K Run 14:47.42 David Gonzalez 4/22/00%^$ 14:53.03 Ian Connor 3/25/00%^$ 14:54.62 Derrick Butler 4/22/00%^$Steeplechase 8:47.21 Ian Connor 4/29/00%^$ 9:28.72 J.J. O’Rielly 4/29/00%^$ 9:46.47 Josh Folger 4/29/00%^$110-Meter Hurdles14.02 Ryan Grear 5/7/00%^$ 14.34 Joel Brown 4/7/00%^$400-Meter Hurdles52.07 Courtney Cornwall 4/8/00%^$ 54.54 Joel Brown 4/7/00%^$4×100-Meter Relay40.58 Joel Brown 4/15/00%^$ Ryan Grear%^$ Kambon Sampson%^$ Edison Francis%^$4×400-Meter Relay 3:06.33 Courtney Cornwall4/28/00%^$ Thomas Dickson%^$ Joel Brown%^$ Andrew Pierce%^$High Jump 6’10” Jeff Cerveny 5/13/00%^$Long Jump 21’11-1/2? Jeff Cerveny 4/22/00%^$Triple Jump 41’3-1/2? Jeff Cerveny 4/15/00%^$Pole Vault 17’0-3/4? Corey Johnson 5/13/00%^$Shot Put 49’0-3/4? Andrew Saurer 4/29/00%^$ 48’9-1/2? Aaron Bilovecky 4/29/00%^$Discus 156’6? Andrew Saurer 5/7/00%^$ 155’5? John Norman 5/13/00%^$ 154’9? Rusty Azbell 5/7/00%^$Hammer 181’5? Jon Lageman 5/13/00%^$ 177’6? Rusty Azbell 5/7/00%^$ 176’0? Andrew Saurer 4/29/00%^$ 171’5? John Norman 4/29/00%^$Javelin 220’6? George Hoover 5/13/00%^$
%^$Women’s%^$Event Time/Mark Athlete Date%^$100-Meter Dash 11.16 Donica Merriman 5/7/00%^$200-Meter Dash 22.75 Donica Merriman 5/7/00%^$ 25.10 Nicolette Chambers 4/15/00%^$ 25.75 Desiree Jones 5/7/00%^$400-Meter Dash 55.50 Tina Johnson 4/15/00%^$ 55.94 Ayanna Reece 4/7/00%^$ 58.54 Rhondalynn Crawford 3/25/00%^$800-Meter Dash 2:11.98 Mandy Omond 3/25/00%^$ 2:14.93 Ayanna Reece 5/13/00%^$ 2:18.74 Rhondalynn Crawford 5/7/00%^$1,500-Meter Run 4:28.52 Mandy Osmond 4/8/00%^$ 4:43.30 Alexis Schulist 4/15/00%^$ 5:02.91 Erica Kessler 5/7/00%^$3,000-Meter Run 10:21.39 Karyn Kelly 4/15/00%^$ 10:23.89 Alexis Schulist 5/7/00%^$5K Run 17:54.00 Alexis Schulist 3/25/00%^$100-Meter Hurdles12.70 Donica Merriman 4/29/00%^$ 12.86 Dominque Calloway 5/7/00%^$ 13.99 Nicolette Chambers 5/13/00%^$ 14.00 Molly Logan 5/13/00%^$ 14.37 Desiree Jones 5/13/00%^$400-Meter Hurdles57.22 Dominque Calloway 4/8/00%^$ 58.75 Ayanna Reece 5/7/00%^$ 1:02.15 Molly Logan 5/13/00%^$4×100-Meter Relay 44.99 Nicolette Chambers 4/15/00%^$ Dominque Calloway%^$ Tina Johnson%^$ Donica Merriman%^$4×400-Meter Relay 3:40.15 Ayanna Reece 5/7/00%^$ Tina Johnson%^$ Donica Merriman%^$ Dominque Calloway%^$High Jump 5’8-1/2? Tami Smith 4/8/00%^$ 5’6? Cathy Carlin 4/15/00%^$ 5’6? Desiree Jones 4/15/00%^$ 5’2-1/2? Nicholette Chambers 5/13/00%^$ 5’2-1/4? Natalie Gentry 5/13/00%^$Long Jump 19’10-1/2? Nicholette Chambers 5/13/00%^$ 19’4-1/4? Tina Johnson 4/22/00%^$Triple Jump 38’10-1/4? Nicolette Chambers 5/7/00%^$Pole Vault 11’7-3/4? Rachel Zukowski 3/25/00%^$Discus 154’3? Katy Craig 4/29/00%^$ 133’5? Erin Carter 4/29/00%^$Shot Put 46’5-1/4? Erin Carter 5/13/00%^$ 45’5? Desiree Jones 4/15/00%^$ 36’0-3/4?Nicholette Chambers 5/7/00%^$Hammer Throw 175’5? Katy Craig 5/7/00%^$ 133’1? Erin Carter 4/22/00%^$Javelin Throw 134’6? Keeley Hancox 5/13/00%^$ 119’11” Desiree Jones 5/13/00%^$ 116’3? Nicholette Chambers 5/7/00
