Track and Field Prepares for Big Ten Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/22/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Feb. 22, 2001
This Week
The Ohio State men’s team will travel to State College, Pa. and the women’s team will travel to West Lafayette, Ind. for the Big Ten Championships Sunday Feb, 24 and continuing Saturday Feb 25.
Scarlet and Gray Invite
The Ohio State men’s and women’s track and field teams ended their regular indoor seasons, playing host to the Scarlet and Gray Invitational Saturday Feb 17.
Andrew Pierce (Sr., Yellow Springs, Ohio/ Yellow Springs) coasted to a first-place finish in the 400-meter dash with a time of 47.13 Pierce also placed first in the 200-meter dash with a season best time of 21.67. Ian Connor (Sr., Lexington, Ohio/ Northmoor) placed first in both the men’s one-mile (4:10.79) and 800-meter run (1:55.85)
For the women, Donica Merriman (Sr., Trotwood, Ohio/Trotwood) continued her success, as she posted a first-place finishes in the 60-meter dash (7.49) and 60-meter hurdles (8.40). Katy Craig (Jr., Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson) posted a mark of 64’11. 50 to take first in the women’s weight throw.
Great Expectations
The men have a well -rounded team and have the opportunity to stand out this weekend.
Andrew Pierce leads the Big Ten in the 400-meter dash (46.00) and the 600-meter run (1:17.73).
The men’s 4×400-meter relay team composed of Courtney Cornwall, Edison Francis, Thomas Dickson and anchor Andrew Pierce have the fastest time in Big Ten. Cornwall, Pierce, Rob Myers and Ian Connor also hold the number one position in the distance medley( 9:43.12).
Connor and Myers also enter the tournament posting the second fastest times in the 3,000 (8:07.23) and mile run respectively.
In field events, Jeff Cerveny (6’10.75) and Brad Hart (6’10.75) hold positions four and five in the high jump.
Drew Cater has improved through the season and owns the second longest mark of 24’11.00 in the long jump.
Head Coach, Russ Rogers has great expectation for his men’s squad.
“If the men perform how I expect them to perform we could take first or second place,” Rogers said. Courtney Cornwall is a questionable because of his legs but if he competes I think we have a great chance of winning.”
Women Look to Shine
The regular season showed significant promise as the women’s squad improved in all areas. The momentum will continue into this weekend as they look to contend for Top 3.
Donica Merriman enters this weekend’s championships having the fastest time in the 60-meter hurdles( 8.03) and the second fastest time in the 200-meter dash (23.82) Merriman, also a member of the 4×400 relay team owns the second fastest time at 3:34.70 in the Big Ten.
Other members are Tina Johnson,Onica Fraser,and Dalanda Jackson.
Freshman, Brooke Patterson has made significant contribution to the squad this season. Unfamiliar with the 600-meter run at the beginning of the season she has come on strong. Patterson has also has been impressive in the 800-meter run and could also be a factor this weekend.
Katy Craig opened the season with a no-nonsense attitude as she automatically qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the first meet of the season. Her mark of 64’11.50 still holds as he longest mark in the Big Ten.
Factor in Tami Smith who posses in the highest mark in the high jump at 5’09.75,Shot Putters Alexis McCall and Erin Carter, who rank four and five in and the women’s team has an opportunity to be among the Top 3.
Meet the Coach
In his 13 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 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.
Rogers also coached with the U.S. team at the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia. He was 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 .
Rogers came to Ohio State from Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he was the head coach for both the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams
Looking Ahead
Members of the track and field team will travel to Fayettville, Ark. for the NCAA Championships March 9-10.
