Track and Field Splits Ranks to Compete in Two Events this Week – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
April 22, 2003
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Following two-consecutive impressive team performances from both the men’s and women’s squads at the All-Ohio Championships and the Pacesetter Invitational, the Ohio State track and field team will seek to carry its momentum into the 109th annual Penn Relays Thursday through Saturday in Philadelphia, Pa., while other members will compete at the 2003 Otterbein Invitational.
THE PENN RELAYS
Main Information: www.thepennrelays.com
Where: Franklin Field, Philadelphia, Pa.
When: 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24; 9 a.m. Friday, April 25; 9 a.m. Saturday, April 26
A GLANCE AT THE PENN RELAYS
In its 108-year history, the Penn Relays have provided competition for more athletes than any other track meet in the world. During the past 10 years more than 100,000 young men and women from high schools, colleges, clubs, the armed services, preparatory schools, junior high schools, middle schools, parochial schools, and elementary schools have competed in the Carnival. The athletes range in age from under eight to over 80.
This year, during some 33 hours of competition on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, more than 425 races will be run, an average of more than one race every five minutes.
THE OTTERBEIN INVITATIONAL
Where: McVay Track Complex, Westerville, Ohio
When: Saturday, April 26
BUCKEYES EXCEL AT PACESETTER
The Buckeyes, competing in the Pacesetter Invitational for the first time in two seasons, captured first place on the women’s side, while the men recorded a second place standing as OSU junior Dan Taylor eclipsed an Ohio State program record in a throw event for the fourth-straight week with a 209-6 first place performance in the men’s hammer. The winning effort in the hammer was one of three, as Taylor swept the weight events for the second-consecutive week. Taylor’s 30-point day helped pace the men, who fell just seven points shy of first place Indiana State. The Buckeye women topped the Pacesetter field with 184 team points, besting the host Sycamores by nearly 30 points.
The OSU women swept first through third place in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles, while the throwers also scored a sweep of the weight events. A trio of Buckeyes posted NCAA Regional qualifying times in the 100m hurdles as senior Molly Logan equaled her season-best 13.39 to claim first, while juniors Brandi Hogan (13.73) and Dalanda Jackson (13.76) fell just behind to take second and third. OSU duplicated that effort in the 400m hurdles as senior Nicholette Chambers chimed in with a career-best 1:00.95 to win the event with Logan (1:01.36) and Jackson (1:02.22) once again taking the second and third slots. Chambers and Logan posted qualifiers in the 400m hurdles.
The OSU women throwers claimed first place performances in each of the hammer, discus and shot put events as freshman Amarachi Ukabam took titles in both the shot put (49-10) and discus (170-10) for the second time this season. Both marks are career-bests and regional qualifiers. Adding a first place effort in the hammer throw was sophomore Keturah Lofton, who bested the field with a regional qualifier of 188-7. Also scoring points and qualifying for the Buckeyes in the throw events were Alexis McCall, fourth in the shot put with a 48.5-75, Erin Carter, 47-6.26 in the shot put, Shelaine Larson, third in the hammer with a career-best 185-10, and junior Katy Houser, who scored a 171-0 in the hammer.
Other contributors on the women’s side included sophomore jumpers Rosalind Goodwin and Shayla Moore, who went 1-2 in the triple jump as Moore posted a season-best 42-5.50 to climb the qualifier charts, while Goodwin took first in the long jump with a career-best 19-3.50 and was topped in the triple jump by only Moore as she leapt 40-8.75.
On the men’s side, Taylor took first in all three of the weight events as he qualified in each with a 56-7.50 in the shot put and a 182-1 in the discus to compliment his record-setting effort in the hammer. Others scoring points in the throw events for the men were senior Rusty Azbel (180-3) and John Norman (182-9), who scored qualifying marks in the hammer. Posting a qualifier for the first time in his career was sophomore Bryan Duby, who marked a personal record with a toss of 189-6 to claim second behind Taylor in the hammer.
OSU senior sprinter Joel Brown joined Taylor as a 30-point contributor as he won both the 200-meter dash and the 110-meter hurdles and was one-fourth of a 10-point effort in the 4×100-meter hurdles. Brown’s 21.07 in the 200m is a season-best, while his 14.01 in the 110m hurdles joins his 200m mark as regional qualifiers.
Nosa Ehimwenman became the third 30-point scorer with additional first place efforts in the long jump (23-10) and the triple jump (50-4.50). Ehimwenman’s mark in the triple jump is a regional qualifier.
2003 NCAA REGIONAL QUALIFIERS Men: Event – Best Mark: John Norman Hammer – 194-3 Bryan Duby Hammer – 189-6 Jeff Cerveny High Jump – 6-9.75 Billy Mills High Jump – 6-9.50 George Hoover Javelin – 211-11 Dan Taylor Hammer – 209-6 Discus – 187-4 Shot Put – 65-6.25 Rusty Azbel Hammer – 180-3 Derrick Butler 3,000m – 8:19.55 Aaron Fisher Steeplechase – 9:06.26 Sjaan Gerth Steeplechase – 9:00.84 Greg Norman 100m Dash – 10.48 Joel Brown 110m H – 13.88 200m Dash – 21.07 Drew Carter Long Jump – 24-7 Nosa Ehimwenman Triple Jump – 51-2.75
Women: Event – Best Mark: Alexis McCall Shot Put – 48-7.25 Discus – 153-1 Tami Smith High Jump – 5-8.75 Krista Keir Discus – 186-1* Shot Put – 52-4.50 Amarachi Ukabam Discus – 170-10 Shot Put – 49-10 Hammer – 175-2 Katy Houser Hammer – 174-6 Keturah Lofton Hammer – 195-3 Erin Carter Shot Put – 48-11.50 Shelaine Larson Hammer – 185-10 Molly Logan 100m H – 13.39×2 400m H – 1:01.36 Brandi Hogan 100m H – 13.65 Nicholette Chambers 400m H – 1:00.95 Shayla Moore Triple Jump – 42-5.50+ Dalanda Jackson 400m H – 1:01.38 100m H – 13.76 Rosalind Goodwin Triple Jump – 42-2 *Ohio State record +wind-aided
TAYLOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK X 5
Dan Taylor was named April 15 as the Big Ten Conference Men’s Track and Field Athlete of the Week following his three-event sweep of the discus, hammer and shot put at the All-Ohio Track and Field Championship last Friday and Saturday at OSU’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Taylor, deemed Big Ten Co-Athlete of the Week two weeks ago, established another OSU mark as he eclipsed the all-time Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium standard in the men’s shot put with a distance of 65-6.25. With the record-setting effort, the junior placed first and qualified for NCAA Regional competition set for May 30 and 31 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. In all, Taylor scored first place regional qualifiers in each of the throw events as he recorded a 204-6 in the hammer and a 180-8 effort in the discus.
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER RECORD FALLS
An Ohio State program record has fallen in each of the five events this outdoor season as senior Krista Keir kicked off 2003 with a 186-1 to best her previous OSU mark of 182-4 in the discus at the season-opening Baldy Castillo Classic.
Since Keir’s effort, junior thrower Dan Taylor has gone on a four-week tear where he has set an OSU standard in the throw events at each meet. Taylor’s first mark came at the Arizona State Invite when he scored a 204-10 to win the hammer. A week later Taylor topped his own mark in the hammer at the Ohio State Relays and coupled that performance with a record-setter in the discus as well (187-4).
Taylor most recently eclipsed his record in the hammer for a third time this season at the Pacesetter Invitational with a 209-6. Sandwiched between his OSU outdoor marks was a Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium record effort of 65-6.25 in the shot put at the All-Ohio Championshps.
30-30-30 CLUB
A trio of Buckeyes contributed 30-point efforts in winning three events to help the OSU men to a second place finish. Dan Taylor swept the weight events for the second-straight week, while senior Joel Brown contributed first place efforts in the 200-meter dash and the 110-meter hurdles, while also helping the 4×100-meter relay squad to a third 10-point finish.
Junior Nosa Ehimwenman joined Brown in the 4x100m and added a pair of first place performances in the triple jump and the long jump.
TRIPLE PLAY: TAYLOR, UKABAM QUALIFY FOR THREE NCAA EVENTS
Following the All-Ohio Championships both junior Dan Taylor and freshman Amarachi Ukabam have regionally qualified in three throw events. Each has earned bids to compete in the NCAA regional meet held at Ohio State’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium May 30 and 31.
Joining Taylor and Ukabam as multiple-event qualifiers are seniors Joel Brown, Dalanda Jackson and Krista Keir, Molly Logan and junior Alexis McCall. Both Keir and McCall have qualified in the shot put and discus events, while Brown and Jackson have earned bids in the 110 and 100-meter hurdles, respectively. Jackson adds a second hurdles event in the 400m. Brown earned a bid in the 200-meter dash with a 21.20 at the All-Ohio Championships and followed that with a 21.07 at the Pacesetter.
UKABAM HONORED BY BIG TEN
Ohio State freshman thrower Amarachi Ukabam was deemed Big Ten Athlete of the Week April 8 after claiming first place in both the women’s shot put and the hammer throw Saturday at the 2003 Ohio State Relays.
Ukabam scored a career-best 49-7 to win the women’s shot put adding her second regional qualifying mark in the event this season, while also claiming first in the women’s discus with another regional mark of 159-6.
Ukabam, who posted a team and personal-best 169-7 in the hammer at the Arizona State Invitational, joins fellow thrower Dan Taylor and hurdlers Joel Brown and Molly Logan as Big Ten honorees for the 2003 indoor and outdoor seasons.
28 BUCKEYES EARN BIDS TO 2003 NCAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Through five events of the 2003 outdoor season, 28 Ohio State student-athletes have posted NCAA regional qualifying marks.
Included in that list are 2002 Indoor All-Americans Dalanda Jackson (400-meter hurdles and 100-meter hurdles), Tami Smith (high jump) and three-time qualifier George Hoover (Javelin).
Six Buckeyes have qualified in multiple events as Dan Taylor and Amarachi Ukabam have posted qualifiers in the shot put, discus and hammer throw, respectively.
In all, the throwers lead the way with an impressive 14 qualifying scores, while the jumpers have added seven of their own.
The most recent Buckeyes to join the list are throwers Bryan Duby and Rusty Azbel, both in the hammer, and hurdler Molly Logan, who has now qualified in two events with her 1:01.36 in the 400-meter hurdles, which joins her 100-meter hurdle time of 13.39 as a regional qualifier.
HAPPY RETURNS
The Baldy Castillo Invitational March 21 and 22 marked the returns of a pair of Ohio State All-American performers in senior Dalanda Jackson and junior George Hoover.
Hoover, the 2000 and 2001 conference champion in the javelin, posted a 209-4 in his first collegiate event since the 2001 NCAA championships at the Baldy Castillo and topped that effort with a 211-11 to lead the field at the Arizona State Invitational.
Jackson, an All-American in 2002, captured first place in either the 100-meter hurdles or the 400m hurdles in each of the first three weeks of competition. Her 101:38 effort in the 400-meter hurdles at the ASU Invite serves as a regional qualifier, as did her 13.76 in the 100-meter hurdles prelims at the Pacesetter Invite.
ASSISTANT COACH ROBERT GARY PLACES AT U.S. 8K
Ohio State cross country head coach Robert Gary (Ohio State, 1996) finished 11th at the 2003 United States 8K Championships Saturday in New York City’s Central Park.
Running against one of the strongest and deepest fields put together for a USA national championship, Gray clocked 23:09 in wet conditions over the rolling 4.97-mile course. Olympian and pre race favorite Meb Keflezighi missed the course record by two seconds to win in 22:28.
Former Ohio State distance great and Olympian Mark Croghan, Gary’s training partner, finished 17th posting a mark of 23:16.
TAYLOR SECOND PLACE? NOT LIKELY
Dan Taylor has claimed first place in each of his last six throw events. In all, Taylor posted first place in 12 of 14 indoor events and has topped the field in 8 of 12 throw events this season.
TAYLOR EARNS USTA WEEKLY AWARD
Dan Taylor was named as the United States Track and Field Coaches Association Athlete of the Week for March 6. Taylor earned the honor with a Big Ten record-setting performance to win the conference weight throw title, which he combined with a first place finish in the shot put.
FORMER STANDOUT HIGHTOWER NAMED TO U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM STAFF
Former Olympian Stephanie Hightower of Columbus, Ohio, has been named to Team USA women’s staff for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Hightower, who ran at Ohio State from 1977-1980 will serve as the squad’s head manager, working with women’s head coach Sue Humphrey.
Hightower currently serves with Women’s USA Track and Field and previously worked as an assistant manager for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and head manager for the 1999 World Championship Team in Seville, Spain.
OSU SWEEPS FEB. 25 BIG TEN ATHLETE OF THE WEEK HONORS
Ohio State sprinter/hurdlers Joel Brown and Molly Logan set new Ohio State program records with a sweep of the hurdles events Saturday at the Scarlet and Gray Invitational en route to claiming Big Ten Track and Field Athlete of the Week awards for Feb. 25.
Brown set a new Ohio State indoor record with a 7.18 mark in the 55m hurdles in the Scarlet and Gray Invitational, while Logan provisionally qualified for national competition with a new French Field House record 7.68 mark in the 55m hurdles.
With the weekly award, Brown and Logan join Ohio State thrower and three-time conference honoree Dan Taylor for a total of five Big Ten Track and Field Athlete of the Week merits during the 2003 indoor season.
NEXT WEEK: THE 18TH ANNUAL JESSE OWENS TRACK AND FIELD CLASSIC
Ohio State returns to Columbus to once again play host to the annual Jesse Owens Track and Field Classic at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3.
This year’s event is expected to feature over 1,000 athletes, who will compete in preparation for the 2003 NCAA Regional Championships at Ohio State May 30 and 31.
