Ohio State Thrower Dan Taylor Sets American Collegiate Record – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Jan. 10, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State five-time All-American Dan Taylor (Sr., Middlefield, Ohio/ Berkshire) kicked off the 2004 season in grand fashion Saturday in the season-opening Buckeye Invitational in French Field House. The reigning Big Ten indoor and outdoor athlete of the year established an American collegiate record in the weight throw with a heave of 76-2.25 (23.22 meters), surpassing the previous mark of 74-8.5 held by Kevin Mannon of Wyoming.
Taylor’s performance eclipsed his previous Big Ten and Ohio State weight throw records set March 3, 2003 at 22.35 meters, while falling shy of the NCAA record 24.02-meter mark set by Libor Charfreitag – a native of Slovakia – of SMU March 9, 2001.
Taylor also scored a first-place standing in the shot put with a throw of 66-6.5. His combined efforts in the weight throw and shot put Saturday set the all-time best performance in the two events in the history of indoor track and field. Taylor, whose career-best in the shot put is 69-11, now holds the all-time combined career record between the two events.
Ohio State throws coach John Smith described how truly special Taylor is as an athlete.
“Track and field has never seen a thrower as versatile as Dan,” Smith said. “A lot of throwers can do well in the shot put and a lot of throwers can throw well in the weight, but I have never seen anyone succeed in both events like Dan. Today was one step for him. The next is to get the NCAA records in the shot put and the weight.”
Taylor’s record-setting mark in the weight throw was witnessed Saturday by Mannon, a native of West Jefferson, Ohio who has helped coach Taylor on a voluntary basis during the last three seasons. Mannon, who still holds the French Field House record in the weight throw at 76-5 as a member of the New York Athletic Club in 2002, enjoyed watching Taylor break his record.
“The first couple meets of the season usually are pretty rough,” Mannon said. “But Dan came out and threw really well today. It was good to see him throw well. It is nice to coach the guy who breaks your record. It is much better than watching someone else do it. I see Dan breaking the NCAA record and setting marks at Ohio State that will be untouchable for many years into the future.”
Taylor, who was not overly thrilled with his effort in the shot put Saturday, was pleased with his performance of the season in the weight throw and looks to build upon that success throughout the remainder of the indoor season and into the outdoor campaign.
“To come out of the gate and break a record like that is exciting,” Taylor said. ” I did not expect to throw that far in the first competition. It also was nice to have Kevin here to see my throw. He has shared so much knowledge with me over the last two years. He can breakdown all the throws into understandable parts. His guidance has been invaluable. It was great to have him here today.”
On the day, Taylor was part of a sweep in the throw events for OSU as junior Keturah Lofton scored first place in the weight throw, while Amarachi Ukabam (So./ Creve Couer, Mo.) claimed the shot put title on the women’s side. Overall, 21 Buckeyes placed first in their respective events.
The Buckeyes next meet is set for Friday and Saturday at the Rod McCravy Invitational at the University of Kentucky.
For complete results of the Buckeye Invitational please visit www.deltatiming.com.
