Ohio State Track and Field at 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
June 5, 2006
NCAA Track & Field Championship 8:00 PM ET
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Columbus, Ohio — Ohio State sends its qualifiers to the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships Wednesday – Saturday at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, Calif.
2006 NCAA Championships
Days: Wednesday – Saturday
Venue: Hornet Stadium, Sacramento State University
Meet Information/Live Results: hornetsports.com or ncaasports.com
Broadcast Information: TV – College Sports Television/ 8-11 p.m. EDT Friday, CBS/ 3:30-6 p.m. EDT Saturday
Last Time Out: Olinger Leads Buckeyes at Mideast Regional
Ohio State competed at the 2006 NCAA Mideast Regional championships May 26-27 in Knoxville, Tenn. Three Buckeyes earned bids to the NCAA championship meet June 7-10 in Sacramento, Calif., with Top 5 regional finishes.
Senior and two-time All-American Brian Olinger captured a regional title by taking first place in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 8:45.18. His time in the steeple was the best of the four regional meets and narrowly missed his season best of 8:45.05.
For the women, fellow senior and multiple All-American Keturah Lofton earned her third trip to the NCAA outdoor meet with a runner-up mark of 204 feet, 7 inches in the women’s hammer. Junior sprinter Jenna Harris will join the pair of seniors in Sacramento. She gained a berth at nationals with a fifth-place 200m time of 23.60 after clocking a career-best 23.51 to reach the finals.
Harris, Jatsek Named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District
Junior women’s sprinter Jenna Harris and sophomore men’s thrower Leonard Jatsek were named Academic All-Americans in District IV Thursday in voting conducted by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Harris, who will run the 200-meter dash at the NCAA Championships June 7-10 in Sacramento, Calif., earned All-District status for the second year in a row.
A native of Somerset, N.J., Harris carries a 3.96 grade point average (4.0 scale) in marketing at OSU. She was a two-time Big Ten sprint champion in 2005, winning the outdoor 100m dash and the indoor 60m dash. This season, Harris has followed by earning her first trip to the national meet in the 200m event.
Last week at the NCAA Mideast Regional meet in Knoxville, Tenn., Harris set a personal best in the race to reach the final (23.51) and captured a Top 5 finish with a 23.60. Harris also competed in the 100m dash and 4x400m relays at the regional meet.
Jatsek, the 2006 Big Ten indoor weight throw champion, is an agriculture major at OSU. The Walton Hills, Ohio product also reached the NCAA Regional in multiple events, throwing the hammer and shot put last weekend in Knoxville. Jatsek scored in all three heavy throw events at the Big Ten championships in April.
Harris and Jatsek were two of 25 student-athletes from the men’s and women’s track and field teams to gain OSU Scholar-Athlete status (minimum GPA of 3.0) in 2006.
Lofton Receives OSU’s Female Big Ten Medal of Honor
The Ohio State Department of Athletics held its annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet May 24 to honor its student-athletes for their academic and athletic accomplishments. At the event, a number of senior awards were given out, while 434 OSU Scholar-Athletes also were recognized.
The winners of the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor were Keturah Lofton of the women’s track and field team and fencer Jason Rogers.
Each member institution in the conference gives the award annually to the male and female athletes in the graduating class who have attained the greatest proficiency in both academics and athletics. The Big Ten Conference office established the award in 1914 for men and an additional award for the top female was instituted in 1982. This honor includes a $5,000 postgraduate scholarship.
Lofton, a three-time All-American and five-time All-Big Ten Conference honoree, was the 2004 Big Ten champion in the hammer throw (outdoor) and the weight throw (indoor) and is the current OSU record holder in both events. Lofton placed second in the weight throw at the 2006 indoor championships with her OSU all-time best toss and second in the 2006 outdoor conference championships in the hammer throw.
In addition to her athletic achievements, Lofton received her undergraduate degree in dental hygiene in 2005 and is working on a second degree in sociology. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference recipient who obtained recognition on the Dean’s List, Lofton is a five-time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete.
Head Coach Russ Rogers Announces Retirement
Ohio State track and field head coach Russ Rogers announced his retirement Monday. Rogers will be leaving Ohio State to spend time with his elderly mother in West Orange, N.J.
“I need this time to spend with my mother,” Rogers continued. “She is 87 and in need of assisted living. I’m an only child and this is something I need to do. She has always followed everything in the sport of track and field and has been my biggest fan.”
Head coach at Ohio State since 1989, Rogers mentored more than 100 men’s and women’s student-athletes to All-America status and helped lead more than 120 Buckeyes to Big Ten titles. Rogers produced back-to-back conference outdoor men’s team titles in 1992 and ’93. The Buckeyes also won the indoor team crown in 1993. He was named Big Ten Coach of the Year following both the 1992 and ’93 seasons.
At the national level, Rogers’ men’s team placed in the NCAA outdoor Top 6 three times and in the indoor Top 10 three times. Rogers’ top NCAA finish with the men came in 1993, when the Buckeyes took the national runner-up spot. The previous season saw Rogers earn NCAA Coach of the Year honors after leading the Buckeyes to a fifth-place NCAA score. In 2004, the Buckeye men tied for fourth nationally.
Individually, four Buckeye men combined to claim eight individual national titles. Chris Nelloms (1992-94) was a two-time NCAA 200-meter dash indoor champion in 1993 and ’94, while Mark Croghan (1988-91) claimed back-to-back outdoor national crowns in the steeplechase in 1990 and ’91. Most recently, Dan Taylor (2001-04) became the first student-athlete in NCAA history to win both the shot put and weight throw at the national meet in 2004.
Rogers took over the women’s helm in 1994 and quickly guided the Buckeyes into the Big Ten forefront. The 2001 squad that placed second in the Big Ten indoor meet was led by multiple-time national champion Donica Merriman. Rogers helped Merriman to 2001 NCAA titles in the indoor 60-meter hurdles and the outdoor 100-meter hurdles. Since Merriman’s departure after 2001, nine Buckeyes have combined to claim 16 All-America accolades.
“It has been a great 18 years,” Rogers said. “When I first got here, I did not think I would survive, but the people I met in the department and at the university were outstanding and showed me utmost generosity. They will be what will make it most difficult to leave. My time here was one of the most exciting of my life. We had great student-athletes who made this a truly great experience.”
Rogers has more than 30 years of head coaching experience on both the national and international level. In 1999, he was selected head coach of the national team that participated in the World Indoor Championships in Macbashi, Japan. Rogers also coached the U.S. team at the 1994 Goodwill Games in and was the sprint coach for the U.S. team during the 1988 Summer Olympics. He was the head coach at the World University Games in 1987 and the U.S. track team in 1985-86.
“Russ did a marvelous job touching the lives of many buckeye students,” Gene Smith, Ohio State Director of Athletics, said. “We appreciate the service he provided to The Ohio State University and wish him and his mother the best. He helped so many young people have a quality experience and we thank him.”
30 Buckeyes Collect Academic All-Big Ten Honors For Spring Term
The Big Ten conference announced its 2006 Spring All-Academic Teams Thursday. Ohio State placed 161 student-athletes on the list to lead the conference, including 30 honorees from the men’s and women’s track and field teams.
The spring figure upped Ohio State’s total for the academic year to 263 honorees, topping the previous league record of 260 set by OSU in 2004-05. Ohio State also had 250 recognized student-athletes in 2003-04.
For the spring term, men’s track and field had 16 honorees, while women’s track and field posted 14 individual awards.
To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, athletes must be letterwinners in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a career grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better.
Olinger Fourth Buckeye to Win Regional Title
Brian Olinger became the fourth Buckeye to win a Mideast regional championship last month at the regional meet in Knoxville, Tenn. The senior from Fresno, Ohio ran to the top spot in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Dan Taylor (2001-04) won Ohio State’s first regional crown by taking the men’s hammer at LSU in 2004. That same season, hurdler Joel Brown (2001-04) topped the field in the 110m event.
Rosalind Goodwin (2002-05) claimed Ohio State’s lone regional title for the women last season at Indiana, posting the top distance in the triple jump.
Olinger Betters School 10k Record, Continues Assualt on OSU Marks
Brian Olinger became a multiple winner at the Big Ten level this season. The 2004 champion in the 5,000-meter run topped the field in the 10,000m event May 12 to help the Buckeyes grab first place after Day 1 of the meet. The two-time All-American bested his own Ohio State 10K record to win the event in a time of 28:45.69 and narrowly missed setting the conference meet standard (28:45.25). Less than 24 hours later, Olinger posted a runner-up finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase May 13. He added eight more team points for Ohio State with a time of 8:46.93.
Last month, Olinger claimed the top spot in the Big Ten rankings in the steeplechase April 29 at the Penn Relays. Olinger’s time of 8:45.05 is his regional qualifying mark and the sixth best time in the 3,000m steeplechase in Ohio State history.
Olinger continued his assault on the Ohio State record book May 5-6 at the Jesse Owens Track Classic. The two-time All-American clocked a 4:03.58 to place sixth in a world-class field. That mark stands second-fastest in the outdoor mile at Ohio State.
In his first meet of the outdoor season at Stanford April 1, Olinger set the school record in the 10,000m. Olinger’s time of 28:57.68 broke the old mark set by Chris England of 29:01.29 in 1997.
Breaking records is nothing new for Olinger, who holds the indoor standard in the 5,000-meter run, which he set this season at the Husky Invitational (Feb.10-11) with his time of 13:45.94.
2006 NCAA’s to Feature Record Amount of Live TV Coverage
The 2006 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships will feature 4½ hours of live television coverage following an announcement that College Sports Television (CSTV) plans to air two hours of competition Friday.
CBS will air 2½ hours of live coverage (3:30 to 6 p.m. Eastern time) on Saturday. This is the first time since 1982 that the NCAA Track and Field Championships have been televised live on network television.
CSTV will broadcast two hours of competition (8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern) on Friday.
Stringer Continues OSU Dominance in Big Ten Women’s Jumps
Jessica Stringer successfully defended her 2005 Big Ten high jump championship May 14 by clearing 5 feet, 10 inches. The league title is Stringer’s third of her career. She also claimed the 2006 indoor high jump crown earlier this year.
With Stringer’s title Sunday, Ohio State has claimed four of the last five Big Ten outdoor high jump championships on the women’s side. Former Buckeye Tami Smith (2000-03) won league titles in the event in 2002 and ’03. Including indoor seasons, Smith and Stringer have combined to win eighth of the last 11 Big Ten high jump crowns.
Last year, former Buckeyes Rosalind Goodwin and Shayla Moore claimed the long jump and triple jump championships at the Big Ten meet, respectively. With that pair of titles Ohio State had claimed seven of the last eight horizontal jump events on the women’s side in the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
Youth Served Ohio State Well in 2006
Although upperclass student-athletes make up Ohio State’s national qualifier list, the 2006 men’s and women’s teams benefited this season from their underclassmen.
Men: Seven of Ohio State’s eight regional qualifiers were underclassmen. Brian Olinger, a senior, was the lone upperclassmen. He qualified for the regional meet in both the 1,500m/mile and the 3,000m steeplechase, winning the latter to make nationals.
In the men’s throws, sophomores Lenny Jatsek, the 2006 Big Ten indoor champion in the weight throw, and Patrick Whalen both hit NCAA regional qualifying marks. Whalen posted a qualifier in the shot and Jatsek in the shot and hammer.
Also in the field, Brandon Cathcart led the men’s jumps team all season. Cathcart, a freshman, was the high school national champion last year in the triple jump and had the fourth best triple mark in the Big Ten this season. Cathcart’s leap of 50-11 1/4 ranks ninth in the Mideast region and also was the best jump of any freshman in the Big Ten.
On the track, freshman Jeff See had an impressive rookie campaign until injury ended the year prematurely in early May. The 2005 High School national champion in the mile hit NCAA regional qualifying marks in the mile and 1,500m.
Women: Ayrizanna Favours excelled in several individual events and made a strong case for Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.
Favours set her season-best and regional submission with a time of 53.21 to take second in the 400m at Big Ten’s. She qualified for the regional finals in the 400m as well.
In the field, sophomore Ashley Riehm qualified for regionals in the hammer at a season-best of 183-11 1/2. Freshman Janine Zylinski impressed from the start as well. She was an All-American in the indoor shot and qualified for the NCAA Mideast regional event in the same event outdoors. Classmate Veronica Jatsek also made her debut at regionals in the shot put.
Buckeyes Collect Outdoor All-Big Ten Awards
The Big Ten announced its 2006 Outdoor Track and Field All-Conference Team May 17. Ohio State had six student-athletes honored with individual awards. Brian Olinger, the league champion in the 10,000-meter run, and Jessica Stringer, conference high jump winner, gained first-team status.
Olinger topped the field in the 10,000m event (28:45.69) and posted a runner-up finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:46.93).
Stringer successfully defended her 2005 Big Ten high jump championship by clearing 5 feet, 10 inches.
The women’s team also had three student-athletes reach second-team status. Senior Keturah Lofton, the 2004 Big Ten champ in the hammer, finished second in the event this season to earn second-team honors. Jenna Harris, who also is a former Big Ten outdoor champion in the 100m dash in 2005, clocked a second-place time in the 200m dash. Freshman Ayrizanna Favours made a successful Big Ten debut by taking second in the 400m run as well.
For the men, fellow freshman Matt Comer also turned in a strong first appearance at the Big Tem meet by taking second in the 400m hurdles.
Harris and Olinger each were recipients of the Big Ten Sportsmanship award.
Harris Sprints to April 24 Big Ten Athlete of the Week Honors
Jenna Harris was named Big Ten Female Co-Athlete of the Week in an announcement made by the league office. Harris scored a sweep of both the 100- and 200-meter dashes Saturday at the 2006 Oregon Invitational in Eugene, Ore.
Harris shared the Big Ten AOW with Penn State thrower Jennifer Leatherman.
For the second consecutive week, Harris was the highlight-performer for the Buckeyes on the track. The 2006 Big Ten 100m champion won both the 100m and 200m events with NCAA regional qualifying times of 11.72 and 23.73, respectively.
The weekly league honor was Harris’ first. She is the second Buckeye this outdoor season to claim league weekly honors. Lenny Jatsek, a sophomore thrower for OSU, won the award March 28.
Buckeyes Go 5-for-5 at Indoor Nationals
Ohio State sent five student-athletes to the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships (March 10-11) and all five walked away with All-America honors. Seniors Brian Olinger and Keturah Lofton gained their second-career indoor honors in the 5,000-meter run and weight throw, respectively. Junior Jessica Stringer gathered her first All-American award in the women’s high jump, while sophomore thrower Lenny Jatsek also earned his first in the men’s weight. Freshman Janine Zylinski made her NCAA championships debut and reached All-America status in the shot put.
2006 Cross Country Schedule Announced
Robert Gary, Ohio State men’s and women’s cross country head coach, announced the men’s and women’s schedule for the 2006 season Monday. OSU will play host to a home meet for the first time since the 2003 season when it welcomes competing teams to the Buckeye Invitational Sept. 15.
Because of the renovation to the OSU Golf Course, the Buckeyes were unable to schedule a home meet in the last two seasons. The course was reopened May 20 with a ceremonial round played by golf legend and former Buckeye Jack Nicklaus.
| Date | Event | Site | Time |
| Sept. 9 | Great Lakes 5k Shootout | Cincinnati, Ohio | TBA |
| Sept. 15 | Buckeye Invitational | Columbus, Ohio | 4 p.m. |
| 4 p.m. – Men / 4:45 p.m. – Women | OSU Golf Course | ||
| Sept. 23 | Louisville Invitational | Louisville, Ky. | TBA |
| Oct. 6 | All-Ohio Championships | Delaware, Ohio | TBA |
| Oct. 14 | NCAA Pre-National Meet | Terre Haute, Ind. | TBA |
| Oct. 29 | Big Ten Championships | Bloomington, Ind. | TBA |
| Nov. 11 | NCAA Great Lakes Regional | Bowling Green, Ohio | TBA |
| Nov. 20 | NCAA Championships | Terre Haute, Ind. | TBA |
