Women’s T&F: Jesse Owens Track Classic Field Preview – Ohio State Buckeyes
5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
COLUMBUS, Ohio This weekend the Ohio State track and field program will host one of the premier meets in the country with the Jesse Owens Track Classic in Columbus May 2-3.
The 23rd annual event starts Friday at 7:30 p.m. with the men’s and women’s discus throw. High School events will take place Saturday between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. College/professional events Saturday start at 3:30 p.m. with men’s and women’s long jump. Admission is free.
The field this weekend will feature many NCAA regional qualifiers, most of the top Big Ten athletes and even a world record holder. The following is a preview of some of the collegiate action this weekend at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Women’s 100-meter dash
This event has a scheduled start time 4:45 p.m. on Saturday and features Shavon Greaves of Penn State, who holds the fourth-best time in the Big Ten season of 11.80. This is top mark in the conference by a freshman just ahead of Erica Mann of Michigan State, who holds the fifth-best time in the Big Ten this season and second-best time by a freshman in the conference with a time of 11.84 at the Gina Relays.
Women’s 200-meter dash
Shana Cox (23.67) of Penn State is a multiple Big Ten Champion and currently leads the Big Ten in this event in the 400-meter dash with regional qualifying times in both events. Tiffany Ofili of Michigan holds the fifth-best time in the Big Ten of 23.90 at the Sun Angel Track Classic.
Women’s 400-meter dash
This race will be one of the most competitive of the weekend. All NCAA regional qualified athletes in this event in the Big Ten will compete in this event on Saturday. All of the Top 4 from the Big Ten will compete (Shana Cox, PSU; Dominque Blake, PSU; Serita Williams, UM; Ayrizanna Favours, Columbus native, Ohio State). Joining this field will also be Ohio State 400-meter indoor record holder and multiple Big Ten champion Jenna Griffin.
Women’s 100-meter hurdles
Tiffany Ofili of Michigan leads the conference with a time of 12.81 last weekend at the Drake Relays. The time would be best in the nation, however the mark was wind aided. Despite that Ofili still holds the fourth-best time in the country this season. Ofili was the Big Ten and NCAA champion a season ago. The athletes with the third and fourth-best times will also be in the field (Aleesha Barber of PSU and Courtney Johnson of IU). Letecia Wright holds the top time in the Big Ten by a freshman.
Women’s 400-meter hurdles
Three of the top five athletes in the Big Ten will be on the track on Saturday. Megan Duncan of Penn State holds the third-best time in the Big Ten and the top time by a freshman. Aleesha Barber of Penn State holds the fourth-best time in conference and Katie LaValley of Michigan the fifth.
Women’s 3,000-meter Steeplechase
Ann Gaffigan of New Balance will be back on the track at the Jesse Owens Track Classic after a year absence. Gaffigan holds the meet and Jesse Owens Stadium records in the vent with a time of 10:10.47 in 2006. Gaffigan currently holds the fifth-best time by an American this year in the steeplechase.
Women’s 4×100-meter relay
This should be one of the most exciting events between two of the Top 4 teams in the Big Ten when Michigan, who holds fourth-best time in the conference, and Ohio State, who holds the second-best time.
Women’s 4×400-meter relay
Three of the top four teams in the Big Ten will compete in the first section of this race. Penn State, the Big Ten leader, will try to hold off Michigan, who is second in the conference, and Ohio State, who ranks fourth.
Women’s High Jump
This should be one of the more closely contested events of the weekend. The four athletes tied for second in the Big Ten will square off. Christina Soloman, Olivia Both and Bettie Wade of Michigan and Ashley Rhoades of Indiana will look to become the favorite before the Big Ten Championships.
Women’s Pole Vault
This will be a contest to see if anyone can catch the two Indiana jumpers Stephanie Chin, who leads the Big Ten, and Vera Neuenswander, who ranks third in the conference.
Women’s Long Jump
Ofili of Michigan will also compete in this event as she holds the third-best mark in the conference this season.
Women’s Triple Jump
Christina Madison of Purdue is an NCAA regional qualifier and holds the fifth-best mark in the Big Ten. Madison likely is the favorite to win this event.
Women’s Shot Put
Entering this competition with a career best of 60 feet, 11 inches and throwing for the New York Athletic Club is Liz Wanless. She will be chased by a strong field of collegians Veronica Jatsek of Ohio State is the top competitor from the Big Ten and will look to do her best against the collection of throwers. She will be chased by a strong pack of Big Ten and SEC putters that all have the firepower to go over the 50-foot mark.
Women’s Discus Throw
Melissa Becket will look to lead this field as she was a finalist at the USATF national championship last year and this year’s top entry. She is desperately hunting for that Olympic standard throw of 59 meters. Emily Pendleton of Michigan, the top freshman in the country but ranked second in the Big Ten, will look to throw big here in her home state of Ohio.
Women’s Hammer Throw
The women’s hammer throw looks to be a very special event this year. Leading off this field and throwing for The New York Athletic Club is Erin Gilreath. In 2005 she set the American record in this event with a throw of 73.87. She also represented the U.S. at the 2004 Olympic Games. From Southern Illinois University, Britney Riley is one of the best throwers in NCAA history. She is the 2008 NCAA Indoor Champion and world record holder in the 20lb weight and also the 2007 NCAA and USATF National Champion in this event. Challenging Riley will be Stevi Large of Akron — currently ranked ninth in the country. From our neighboring country to the north, Crystal Smith is your Canadian national record holder. Keturah Lofton, a former Ohio State Buckeye who previously held the Big Ten and Ohio State school record, also will be in the field. Rounding out the field of throwers is a current Ohio State Buckeye in Veronica Jatsek, who holds the school record and the Big Ten Record in the event.
