Women’s T&F: Griffin Leads Buckeye Charge into NCAA Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Six Buckeyes look to earn All-America honors in Des Moines
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State women’s track and field team will head to the 2008 NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, on the campus of the Drake University June 11-14.
2008 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Days: Wednesday, June 11, 10:00 a.m. to 8:50 p.m.; Thursday, June 12, 10:45 a.m. to 8:50 p.m. Friday, June 13, 12:30 p.m. to 9:35 p.m., Saturday, June 14 10:30 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. All times are Central Standard
Venue: Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Iowa
Meet Information: www.godrakebulldogs.com
BUCKEYES COLLECT ALL-REGIONAL HONORS
Senior Jenna Griffin earned individual All-Regional honors with her second-place finish in the 400m dash in a school-record time of 52.00 at the 2008 Mideast Regionals in Fayetteville, Ark. Griffin has won five Big Ten championships (two this season), the 2008 Big Ten Medal of Honor and earned All-America honors during the 2007 indoor season in the 400-meter dash. She already holds school records in the indoor 400-meter dash, the sprint medley relay, the outdoor 4×100-meter relay (set at the 2008 Big Ten Championships), the outdoor 4×400-meter relay (set at the NCAA Mideast Regional championships) and the indoor 4×400-meter relay. The time of 52.00 is tied for fifth-best in the country this season. It also is the 14th-best time by an American this year and is an Olympic-B standard for the native of Somerset, N.J. It will likely propel her to the Olympic Trials in Eugene Ore., June 27-July 6.
Also earning individual honors was Veronica Jatsek, a senior from Walton Hills, Ohio, in conjunction with her third-place finish in the hammer throw. Jatsek earned her finish with a toss of 198 feet, 11 inches. The finish qualifies Jatsek for her second-consecutive NCAA championships where she will be looking to earn her fourth All-America honor of her career and her second of the season. Jatsek will be looking to become the first thrower in Ohio State history to earn All-American honors in four-consecutive NCAA championships and the first four-time All-America thrower in Buckeye history. Jatsek holds the Big Ten Championship meet record in the hammer throw and two of the top three tosses in Ohio State history. Jatsek holds a season-best toss of 205 feet, 8 1/2 inches, which ranks her 14th in the nation and third in OSU history.
The Buckeye 4×400-meter relay team of Griffin, senior Chandra Krempel, sophomore Ashley Caldwell and junior Ayrizanna Favours set a new school record in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:32.26 at the Mideast Regionals, finishing second at the meet and earning all of them All-Regional honors. The team surpassed the old record by almost four seconds. The Buckeyes finished right behind the defending national champion in the event, LSU. The team is the same that holds the indoor school record in the event. The time by the Buckeyes also is the sixth-best time in the country this season. The time also was a season-best for the team by nearly five seconds.
Receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA championships in the 100m hurdles will be freshman Letecia Wright, who has enjoyed a stellar rookie season. At the NCAA regionals she finished 10th with a season-best time of 13.32. She will be joined by Favours who also received an at-large bid to compete in the 400m dash. She just missed the regional finals with her ninth-place finish in the preliminary race with a time of 53.46.
GRIFFIN EARNS ACADEMIC ALL-REGION HONORS
The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and ESPN The Magazine named senior Jenna Griffin to its 2008 Academic All-District IV Team. She now moves on to the national ballot and will look to win back-to-back Academic All-America honors. Currently in graduate school, Griffin spouts an impressive 3.96 grade-point-average in Marketing and Strategic Communications. She is a 2007 Academic All-American, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, an OSU Scholar-Athlete and graduated Summa Cum Laude June 2007. This is the third-consecutive season that Griffin has been named academic all-district. Griffin earned individual all-regional honors with her second-place finish in the 400-meter dash at the Mideast Regional Championships in a school-record time of 52.00.
Ohio State’s NCAA Championship Qualifiers
Jenna Griffin, Senior, Somerset, N.J.
400-Meter Dash
Top time 52.00 — a school record set at the 2008 NCAA Mideast Regionals
The time of 52.00 is tied for fifth-best in the country this season. It also is the 14th-best time by an American this year and is an Olympic-B standard.
Griffin earned individual all-regional honors with her second-place finish in the 400-meter dash at the Mideast Regional Championships in a school-record time of 52.00
Five Big Ten championships (two this season), the 2008 Big Ten Medal of Honor and earned All-America honors during the 2007 indoor season in the 400-meter dash
Holds school records in the indoor 400-meter dash, the sprint medley relay, the outdoor 4×100-meter relay (set at the 2008 Big Ten Championships), the outdoor 4×400-meter relay (set at the NCAA Mideast Regional championships) and the indoor 4×400-meter relay
Member of the 4×400-meter relay team consisting of herself, senior Chandra Krempel, sophomore Ashley Caldwell and junior Ayrizanna Favours. The team set a new school record in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:32.26, finishing second at the meet and earning all of them all-region honors
The team is the same that holds the indoor school record in the event
The time at the Mideast Regional by the Buckeyes also is the sixth-best time in the country this season (3:32.26)
Currently in graduate school, Griffin spouts an impressive 3.96 grade-point-average in Marketing and Strategic Communications
2007 Academic All-American, 2008 Academic All-District IV (moves onto the national ballot)
An OSU Scholar-Athlete, graduated Summa Cum Laude June 2007
Veronica Jatsek, Senior, Walton Hills, Ohio
Hammer Throw
Holds a season-best toss of 205 feet, 8 1/2 inches, which ranks her 14th in the nation and third in OSU history
Earned All-Regional honors with her third-place finish in the hammer throw. Jatsek earned her third place finish with a toss of 198 feet, 11 inches
Attending her second-consecutive NCAA championships where she will be looking to earn her fourth All-America honor of her career and her second of the season (indoor weight throw)
Looking to become the first thrower in Ohio State history to earn All-American honors in four-consecutive NCAA championships and the first four time All-America thrower in Buckeye history
Holds the Big Ten Championship meet record in the hammer throw and two of the top three tosses in Ohio State history
Letecia Wright, Freshman, Baltimore, Md.
100-Meter Hurdles (At-Large)
Finished 10th at the Mideast Regional Championships in the 100-meter hurdles with a season-best time of 13.32
Member of the school-record team in the 4×100-meter relay with a time of 44.51
Finished third at the Big Ten Championships in the 100m hurdles
Only freshman to qualify for either the final in the 100m hurdles at both the Big Ten and Mideast Regional Championships
Ayrizanna Favours, Junior, Columbus, Ohio
400-Meter Dash (At-Large)
Finished third at the Big Ten Championships in the 200-meter dash
Finished third at the Big Ten Championships in the 400-meter dash
Finished ninth at the NCAA Regional Championships in the 400-meter dash
Member of the school record team in the 4×400-meter relay team that set the school record at the NCAA regional championships
Member of the 4×100-meter relay team of that set the school record at the Big Ten Championships with a time of 44.51
4×400-Meter Relay Team
Chandra Krempel, Junior, Pataskala, Ohio; Ashley Caldwell, Sophomore, Indianapolis, Ind.; Ayrizanna Favours, Junior, Columbus, Ohio; Jenna Griffin, Senior, Somerset, N.J.
Set a new school record in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 3:32.26
Finished second at the regional meet and earned all of them All-Regional honors
The team surpassed the old record by almost four seconds
The team is the same that holds the indoor school record in the event
The time by the Buckeyes also is the sixth-best time in the country this season
The time also was a season-best for the team by nearly five seconds
Schedule of Events:
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
COMBINED EVENTS
10:00 a.m. Decathlon 100 meters
Decathlon Long Jump
Decathlon Shot Put
Decathlon High Jump
Decathlon 400 meters
FIELD EVENTS
11:00 a.m. Javelin – Men’s Qual Round
1:30 p.m. Hammer – Women’s Qual Round
1:30 p.m. Discus – Men’s Qual Round
3:30 p.m. Long Jump – Men’s Qual Round
4:00 p.m. Discus – Women’s Qual Round
4:00 p.m. High Jump -Women’s Qual Round
4:00 p.m. Hammer -Men’s Qual Round
4:15 p.m. Pole Vault – Men’s Qual Round
6:15 p.m. High Jump – Men’s Qual Round
6:15 p.m Long Jump -Women’s Qual Round
7:30 p.m. Pole Vault -Women’s Qual Round
TRACK EVENTS
4:30 p.m. 4×100 Relay – Women’s Semis
4:45 p.m. 4×100 Relay – Men’s Semis
5:00 p.m. 800 meters – Women’s Round 1
5:15 p.m. 800 meters – Men’s Round 1
5:30 p.m. 100 meters – Women’s Round 1
5:45 p.m. 100 meters – Men’s Round 1
6:00 p.m. 400 m. Hurdles – Women’s Round 1
6:15 p.m. 400 m. Hurdles – Men’s Round 1
6:30 p.m. 400 meters – Women’s Round 1
6:45 p.m. 400 meters – Men’s Round 1
7:00 p.m. 100 meters – Women’s Semis
7:10 p.m. 100 meters – Men’s Semis
7:20 p.m. Steeplechase – Women’s Semis
7:45 p.m. Steeplechase – Men’s Semis
8:10 p.m. 5,000 meters – Women’s Semis
8:50 p.m. 5,000 meters – Men’s Semis
Thursday, June 12, 2008
COMBINED EVENTS
10:45 a.m. Decathlon 110-meter Hurdles
Decathlon Discus
Decathlon Pole Vault
Decathlon Javelin
Decathlon 1,500 meters
FIELD EVENTS
2:15 p.m. Javelin – Women’s Qual Round
4:15 p.m. Shot Put – Men’s Qual Round
5:00 p.m. Long Jump – Women’s Finals
7:15 p.m. Shot Put – Women’s Qual Round
7:30 p.m. Long Jump – Men’s Finals
TRACK EVENTS
4:30 p.m. 100 m. Hurdles – Women’s Round 1
4:50 p.m. 110 m. Hurdles – Men’s Round 1
5:10 p.m. 200 meters – Women’s Round 1
5:25 p.m. 200 meters – Men’s Round 1
5:45 p.m. 400 m. Hurdles – Women’s Semis
6:00 p.m. 400 m. Hurdles – Men’s Semis
6:15 p.m. 800 meters – Women’s Semis
6:25 p.m. 800 meters – Men’s Semis
6:35 p.m. 200 meters – Women’s Semis
6:45 p.m. 200 meters – Men’s Semis
6:55 p.m. 1,500 meters – Women’s Semis
7:10 p.m. 1,500 meters – Men’s Semis
7:25 p.m. 1,500 meters – Decathlon
7:40 p.m. 4×400 Relay – Women’s Semis
7:55 p.m. 4×400 Relay – Men’s Semis
8:10 p.m. 10,000 meters – Women’s Finals
8:50 p.m. 10,000 meters – Men’s Finals
Friday, June 13, 2008
COMBINED EVENTS
1:00 a.m. Heptathlon 100 m. Hurdles
Heptathlon High Jump
Heptathlon Shot Put
Heptathlon 200 meters
FIELD EVENTS
1:00 a.m. Javelin – Men’s Finals
3:15 p.m. Hammer – Women’s Finals
3:15 p.m. Discus – Men’s Finals
4:15 p.m. Triple Jump – Men’s Qual Round
4:15 p.m. Pole Vault – Men’s Finals
4:45 p.m. High Jump – Women’s Finals
5:30 p.m. Discus – Women’s Finals
5:30 p.m. Hammer – Men’s Finals
7:00 p.m. Triple Jump – Women’s Qual Round
7:00 p.m. High Jump – Men’s Finals
7:30 p.m. Pole Vault – Women’s Finals
TRACK EVENTS
6:00 p.m. 200 meters – Heptathlon
7:05 p.m. 4×100 Relay – Women’s Finals
7:15 p.m. 4×100 Relay – Men’s Finals
7:25 p.m. Steeplechase – Women’s Final
7:40 p.m. Steeplechase – Men’s Final
7:55 p.m. 100 m. Hurdles – Women’s Semis
8:05 p.m. 110 m. Hurdles – Men’s Semis
8:15 p.m. 400 meters – Women’s Semis
8:25 p.m. 400 meters – Men’s Semis
8:35 p.m. 100 meters – Women’s Finals
8:45 p.m. 100 meters – Women’s Finals
8:55 p.m. 400 m. Hurdles – Women’s Semis
9:05 p.m. 400 m. Hurdles – Men’s Semis
9:15 p.m. 5,000 meters – Women’s Finals
9:35 p.m. 5,000 meters – Men’s Finals
Saturday, June 14, 2008
COMBINED EVENTS
11:00 a.m. Heptathlon Long Jump
Heptathlon Javelin
Heptathlon 800 meters
FIELD EVENTS
1:00 p.m. Triple Jump – Men’s Finals
1:30 p.m. Shot Put – Women’s Finals
2:45 p.m. Javelin – Women’s Finals
3:00 p.m. Shot Put – Men’s Finals
3:00 p.m. Triple Jump – Women’s Finals
TRACK EVENTS
2:45 p.m. 800 meters – Heptathlon
3:05 p.m. 400 meters – Women’s Finals
3:12 p.m. 400 meters – Men’s Finals
3:19 p.m. 800 meters – Women’s Finals
3:28 p.m. 800 meters – Men’s Finals
3:37 p.m. 200 meters – Women’s Finals
3:44 p.m. 200 meters – Men’s Finals
3:53 p.m. 100 m. Hurdles – Women’s Finals
4:02 p.m. 110 m. Hurdles – Men’s Finals
4:12 p.m. 1,500 meters – Women’s Finals
4:24 p.m. 1,500 meters – Men’s Finals
4:37 p.m. 4×400 Relay – Women’s Finals
4:48 p.m. 4×400 Relay – Men’s Finals
