Dennis, Kovacs and Olatoye Receive Great Lakes Regional Honors
3/1/2019 6:59:44 PM | Women's Track & Field
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Three Buckeyes collected USTFCCCA Regional Awards following their accomplishments during the 2019 Indoor Track & Field Season. Among the many honors already received by this year’s Ohio State track & field teams, Sade Olatoye, Coach Karen Dennis, and Coach Ashley Kovacs have deservedly earned hardware for their hard work this season.
Great Lakes Women’s Field Athlete of the Year – Sade Olatoye
Olatoye, a senior from Dublin, Ohio, is ranked first nationally in both shot put (17.88m/58-8) and weight throw (24.07m/78-11¾). Both of her best marks in the throws events established new Big Ten records. She was the first athlete in Big Ten history to receive five consecutive Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week awards. In addition, she never placed below the top-2 in any meet this season. Olatoye is the first athlete from Ohio State to win this award.
Great Lakes Women’s Coach of the Year – Karen Dennis
Dennis, in her 12th year as Director of Track & Field and Head Coach, led the Buckeyes to a dominating win at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, with wins in seven different events. With three women qualifying for nationals, Ohio State ranks seventh in the country and first in the Great Lake Region as they prepare to travel to Birmingham, Alabama for the Championships. This is the fourth time that Dennis has won this award.
Great Lakes Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Ashley Kovacs
Kovacs (throws), in her fifth year with the Ohio State program, helped her athlete Sade Olatoye win the Big Ten Championship in shot put and weight throw, where she is also ranked No. 1 in the country for both events heading into the NCAA Indoor Championships. Her athletes scored 22 points to help the Buckeyes win the Big Ten Championship. This is the first time that Kovacs has won this award.
Up Next
Six Buckeyes head to Birmingham, Alabama for the Division I Track & Field Championships. Stay tuned for more info on the Ohio State athletes that qualified for Nationals and follow us on social media @OhioStateTFXC. Go Bucks!
