Ohio State
Jesse Owens Invitational
Track & Field Returns to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
4/30/2021 7:06:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Members of the Ohio State University men's and women's track and field teams returned to competition at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium for the first time in two years Friday evening. The first event there since 2019: the venerable Jesse Owens Track Classic, which continues Saturday with a full slate of 33 events beginning at 10:45 with the women's 1,500 and with field events beginning at 11 a.m.
The meet Friday didn't start exactly on time, with a brief downpour and some lightning strikes delaying the start for 45 minutes. But when it finally did begin …
KABOOM!
That was the sentiment of joy emanating from the throws area across Fred Taylor Drive as the great Sade Olatoye set new Jesse Owens Stadium, Jesse Owens Track Classic and Ohio State school records in the hammer throw with a winning toss of 69.89m / 229-3. It is the second-longest throw in the nation this year and it kept Olatoye's record in the event perfect this spring at 5-0.
Then about 90 minutes after that commotion in the throws area …
WHOOSH!
That was the sound of a 6-plus-mile-per-hour, wind-aided 200-meter dash that Anavia Battle ran in 22.27 to win the event. The time was superior to the records for the stadium, the Jesse Owens Track Classic and Ohio State University, but won't surpass because of the wind. Still … wow!
Wind-aided 200 times of 23:54 and 24.32 were registered by Yanique Dayle and Nya Bussey, who finished third and eighth, respectively, while Devine Parker was ninth in the 24-racer field in 24.40.
Ohio State doubled up in the 200 as Eric Harrison cruised to a wind-aided time of 20.73 to win the men's 200 with Donnie James third in 20.98. Kainnan Ramsey was seventh in 21.16 while Adrian Curry and Tyrese Fajardo finished 12th and 17th in the 29-runner field.
There were only four events contested Friday. In the others:
- Chanler Robinson placed third in the first racing event of the meet, the 400 hurdles, with a time of 1:01.04; and
- In the men's 400 hurdles, David Palmer powered to a personal best time of 56.40 to secure a third-place, podium finish at the 2021 Jesse Owens Track Classic.
#GoBuckeyes
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