Fong Sets Program Record to Highlight Day One of Jesse Owens Classic

Friday, May 1

Columbus, Ohio

All Day

Ohio State

Jesse Owens Classic

Photo by: Ohio State Athletics

Fong Sets Program Record to Highlight Day One of Jesse Owens Classic

5/1/2026 8:15:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field

Jesse Owens Classic Live Results Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

The Buckeyes earned three wins on Friday, along with a program best in the women’s pole vault.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State track and field team hosted the Jesse Owens Classic at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium today.

Sophie Fong's performance was the highlight for the Buckeyes on the first day of competition in Columbus. The senior established a program best and was the top collegiate finisher in the women's pole vault after the event was moved to French Field House due to inclement weather at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Fong cleared 4.21m/13'7.75", surpassing the previous record of 13'9.25" set by Abigail Kuhn in 2024.

Ohio State also picked up wins in the men's 200m, women's 200m and men's 1500m. Kyler Brown secured a win with a personal best 20.64 in the men's 200m, while Laila Campbell finished first in the women's 200m after crossing the line in 23.60. In the men's 1500m, Cooper Citro earned a first-place finish with a PB time of 3:44.67.

Track Top Performers
Friday, May 1

Women's 200m: Campbell earned a win with a 23.60, while Sydney Bryant finished second with a 23.78. Bobbi Olive's time of 24.52 gives her a ninth-place finish.
Men's 200m: Brown (20.64), Dominic Calhoun (20.76), and Nazzio John (20.86) filled out the top three, finishing first, second and third respectively.
Men's 400m Hurdles: Charmar Smith recorded a time of 52.96 and finished fourth, while Lucas Tornstrom crossed the line in 53.28 and placed fifth.

Men's 1500m: Citro picked up win with a PB 3:44.67, while Colin Cernansky (3:47.14) earned a third-place finish and a PB of his own. Will McGraw (3:48.42) placed seventh.

Women's 5000m: Audrey DeSantis claimed a third-place finish with a PB 16:22.62. Teodora Iovi placed sixth after finishing in 16:37.89.
Men's 5000m: Colby Adams crossed the line in 14:30.31, earning a PB and an 11^th place finish.

Field Top Performers
Friday, May 1

Men's Javelin Throw: Victor Tornstrom placed ninth with a distance of 47.16m/154'8.00".
Women's Hammer Throw: Sophie Bidwell earned a second-place finish with a mark of 58.85m/193'1.00". Morgan Hallett placed eighth with a distance of 54.27m/178'00".
Men's long Jump: Cheikh M'Baye finished sixth after registering a mark of 6.73m/22'1" on his first attempt of the day.
Women's Pole Vault: Sophie Fong cleared a program record height of 4.21m/13'7.75" and finished second, while Nicole Grimes cleared 3.91m/12'10" and placed sixth.