In the final meet before the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships, the Ohio State men’s and women’s track teams placed in the top two spots of 25 different events in the Buckeye Tune Up on Friday at French Field House, highlighted by Kendall Sheffield’s record-breaking sprint.
Men’s recap
Sheffield, the Ohio State football team’s cornerback, broke the Ohio State’s 60-meter dash record and the French Field House record with a time of 6.663. The previous team record held by Jonathan Burrell and was 6.665.
“It feels great to break the record,” Sheffield said.
That time currently puts him at 24th in the nation. With his goal being one of 16 competitors at the national championships in March, Sheffield will have to trim off 0.03 of his time to earn a bid.
Junior Coty Cobb reached the 5.41-meter mark on the pole vault for a personal record and stand as qualifier for nationals with one competition remaining. This was the goal for Cobb heading into this meet, and before he even landed on the pit, he was already celebrating what he had accomplished.
“I was trying not to celebrate too hard and get ready for the next jump,” Cobb said.
Cobb’s teammate senior Cole Gorski, whose personal best 5.47 meters is currently inside the top 16, had a disappointing day, but still finished second at 5.12 meters.
The next jump was at 5.49 meters, or 18 feet, a mark that would’ve placed Cobb inside the top 10 in the nation. The closest he came to jumping that height was on his first attempt, when his body grazed the bar just enough to dislodge it.
With one meet remaining before the national indoor championships, the No. 20 Ohio State men’s team has six athletes currently qualified, including top long jump qualifier Zach Bazile.
Women’s recap
In throwing, junior Sade Olatoye finished second in weight throw at 22.61 meters. The distance would have broken her previous record she held at the French Field House had it not been already surpassed by Cincinnati’s senior Annette Echikunwoke, who recorded a 24.78-meter throw, the best in the nation so far this year.
Olatoye did go on to win shot put with a throw of 16.78 meters.
Freshman Anavia Battle continues to lead the Buckeyes’ sprinters, this time winning the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.43. Although she didn’t compete in the 200-meter dash, Ohio State didn’t have any trouble with the event for freshman Syaira Richardson finished first with a time of 24.69.
Freshman Brooke Mangas got her first collegiate first place finish in high jump. She won with a jump 1.63 meters.
In a rematch at pole vault from last week’s Music City Challenge meet, Cincinnati’s junior Brooke Catherine finished first at 4.11 meters ahead of senior Madison Roberts, who finished second at 4.01. Ohio State sophomore Megan Hoffman finished fourth (3.91).
Ohio State heads off to the Big Ten Indoor Championships next weekend in Geneva, Ohio.
