The Ohio State track and field team will not send its full roster for a second consecutive meet when it competes in the Meyo Invitational against 37 teams in South Bend, Indiana, on Friday and Saturday.
Ohio State’s men’s team will be without senior Nick Demaline, senior Zack Bazile, freshman Eric Harrison Jr. and junior Nick Gray during the meet. The women’s team will not send junior Sade Olatoye, junior Mikaela Seibert or senior Karrington Winters to the invite.
During last weekend’s meet at the Armory Invitational, Ohio State did not send its distance runners or pole vaulters to compete. For the distance runners, missing last week was part of a strategy for the overall season, said distance coach Sara Vergote.
Senior distance runner Christine Frederick said it was nice to have a hard workout without having to go at the same speed as she might have during a race.
The Speed of Meyo
The Meyo Invitational could be the place for many Buckeyes to set personal records.
“Anytime you go to a big meet like this the races are fast and they are set up to be fast,” Vergote said.
Frederick and nine other Buckeyes set their season bests at last year’s Meyo Invitational.
Women’s team schedule
Senior Chantel Ray is scheduled to run first for the Buckeyes in the 60-meter hurdle prelims at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
The women’s distance-medley-relay, which placed third at the Kentucky Invitational, will be running at 7:05 p.m. Friday.
Sophomore Taylor DeLoach, sophomore Tamani Wilson, senior Maggie Barrie and senior Beatrice Hannan are set to run in different preliminary heats in the 200-meter dash, starting at 7:35 p.m. Friday.
Frederick will run in the women’s 3,000-meter run at 10:15 a.m. Saturday.
Senior Madison Roberts and sophomore Megan Hoffman will pole vault at noon Saturday.
Wilson will compete in the women’s 400-meter dash at 2:20 p.m. Saturday. Barrie and Hannah will also be in 400-meter dash, competing in the same heat as Margaret Bamgbose, who ran for Nigeria in the 2016 Olympics.
Men’s team schedule
Freshman Tavonte Mott will run in the men’s 60-meter hurdles and the 60-meter dash Friday. Senior Duan Asemota will compete in the same preliminary heat with Mott in the men’s 60-meter dash.
Junior Coty Cobb and senior Cole Gorski will pole vault at 5 p.m. Friday night.
Senior Mitch Leitch, senior Jake Mandel and senior Clayton Bowie will run in the men’s 500-meter race for the first time this season at 6:25 p.m. Friday.
Junior Kyle McKinney, sophomore Brent Carroll and freshman Tyrese Fajardo will compete in the men’s 40-meter dash at 12:25 p.m. Saturday.
For most of the sprinters, Saturday’s schedule of events will be based on Friday’s results.
The Meyo Invitational will be streamed on WatchESPN from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
