The Ohio State women's track and field team won its second consecutive outdoor Big Ten track and field championships this weekend.
With a team total of 117 points, the Buckeyes defeated second-place Indiana by eight points to defend its title from 2019 (there was no 2020 Big Ten outdoor track and field championships due to COVID-19) and win the team trophy at this weekend's conference championship meet at the University of Illinois.
Ohio State is the 2021 Big Ten Conference women's outdoor track and field champions. Cierra Pyles took runner-up honors in triple jump, scored eight points and and Buckeyes win their eighth championship in the last 11 years. CONGRATULATIONS OHIO STATE! pic.twitter.com/Fq7BFsr3Pf
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 16, 2021
Championship Sunday! pic.twitter.com/VHLhBfMMrL
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 17, 2021
The weekend got off to a strong start for Ohio State in the throwing events, where Sade Olatoye and Adelaide Aquilla both broke Big Ten championship meet records on the way to winning gold. Olatoye won the hammer throw on Friday with a winning mark of 226 feet, while Aquilla won the shot put on Saturday with a nation-best throw of 62 feet, 8 3/4 inches.
Sade Olatoye is your 2021 Big Ten champion in the hammer. She won her second Big Ten outdoor crown and her seventh overall Big Ten title with this Big Ten championship record throw of 68.9m / 226-0. Congratulations, Sade!! pic.twitter.com/nzykIwTB7K
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 14, 2021
Wonderful, wonderful news from the shot put area: Adelaide Aquilla broke the Big Ten championships record twice during the competition to win with a school-record and nation's-leading throw of 19.12m / 62-8 3/4 ... topping her own school mark by nearly three feet! pic.twitter.com/5O7IGCowIN
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 16, 2021
Anavia Battle was the star of the show for the Buckeyes on Sunday, as she took gold in both the 100 (11.35 seconds) and 200-meter dash (22.54 seconds) and as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team, which won in a time of 44.36 seconds.
Anavia Battle and Yanique Dayle have just gone one-two in the 100-meter dash for 18 huge points for the Buckeyes. Battle, who wins her sixth Big Ten individual title, ran an 11.35 time while Dayle went a personal-best 11.47. Clutch, huge, terrific running!!! pic.twitter.com/t2QkFGjyBQ
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 16, 2021
And here is Big Ten championship No. 7 for Anavia Battle. She sets the 2021 outdoor standard and ties her own school record with a blazing 22.54 time to win the 200 meters with Yanique Dayle 3rd in 23.18. That's 16 more team points. The Buckeyes are hot! The Buckeyes are hot! pic.twitter.com/LMuaRTnt43
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 16, 2021
Update: Yanique Dayle. Anavia Battle. Sierra Fletcher. Alyssa Marsh. Your 2021 Big Ten Conference 4x100-meter relay champions. Congratulations, Buckeyes!! pic.twitter.com/NWtIikZW6i
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 16, 2021
Other top performers for the Buckeyes included Emma Nwofor, who finished second in the heptathlon (5,685 points) and third in the 100-meter hurdles (13.24 seconds) and Yanique Dayle, who was also on the 4x100 team and finished second in the 100 (11.47) and third in the 200 (23.18 seconds). Cierra Pyles finished second in the triple jump (41 feet, 8 1/2 inches) to clinch the team title for Ohio State.
Ohio State has now won the Big Ten women's outdoor track and field title four times, all since 2011. The Buckeyes have also won the women's indoor track and field title four times since 2011, most recently in 2020, to accumulate eight conference championships in the last 11 years.
On the men's side, Ohio State finished fifth in the team standings with 71 points behind Iowa, who outpaced the field with 127.5 team points, as well as Michigan, Minnesota and Nebraska.
The Buckeyes have three individual winners on the men's side. Eric Harrison won the 200-meter dash in a time of 20.30 seconds, Tyler Johnson won the 400-meter dash in 45.37 second and Nick Miller won the 800-meter in 1:48.62.
Go! Go! Go! Go Eric Harrison. Yes, indeed, Eric Harrison just won the 200 meters in a time of 20.30 and Tyler Johnson was 2nd with a personal best time of 20.57. pic.twitter.com/QiwbEF5ORy
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 16, 2021
The finals of the men's 400. Oh my! Enjoy this as Tyler Johnson wins in 45.37 with Donnie James Jr. fifth in 46.78. pic.twitter.com/f0T8b1z060
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 16, 2021
Want goosebumps? Got goosebumps! Watch Nick Miller come from behind in the final 100 to win the 800 at the wire in a personal outdoor best time of 1:48.62. Way to go, Nick! Absolutely terrific effort! pic.twitter.com/HsfrhfHja6
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 16, 2021
Johnson also finished second in the 200 (20.57) while Harrison finished third in the 100 (10.33). The Buckeyes finished second in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:06.60, while Robert Oswald finished second in the pole vault with a top clearance of 17 feet, 9 1/4 inches.
