Ohio Track & Field Successful at Recent Invitationals

COLUMBUS, Ohio & BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Ohio track & field team competed at the Jesse Owens Invitational and Indiana Invitational on Friday and Saturday (April 22-23).

In the 1500m, senior Stephanie Pierce (Fairborn, Ohio) and junior Alyssa Christian (Newark, Ohio) set new personal bests. Pierce ran a 4:29.27, placing seventh in the first heat and Christian followed, clocking a 4:32.59 and finishing fourth in the second heat. Graduate student Jessie Hartman (Lebanon, Ohio) crossed the finish line in 18:11.94 for section one of the 5000m. Freshman Sarah Liederbach (Petoskey, Mich.) won the second section of the 5000m, finishing in 18:11.80. Following Liederbach were graduate student Mary Kate McElroy (Whipple, Ohio) and red shirt junior Lauren Parrell (Brighton, Mich.). McElroy clocked an 18:39.90, while Parrell recorded an 18:52.61. Pierce secured a top-three finish in the second heat of the 800m, running a 2:13.59. Additionally, Christian picked up another fourth-place finish in the fourth section of the 800m with a 2:17.74. Christian was followed by sophomore Emma Myers (Logan, Ohio) who ran a 2:24.24. Junior Carina Weaver (Lexington, Ohio) and sophomore Kenna Loveless (Tallmadge, Ohio) grabbed two more top-eight finishes for the Bobcats in the first heat of the 3000m steeplechase. Weaver placed fourth with an 11:20.28 and Loveless finished eighth in 11:45.28.

In the field events, freshman Millie Ryan (Vincent, Ohio) placed fifth in the discus with a throw of 41.37m. Senior Rachel Simpson (Port Clinton, Ohio) finished third in the second flight of the discus with a throw of 45.42m. Meanwhile, senior Autumn Mohan (Chillicothe, Ohio) and sophomore Jordan Baith (Seville, Ohio) placed fifth and seventh with throws of 44.66m and 42.51m. Mohan, Ryan, and Baith also competed in the shot put placing eighth, 11^th, and 12^th. Mohan recorded a 13.09m, while Ryan and Baith threw 11.75m and 10.42m. Simpson, Millie, and Baith made an appearance again for the hammer throw, finishing seventh, 10^th, and 11^th. Simpson threw 40.57m and Ryan and Baith recorded 36.79m and 36.63m. Mohan threw 45.51m in the second flight, placing her in 11^th.  Additionally, freshman Michaela Frey (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) placed tenth in the pole vault with a vault of 3.28m, while graduate student Taylor Strnad (Brook Park, Ohio) tied for fifth in the high jump with a jump of 1.65m. Senior Halie Sciury (East Sparta, Ohio) finished tenth in the long jump with a jump of 4.89m, while sophomore Emily McKenzie (Dillsburg, Pa.) placed eighth in the triple jump with a personal record of 11.26m.

At the 2022 Indiana Invitational, freshman Kelsi Harris (Liberty Township, Ohio) ran a 17:33.68 in the 5000m, while fifth year Hailey Bowes (Arlington Heights, Ill.) clocked a 36:02.70 in the 10000m, placing fourth.

Up next, the Bobcats will head to Nashville, Tenn. to compete in the Outdoor Music City Invitational on April 29-30.