For the eighth time, the Ohio State women’s track and field team have taken home the Big Ten title.
It was a nip and tuck affair, with not much room for error, but the Buckeyes were able to hold onto first place on Sunday thanks in large part to the contributions of Anavia Battle, who won the 100 meters, the 200 meters, and ran a leg on the victorious 4×400-meter relay team.
Many others contributed to the final, winning score of 117, ahead of second-place Indiana (109), and third-place Minnesota (106).
All of Ohio State’s conference championships — both indoor and outdoor — have come under the direction of Karen Dennis. It’s also the second-straight Big Ten outdoor title for the women. They won in 2019, and last season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With their victories this weekend, Anavia Battle and Sade Olatoye are now tied for third all-time in individual Big Ten championships among Buckeyes with seven apiece. The only individuals in front of these two greats: Donica Merriman and Christina Manning, with nine and eight championships, respectively.
The women, with simply no margin for error, were led Sunday by Anavia Battle, who won the 100 meters, the 200 meters and ran a leg on the victorious 4×100-meter relay team. And everyone else contributed to give Ohio State 117 team points to win the title. pic.twitter.com/tQ9wcgwHd0
— Ohio State T&F/XC (@OhioStateTFXC) May 17, 2021
Additional notes from a release from Ohio State about the women:
- With their victories this weekend, Anavia Battle and Sade Olatoye are now tied for third all-time in individual Big Ten championships among Buckeyes with seven apiece. The only individuals in front of these two greats: Donica Merriman and Christina Manning, with nine and eight championships, respectively.
- Ohio State’s women’s program has now won four Big Ten outdoor championships – 2011-12-19-21 – and four indoor championships: 2011-15-19-20.
- Nine individuals scored men’s points: Carlos Aviles, Adrian Curry, Eric Harrison, Frank Hayes, Donnie James Jr., Tyler Johnson, Nick Miller, Robby Oswald and Kainnan Ramsey.
- Fourteen scored for the women: Adelaide Aquilla, Anavia Battle, Yanique Dayle, Addie Engel, Mary Figler Sierra Fletcher, Alyssa Marsh, Bryannia Murphy, Emma Nwofor, Divine Oladipo, Sade Olatoye, Cierra Pyles, Chanler Robinson and Sarah Stanley.
On deck next is the NCAA East Regionals in Jacksonville, Florida May 27 and 28.
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