Buckeyes Enjoy Outstanding Final Day at the NCAA East Prelims 

Three individuals and two relay teams advance to next month’s NCAA championships

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 23rd-ranked Ohio State men’s track and field team rose to the occasion Saturday evening at the 2013 NCAA East Regional in Greensboro, N.C., as three individuals and two relay teams advanced to next month’s NCAA championship meet.

 

The Buckeye 4x100m relay team – sophomore Devin Smith, sophomore Timothy Faust, sophomore Nick Batcha, and junior Demoye Bogle started the night off right by punching a ticket to Eugene with a sixth-place time of 39.85. Alabama turned in a time of 39.09 to capture first place.

 

Next on the track was senior Chris Fallon in the 1500m semifinal.  Fallon managed a slow pace in the second of two heats to place third in his section and sixth overall in a time of 3:48.00, securing his first career trip to the NCAA outdoor meet. Notre Dame’s Jeremy Rae owned the top time of the night (3:39.92).

 

Bogle returned to track one hour after the conclusion of the 4x100m to compete in the semifinals of the 110m hurdles. Clocking a season-best time of 13.82, Bogle finished fifth in his heat and 12th overall to move on to the national championships for the second-consecutive season. Eddie Lovett of Florida turned in a time of 13.39 for the victory.

 

Faust followed up the 4x100m performance with a fifth-place finish in his heat and 11th-place finish overall in the 200m semifinals in a time of 20.83, good for his first trip to the national championships.  Jackson State’s Anaso Jobodwana was the gold medalist in 20.13.

 

Wrapping the weekend up in style was the Ohio State 4x400m relay team. Freshman Champ Page, senior Korbin Smith, senior Marvel Brooks and sophomore Antonio Blanks combined for a fifth-place and season-best time of 3:07.07 to claim a spot in the NCAA championship field. Florida posted the top time of the prelims, completing its race in 3:04.99.

 

Here’s a complete list of Buckeye qualifiers to the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships to be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., June 5-8:

 

·         Nick Batcha – 4x100m relay

·         Antonio Blanks – 400m hurdles, 4x400m relay

·         Demoye Bogle – 110m hurdles, 4x100m relay

·         Marvel Brooks – 4x400m relay

·         Chris Fallon – 1500m run

·         Timothy Faust – 200m dash, 4x100m relay

·         Michael Hartfield – long jump

·         Champ Page – 4x400m relay

·         Devin Smith – 4x100m relay

·         Korbin Smith – long jump, 4x400m relay

·         Billy Stanley – javelin