Agree or disagree w Letsrun - Ohio State track and field is a joke

Osu announced their Women's head coach will be director of track and field. The men and women programs will be combined apparently

Announcement:

http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/w-track/spec-rel/061714aaa.html

Let's hope this isn't a Russ Rogers redux. Those were some lean years and pretty much pissed off every HS coach in Ohio. It was a great time for the MAC schools, however.

Distaster hire.

Hope Brice doesn't have to stay.

Ohio state has a throws position posted. I assume Richardson either left or has been let go? That's not good news.

all the complaining from the Russ Rogers (no Ohio HS recruits) era and into the Gary era (almost all Ohio recruits); wait until you see Kaen Dennis in charge!

The collective cheers you hear are from every university in Ohio. Conversely, the collective groan you hear is every high school coach in the state who is throwing up their hands and saying "you cannot be serious!"

This cannot be good

Can someone please fill me in on what's happening?mdoes coach Dennis not recruits Ohio? I know Russ was primarily Juco and the tri state area. Is coach Dennis from the same mold? I know they women's team usually lands 2-3 top Ohio sprinters,not familiar with the other groups

Mark - 9 of 10 signees this year are from Ohio. Coach Dennis has also had great success out of Maryland and Southern Canada(the state up north). 34 athletes on the current roster are from Ohio (out of 50). 3 are from Georgia, along with MA, Il, NY, and IN. She recruits as does her staff.

Big 10 Champs in the sprints and hurdles are constants for the women's program. The other events have also had recent Big Ten champs (and high placers) in the hammer, weight and this year in the 800m. Karen does a great job taking care of her team members and I am sure she will continue with the addition of the guys. It's a family for her.

She won 3 Big Ten Championships in a two year period, along with a 2nd. Followed by a 3rd and 5th a year ago with a team that had lost 84 points from the previous year. Unfortunate injuries led to a 6th and 8th this year - and that stuff happens.

The CC team had its best finish ever at the Big Ten meet this year(5th) and 2 of the top ten runners in the conference (4th and 6th).

Highlighting the 2014-15 class is four-time Virginia state champion hurdler Chantel Ray, the Virginia state meet-record holder in the 100-meter hurdles currently ranked in the Top 5 nationally, and Olivia Small, the 2013 OHSAA Division I state outdoor champion in the long jump and 2014 indoor state champion in the long and triple jumps from Big Walnut High School. Other Ohio state champions include Allyson Simmons, the 2013 OHSAA Division ll outdoor champion and 2014 indoor state champion and record holder in the pole vault, and Beatrice Hannan, the 2014 OATCCC Division I indoor state champion in the 200 meters and runner up in the 60 meters. Joining Ray, Small, Simmons and Hannan as Buckeye commits are distances runners Courtney Clody, Christine Frederick, Erin Gyurke, Molly Pusateri, and Olivia Smith, and throws prospect Kate Deaton.

Learn more about the new additions to the Buckeye family:

Courtney Clody

Distance

Perrysburg, Ohio (Perrysburg)

• Sixth place in the 1600 meters at the 2013 OHSAA Division I State Championship

• Third place in the 1600 meters at the 2013 OATCCC DI State Championship

• Third place in the 800 meters at the 2014 OATCCC DI State Championship

PRs

1600 meters – 5:02.35 (No. 4, Class of 2014; No. 8, U.S. High School)

5000 meters – 19:03.00

Coach Dennis: “Courtney is one of the top milers in the state of Ohio. As a former soccer player that is relatively new to cross country, Courtney also displays athleticism that will be a tremendous asset to our program."

Kate Deaton

Throws

Eaton, Ohio (National Trail)

• Fifth place in the discus at the 2013 OHSAA Division III State Championships; 12th in 2012

• Runner-up in the discus and fourth in the hammer at the 2014 USATF Region 5 Junior Olympics

PR

Discus – 41.61 meters/36-6.00

Coach Dennis: "Kate is a three-sport athlete (track, basketball, volleyball) from National Trail High School. She is making great strides in the discus throw on a regional level, and her athleticism will make her a competitive prospect for the outdoor hammer throw event.”

Erin Gyurke

Distance

Oregon, Ohio (Clay-Oregon)

• Sixth place in the 3200 meters at the 2013 OHSAA Division I State Championship

• Eighth place at the 2012 OHSAA Division I State Cross Country Championship; also ran in 2013, 2011 and 2010

PRs

1600 meters – 5:08.45

5000 meters – 17:57.54

Coach Dennis: “Erin will be a big contributor in both cross country and track. She is one of the top returners in the 3200 meters in Division I this year. As a three-sport athlete and a competitive gymnast in the winter, Erin has untapped potential that will be immediately apparent once she begins running year-round."

Christine Frederick

Distance

Cincinnati, Ohio (Ursuline Academy)

• Fourth place at the 2013 OHSAA Division I State Cross Country Championship; placed 41st in 2012

• Runner-up at the 2013 Midwest Catholic Cross Country Championships

PRs

1600 meters – 5:08.20

3200 meters – 11:14.36

5k (XC) – 18:07.23

Coach Dennis: “Christine has proven she is one of the best cross country runners in the state of Ohio by finishing fourth this past year at the Division I state meet. Not only will she help our cross country team, she will also contribute in the longer distances on the track.”

Beatrice Hannan

Sprints

Dublin, Ohio (Dublin Coffman)

• 2014 OATCCC Division I state champion in the 200-meter dash; runner-up in the 60 meters

• Fourth place in the 200 meter at the 2013 OATCCC DI State Championship; seventh in the 60 meters

• Seventh in the 200 meters and ninth in the 100 meters at the 2012 OHSAA Division I State Championships

PRs

60m – 7.61 (No. 29, U.S. High School)

100m – 12.22

200m – 24.44

Coach Dennis: "Beatrice is the newly-crowned Division I state indoor 200-meter champion and 60-meter runner up. Beatrice has a tremendous upside along with diverse athletic skills. She has range in the sprints as well as some experience as a hurdler. Additional strengths include her passion for the sport and a solid work ethic that will inevitably enhance our sprint/hurdle group."

Molly Pusateri

Mid-Distance

Louisville, Ohio (St. Thomas Aquinas)

• Fourth place in the 800 meters at the 2013 OHSAA Division III State Championship

• Third place in the 800 meters at the 2013 OATCCC Division II/III State Championship

PR

800 meters – 2:16.10

Coach Dennis: "Finishing fourth last year at the state championship in the 800 meters, Molly will be a great addition to a strong middle distance squad."

Chantel Ray

Sprint/Hurdles

Hampton, Va. (Hampton)

• Two-time Virginia Group AAA state champion in the 100-meter hurdles; posted a time of 13.69 at the 2013 championship, a state-meet record and the second-best time in state history behind Olympian Tear Brown

• Two-time Virginia Group AAA state indoor champion in the 55-meter hurdles (2014 and 2011); runner-up in 2013 and third place in 2012

• Selected the Buckeyes over Texas, Florida, LSU and Kentucky

PRs

55-meter hurdles – 7.88 (No. 1, Class of 2014; No. 2, U.S. High School)

60-meter hurdles – 8.37

100-meter hurdles – 13.69 (No. 4, Class of 2014; No. 8, U.S. High School)

Coach Dennis: "Chantel has been described as one of the top high school hurdlers in the country and was recruited by many of the best programs in the nation. For the past two years she has ranked in the Top 5 nationally among a great hurdle class. She's a student of the sport and committed to becoming one of the best collegiate hurdlers in the country. She comes to our program with assets that will provide immediate impact."

Allyson Simmons

Pole Vault

Fairless, Ohio (Fairless)

• 2013 OHSAA Division II state champion in the pole vault (3.80 meters/12-5.50); seventh in 2012

• Stark County-record holder in the pole vault (3.82 meters/12-6.25)

• Two-time OATCCC Division II/III state champion in the pole vault

PR

Pole Vault – 3.82 meters/12-6.25 (No. 17, Class of 2014)

Coach Dennis: “Allyson will add depth to a young OSU vault squad. Her progression in the vault over the last few years, as well as her energy and work ethic make her a great fit for our program. We’ve been watching her vault for some time, and it's exciting to have her officially join our Buckeye family."

Olivia Small

Jumps

Sunbury, Ohio (Big Walnut)

• 2013 OHSAA Division I state champion in the long jump; runner-up in 2012 and 10th in 2011

• Three-time OATCCC Division I state champion in the long jump; meet-record holder at 18-8.25

• Two-time OATCCC Division I state champion in the triple jump

PRs

Long Jump – 6.01 meters/19-8.75 (No. 10 U.S. High School, No. 3 Class of 2014)

Triple Jump – 11.71 meters/38-5.00

Coach Dennis: “With the triple jump only contested as an indoor event in Ohio it is rare to find someone who can excel in the event with so few competitions. Olivia’s intelligence and ability to pick up on the technical aspects of the event will allow her to flourish. We expect Olivia to provide immediate impact at the conference level in the long jump.”

Olivia Smith

Mid-Distance

Tiffin, Ohio (Tiffin-Calvert)

• Two-time OHSAA Division III state champion in the 800 meters

• Two-time OHSAA state cross country participant

PR

800 meters – 2:14.12

Coach Dennis: “Olivia is a two-time Division III state champion in the 800 meters and will be an asset on the track in all of the middle distance events.”

Latti31@gmail.com wrote:

Can someone please fill me in on what's happening?mdoes coach Dennis not recruits Ohio?

Basically Dennis only cares about sprints.

She would allot all 18 scholarships to sprinters if she were allowed.

The women's throws coach is a volunteer and women's distance coach is not qualified to cover the event group (most likely poorly paid)

Thanks for the run down. I personally think coach Dennis is a good hire to head both programs. Obviously the assistants that she chooses to retain or hire will be extremely important. I think with the combining of the programs that OSU's moving in the right direction. We also have to understand that although we are all track fans, on the osu campus the sport really isn't that important so we can't expect them to make the hires necessary to become a top 5 program nationally.

If you would notice job postings, OSU is looking for a paid throwing coach as of Saturday and both distance coaches have been retained. While Vergote is more of a long distance person, she worked hard this year and ended up with a Big Ten champ in the 800m.

if they paid someone 5% of what Urban Meyer makes, they could probably attract some legit candidates.

With the exception of the hurdler, the rest are D2 level recruits-particularly the distance runners. That won't cut it in the B1G or at the NCAA level.

After reading the list of incoming freshmen and their accomplishments, I find it hard to believe a 2:14 800m runner is getting any scholarship to run for OSU. Even with vast improvement, she will not make finals in the Big Ten Championship.

Same holds true for the array of 5:0x 1600m runners.

Brice watch your back.

Coaches News Network wrote:

With the exception of the hurdler, the rest are D2 level recruits-particularly the distance runners. That won't cut it in the B1G or at the NCAA level.

And this is where OSU is in a catch-22 so to speak. They can't attract the star distance talent especially on the women's side. A sprint oriented coach won't give Ohio's national level distance kids much money so they leave the state. The next tier can get $ from MAC, DII, & others. So, OSU is left with walk-on type kids and the coaching staff has not had success developing good talent into great runners to this point. On top of that you have situations like Gary who discouraged solid walk-ons with potential from coming on board. So, do you go after Big 10 caliber athletes who will not attend a program without a tradition/track-record, or walk-on types and try to develop them. OSU always seems to play the middle which does not seem to be working with distance kids.

After reading the list of incoming freshmen and their accomplishments, I find it hard to believe a 2:14 800m runner is getting any scholarship to run for OSU. Even with vast improvement, she will not make finals in the Big Ten Championship.

Same holds true for the array of 5:0x 1600m runners.[/quote]

Smith of Calvert was timed with a 4x4 split of 56 at her regional meet in 2013 so in that case I don't think it's all about the 800 number. Also, coming from a tiny D3 school without a lot of competition, it seems that her potential is relatively untapped.

[/quote]

Smith of Calvert was timed with a 4x4 split of 56 at her regional meet in 2013 so in that case I don't think it's all about the 800 number. Also, coming from a tiny D3 school without a lot of competition, it seems that her potential is relatively untapped.[/quote]

Again, that's a D2 level recruit as a 56 split is more like 57 open. Here's an athlete who isn't fast enough to run the open 400 and doesn't have the endurance to run the 1500 effectively Those kids should be WALK ONS at the D1 level. And, child please, with that D3 small school not much comp stuff. The fastest 400 run at the state meet (since Winters from New Albany was hurt) was D2 Oksana Lawrence who is headed to LSU. It's quite possible that Karen made her pitch, but she does have problems getting the fastest kids from Ohio and will continue to do so.