The Ohio field athletes turned an 80-team derby into a one-horse race fairly quickly, and it was a familiar face leading the way.
Bahiyjaui Allen, from Sylvania, Ohio, finished first in the shot put and discus competitions to earn the spotlight at the annual Gina Relays at Hillsdale College in what was easily her best performance of the season. She was named the Field Athlete of the Meet, and both marks were regional qualifiers.
Her mark of 50 feet in the shot put was a new school record, which she already held as a freshman with a throw of 49 feet, 8.25 inches.
(Allen) was the highlight of the meet for our team
Ohio coach Clay Calkins said. It's a great honor for her she did a very good job.
The Gina Relays is one of collegiate track and field's most prestigious events. Calkins, a former Hillsdale assistant, spoke highly of the event, pointing out the level of competition teams come to expect on a yearly basis.
It's a good chance for our kids to go up against some quality athletes Calkins said prior to the event.
He was right, and they delivered.
Aside from Allen's domination in the throwing events, teammate Emily Amendola from Beach City, Ohio, finished fourth in the hammer throw, and added a seventh-place finish in the discuss. Jessie Tanner placed fifth in the hammer as well as fourth in the discus.
Amendola's mark of 176 feet, seven inches in the hammer was about a foot short of a regional qualifying mark, Calkins said, and a school-best mark this season.
Cathy Udeani continues to impress her coach, working hard in practice sessions and carrying momentum from week to week. She placed third in the high jump, and was joined in the top-10 by fellow Bobcat Ashlee Reynolds, who placed eighth.
Ashlee doing well is promising for her and (the coaches)
Calkins said. It's a good sign going to the MACs in a few weeks.
Udeani was pleased with her mark in the high jump, but said that the top two marks were nearly identical.
It was bittersweet
the (top two marks) were pretty close
Udeani said. It felt good to get back on track
and back to my usual height.
Rachel Beakas took first place in the 5,000-meter open run, her best of the season.
That's real solid for her
Calkins said. The conditions weren't great
it was really windy up there. She's really stepped it up at a time we've needed her to do so.
The distance and sprint times are a concern for Calkins heading into next weekend's Green & White Invite, Ohio's first home meet of the season. While Beakas and others turned in top-10 finishes, Calkins wants consistency from his group.
We need to get our track times down
that's something we'll look at
he said. Hopefully we catch a break with the weather coming up
