A number of outstanding performances were turned in at the 23rd annual Jesse Owens Track and Field Classic. In the men's 3000 meters steeplechase Brian Olinger won in a stadium record of 8:32.66 - just missing the Olympic A qualifying time by .66 seconds. The time is the second-fastest by an American this year. Ohio State's Jeff See brought the crowd to its feet in the men's 1,500-meter as he darted to a new Jesse Owens Stadium record of 3:40.86 - the second-fastest time in Ohio State history. It also qualifies as an Olympic B standard and is the sixth-best time in the country and the best in the Big Ten and the MidEast region

From press releases

Saturday, May 3rd

Day two of the 2008 Jesse Owens Classic saw a great deal of top- tier action inside Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium Saturday.

In the women's 4x100-meter relay Penn State took first with a time of 45.78 while Michigan came in second with a time of 46.02. Then in the men's portion, Indiana took first with a regional qualifying time of 40.54 followed by Michigan second (40.68), Eastern Michigan third (40.96) and Ohio State fourth (40.97).

The Ohio State women's 4x400 meter relay team took home first place with a regional qualifying mark of 3:38.70. On the men's side Ohio State followed suit with a strong performance, winning the event in a time of 3:11.52.

In the women's 400-meter dash, Shana Cox from Penn State took first with an Olympic B time of 52.45. Ohio State's Jenna Griffin was third with a time of 53.75. Griffin's time is third in the Big Ten and is ranked among the Top 25 in the nation. It's also her season-best time and an NCAA Regional Qualifier. Also competing for the Buckeyes was Ashley Caldwell (56.97).

In the men's 400m, Michigan swept the top three spots, led by Stan Waithe's RQ time of 46.61. Matt Comer (47.71) and Stephen Robinson (47.79) finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

In the men's 200m dash, Anthony Cole set season-best with a time of 21.04. Adam Harris of Michigan took first with a time of 20.9034, edging Jose Acevedo of Kentucky 20.9059. On the women's side Shana Cox of Penn State took first with a time of 23.36, edging Virginia Johnson of Nike by .40 of a second.

In the women's 100m hurdles outstanding freshman Letecia Wright finished third with a time of 13.40 - a season best, the fourth- best time in Big Ten this year and the top time by a freshman in the conference. Michigan's Tiffany Ofili won the event with a time of 12.83.

In the men's 110m hurdles, Andre English and Jeff Porter, both competing unattached, finished first and second, respectively, with times of 13.85 and 13.95. Kristin Bolterstein of Miami (Ohio) finished first in the high jump with an RQ leap of 5 feet, 10.5 inches.

The men's 100m dash was battle to the line, but Eastern Michigan's Clint Allen (10.28) edged Harris of Michigan (10.43) and Ohio State's Cole (10.51). Amandhi Rhett (unattached) won the women's 100m dash with a time of 11.43. Ohio State's Griffin finished fifth with a season-best time of 11.72.

In the men's long jump Kiwan Lawson of Indiana placed first with a jump of 26 feet, 6.5 inches. He was closely contested by Cadeau Kelley of Akron who leaped 26 feet, 2.25 inches.

Fawn Dorr of Penn State and Amber Hay of Michigan dominated the women's 400m hurdles with times of 58.77 and 58.78, respectively. The next closest time was 1:00.12 by Megan Duncan of Penn State.

Dan Harmsen of Michigan claimed the 400m hurdle title with a time of 50.98 - the fastest time in the Big Ten this year.

In the women's 800m run, Indiana's Molly Beckwith held off a Ty- Nica Davis (Indiana Elite) for the win. Beckwith ran 2:06.46 and Davis 2:06.76. Ashley Jones of Ohio State finished ninth with a season-best time of 2:11.99. In the men's 800m former Buckeye All-American Rob Myers took first in a time of 1:49.13. Freshman Dan White of Ohio State was third with a time of 1:49.71.

AG Kruger won the men's hammer throw with a toss of 244 feet, 6 inches. Dave Ebersole finished 12th with a throw of 197 feet, 1 inch.

A meet record was established in the men's high jump as Grant Lindsey of Kentucky leaped an impressive 7 feet, 3.25 inches. Ohio State freshman Ryan Blake was fifth with a jump of 6 feet, 9 inches.

Full results are posted at: http://www.deltatiming.com/events/2008/jesseowens

Check back on RUNOHIO's web site for photos from the meet - www.runohio.com

Friday, May 2nd

Day one of the 23rd Annual Jesse Owens Classic got off to an exciting start with four meet records going down under the lights at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.

In the women's 3000-meter Steeplechase, Barbara Parker of Great Britain set a new Jesse Owens stadium and meet record with a time of 9:55.94. Parker was ranked No. 3 in Great Britain entering the race. That mark is the 10th best in the world.

Akron's Kim Lorentz won the women's 5000-meter with a time of 17:08.41. Ohio State's Sarah Foster finished eighth with a time of 17:42.09, the third-best time by a Big Ten freshman this year.

In the men's 5000-meter run the favorite - Dan Hulling of Reebok - finished first with a time of 14:26.25. From Ohio State and competing unattached, Brian Gallagher and Taylor Williams set US Junior qualifying marks with times of 14:57.05 and 14:59.26, respectively.

In the next event former Ohio State All-American and current volunteer assistant coach Brian Olinger finished first in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a Jesse Owens Stadium record-time of 8:32.66 - just missing the Olympic A qualifying time by .66 seconds. The time is the second-fastest by an American this year and the 13th best time in the world. Chad Balyo of Ohio State finished 17th with a regional qualifying time of 9:06.82. Balyo's time is a season and team-best this year and is the sixth best in the Big Ten.

In the women's 1,500-meter, Ann Shadle of Reebok took first with a meet-record time of 4:22.15. Emily Thompson of Ohio State finished 19th with a time of 4:44.86.

Ohio State's Jeff See brought the crowd to its feet in the men's 1,500-meter as he darted to a new Jesse Owens Stadium record of 3:40.86 - the second-fastest time in Ohio State history. It also qualifies as an Olympic B standard and is the sixth-best time in the country and the best in the Big Ten and the Mideast region. The time also is sixth-best by an American this year.

In the men's discus throw Chase Madison of Kentucky took home first place with a toss of 202 feet, nine inches. He was the only one to toss over 200 feet and it is the third best in the country this season.

After competing until almost midnight, the women's discus was won by Melissa Becket (unattached) with a toss of 181 feet, 8 inches -- a regional qualifying mark.

Full results are posted at: http://www.deltatiming.com/events/2008/jesseowens

Check back on RUNOHIO's web site for photos from the meet - www.runohio.com