Ohio State had three of the four honorees for the “athletes of the championships” at the Big Ten’s championship meet this past weekend, with Adelaide Aquilla and Anavaia Battle both getting honored on the women’s side, and Tyler Johnson hearing recognition on the men’s side.
Aquilla had a more-than-impressive shot put performance on Saturday, breaking the Big Ten record twice. On her final throw, with was a throw of 62-8 3/4 (19.12 meters), she broke the school record by almost three feet, a school record that already belonged to Aquilla. The throw was also the top one in the country all year, and the fourth-best all-time.
Battle dominated in multiple events, winning the 100 meters in 11.35 seconds, 200 meters in 22.54 seconds and was part of the 4×100 team that won the event. The 200-meter time tied an Ohio State record that Battle already claims.
This is the second time Battle has been named an athlete of the Big Ten championships, also winning it in 2019. She became the first Ohio State athlete, and sixth Big Ten athlete, to earn the honor twice.
Johnson impressed both in the indoor and outdoor events. Indoors, he won at 200 meters, 400 meters and was part of the 4×400 relay team that emerged victorious. Outdoors, he won in 400 meters with a time of 45.37 seconds, while also finished in second in the 200 meters with a 20.57-second time, his personal best. He lost to fellow Buckeye Eric Harrison.
Women’s track and field coach Karen Dennis was also honored with coach of the year in the conference, leading the women’s side to its second consecutive outdoor championship and eighth Big Ten title in the past 11 years.
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