TRACK AND FIELD: BUCKEYES READY TO MAKE A STATEMENT AT 2022 BIG TEN INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Draft)

At a young age there was a love for track seen, Anavia Battle lit up the meets race after race in Inkster, Michigan running for the great Jamal Jones at Wayne Memorial High School. That success has led her to Columbus, Ohio, the Olympics, and now Geneva, Ohio for the Big Ten Championships.

The competitors she has faced have gotten better and better but so has she, and that has helped Battle be ready for the Big Ten Track and Field championships this weekend. Size and speed have played a role in her career throughout her time running.

The success has continued leading up to the championships, she defeated top competition in the Women’s 200-meter dash at the Arkansas Qualifier. But now all eyes are on Geneva, Ohio.

“I’m super excited this is my last ride, I’m just super excited to go out and compete,” Battle said. “One last go around my mindset is to win, go out, and have fun’”

Battle will represent Ohio State track and field in two events this weekend, competing in both the Women’s 60-meter dash and 200-meter.

The 5th year senior qualified for the Tokyo Olympics in June last year running the 200-meter dash, and also being a sprinter. Battle said she has been preparing for the meet this week and nationals that will be coming up in March. But her focus is on team sisterhood this weekend.

“We gotta be the loudest we support each other in practice” Battle said. “It’s very important that we keep the motivation going, we gotta keep the energy there, in order for them to preform the way they need to perform.”

The Olympian won’t be alone in representing Ohio State in Geneva. She will be joined by her fellow Buckeye teammates and Tokyo Olympics roommate Adelaide Aquila

Two current Buckeyes represented their country at the Olympics and have high expectations and goals for the weekend especially Aquila.. While the Olympic success was great there’s still more hunger for success. Aquila said coach Thomas Coleman has really helped her and 19.56 is the goal.

“Hoping to break the national record this weekend, it would be such a great feeling,” Aquila said. “Matter of putting it all together, seen some really great throws in practice.”

The impact of Thomas Coleman has done wonders Aquila said “Coach Coleman and I have created such a great bond over the year, he has really shown some light over shot put and the different perspectives, I think he does a great job at trying to tell us the truth while still trying to be positive.

Senior Adelaide Aquila will just throw shot put this weekend in Geneva, Ohio. But also lookout for her in the future as she will also throw discus.

Leading up to the championships this week both Battle and Aquila have been named National Athletes of the week. Last week Adelaide Aquila and this week Anavia Battle by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Head Coach Karen Dennis said that’s big out of all of the athletes. She is beyond thrilled about their success but she still has Geneva in mind.

“Preparing everyday, most of the heavy work is in, right now just doing fine tuning and training to keep us sharp. “ Each day is very important to her because they allow for opportunities to get reps. Dennis said ”Tomorrow we will do some handoffs to keep us together and today what we did was starts.”

The journey for Ohio State to win another Big Ten Championship is here. With that goal in mind the importance of her coaching staffs impact on the student athletes is huge Dennis said

“Every event group is doing their own fine tuning, so I have a great group of coaches who are making sure our athletes are going to go into the championship at their best, rested, and ready to compete.” She also stresses the importance of handoffs “it’s really important it’s the little things that make a big difference. The baton is 12 inches and you can win by 12 Inches” she said. She wants to make sure the baton is carried right through the exchange zone.

“It’s a dog fight it’s going to be a dog fight like it always is,” Dennis said. “The Big Ten is getting stronger every year”. This adds to the importance of sisterhood and being a great teammate. Dennis said “That’s part of it. Once your through with your event then you go and bring everyone else around from their event that’s what we will do be be loud, supportive, and disruptive” Being a good representative of Ohio State is Important to her. Dennis said “We try to have a role for everyone not just on this team but within the University and the community”.

The 2022 Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships will take place this weekend at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

Check out the final product of this on The Lanthern!