Jan. 24, 2013

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State men's track and field team returns to action this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25-26, at the Rod McCravy Memorial in Lexington, Ky.
 
Events from the University of Kentucky's Nutter Field House are scheduled to begin at approximately 10:00 a.m. ET Friday and Saturday. A complete recap will be available after the meet at www.OhioStateBuckeyes.com. Live results can be found at www.ukathletics.com.

Notable Competing Teams
Cincinnati
Georgia Tech
Louisville
Memphis
Missouri
Kentucky

OSU Ranked No. 34 in USTFCCCA Week One Poll; Second in Regional Rankings
Ohio State is ranked No. 34 in the week one edition of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I team rankings, released Jan. 21.

Five Big Ten teams join the Buckeyes in the Top 35: No. 7 Indiana, No. 8 Minnesota, No. 10 Wisconsin, No. 12 Penn State and No. 29 Nebraska.

In the Great Lakes regional rankings, Ohio State checks in at No. 2 behind Indiana.  Purdue, Notre Dame and Michigan State round out the Top 5.

For more information on the USTFCCCA rankings, visit www.ustfccca.org.

Buckeyes in the Individual Top 25
Eight members of the men's track and field team find themselves ranked within the Top 25 in several event areas nationally according to Track & Field Results Reporting System (www.TFRRS.org). A look at where the Buckeyes sit:

• Cory Kunze - No. 8 in the heptathlon
• Korbin Smith - No. 11 in the long jump and No. 16 in the 4x400m relay
• Marvel Brooks - No. 16 in the 4x400m relay
• Antonio Blanks - No. 16 in the 4x400m relay
• Champ Page - No. 16 in the 4x400m relay
• Heath Nickles - No. 18 in the heptathlon
• Nick Batcha - No. 19 in the 200m
• Timothy Faust - No. 21 in the 200m

2013 Recruiting Class Ranked No. 2 in Nation
Ohio State's freshman class was recently ranked No. 2 in the national and tops in the Big Ten Conference by Track and Field News.

"I'm extremely excited about this incoming class of freshmen and what each of them will bring to the squad," Ohio State head coach Ed Beathea said. "It is an honor to get this high recognition from Track and Field News. It is a testament to our staff and the hard work they put into recruiting. We are looking forward to seeing these young men perform for the Scarlet and Gray come January."

The highly touted incoming class of freshmen is headlined by Donovan Robertson, Billy Stanley, Joseph Velez, and Page. The class also includes newcomers Armand Austin (sprints), Bryce Blake (pole vault), Jack Kincade (multi-events), Eric Metoyer (sprints/hurdles), Nick Pupino (distance), Jordan Redd (distance), Steven Weaver (distance).

Follow the Buckeyes on Facebook and Twitter!
The men's track and field and cross country programs are on Facebook and Twitter. Visit www.facebook.com/OSUtrackXC and www.twitter.com/OhioState_MTRK to get the latest news and notes on the Buckeyes.

Last Time Out
The Buckeyes hit the road for the first time in 2013 last Friday and Saturday, traveling to the Gladstein Invitational in Bloomington, Ind.

Ohio State claimed first place in a total of eight events during the two-day meet. Highlights included Cory Kunze's heptathlon win, an impressive second-place mark of 7.52m (24-8.25) in the long jump from Korbin Smith, and an easy victory by the Buckeye 4x400m relay.

Up Next
Ohio State travels to Notre Dame, Ind., next Friday, Feb. 1, for the Meyo Invitational.