Ohio State women’s track and field qualify 3 for Olympics

There will be some Ohio State athletes represented in the Tokyo Olympics next month.

A couple of current and one former member of the Ohio State women’s track and field team are heading to Tokyo. Shot putter Adelaide Aquilla, sprinter Anavia Battle, and hurdler Christina Clemons have all qualified for next month’s Olympics.

Aquilla finished third in her event at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon late Thursday night with a throw of 62’ 2 ¼”. She has the twelfth-best throw in the world this year and is probably a longshot to medal. If she can make it out of the qualifying round and into the finals, anything can happen (after three rounds, the top twelve move on to the final round).

The junior from Rocky River, Ohio was recently named Ohio State’s female athlete of the year. She won the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships this year, along with indoor and outdoor Big Ten Titles.

Anavia Battle’s 21.95 in the 200 meters broke her own school record by an amazing three-tenths of a second in finishing third at the Olympic trials Saturday night. That 200-meter final produced the four fastest times in the world so far this year. Battle has an excellent chance to medal in Tokyo. The senior from Inkster, Michigan has been the Big Ten’s best female sprinter over the last four years.

Former Buckeye Christina Clemons qualified for Tokyo with a third-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles. The 31-year old OSU graduate was a ten-time Big Ten champion and two-time NCAA titlist. She narrowly missed qualifying for the 2012 Games.

A ruptured Achilles kept her from trying to qualify in 2016. Her 12.51 qualifying time is the sixth-fastest in the world so far this year and gives her an excellent chance to earn a medal. The Cool Ranch Doritos earrings she wore while qualifying for the Olympics created quite a stir. She’s now featured on bags of the snack.

The Tokyo Olympics open on July 23rd.