April 3, 2008

ATHENS, Ohio - The Ohio track and field team will travel to Durham, N.C. to compete in the Duke Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium. The event will comprise nearly 1,900 student-athletes from 93 teams from around the country.

One of the reasons head coach Clay Calkins wanted to bring his team to the event was the amount and level of competition expected to be present.

"This is a good chance to get our top athletes some experience against the best competition," Calkins said. "Plus we can catch some good weather early in the season."

The Bobcats began their 2008 outdoor season last weekend at the Southern Cup in Oxford, Ohio. Ohio took fourth at the six team meet.

Bahiyjaui Allen (Sylvania, Ohio) won the shot put at the Southern Cup with a throw of 47 feet, 5.75 inches. The throw, while several feet short of her personal best, did eclipse the regional qualifying mark and assured Allen a spot in the regional shot put field later in the season. The Bobcats regional will be held on May 23-24 in Fayetteville, Ark., at the University of Arkansas.

Other Bobcats that fared well in the opening weekend were Emily Amendola, Cathy Udeani, Melissa Gressick and Brittany Vinson.

At the Southern Cup many of the Bobcats' best distance runners did not compete, including sophomore Kari Summers - the Ohio indoor record-holder in the 3,000 meters and the reigning MAC champion in the outdoor 5,000 meters.

In fact, at the Southern Cup no Bobcat competed in the women's 3,000 meters. In Durham, N.C., however, the full Bobcat roster should be present.

Events are set to begin at noon on Friday and run until 9:45 p.m. while competition will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday with finals set to finish at 6 p.m. Live results can be viewed at www.flashresults.com/duke.