As the Olympics begin, athletes and fans alike are as excited as ever to resume the games after an eventful 2020. Athletes have been training harder than ever to give themselves the best chance to represent their country.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are sending 26 athletes from various sports to the Olympics this year. These athletes will compete in sports from rowing to judo. Two athletes in particular, Eric Harrison Jr. and Anavia Battle are competing in the track and field events.
Battle, a senior sprinter expected to graduate in August 2021, qualified for the Olympics after placing third in the 200-meter at the U.S. Olympic Trials this past June in Eugene, OR. She will be representing the United States in the 200-meter dash.
She has led Ohio State to four team championships (2019 and 2020 indoors; 2019 and 2021 outdoors). Battle has won seven Big Ten Conference titles, which is third all-time in Ohio State athletic history. She even set an all-time collegiate record by running the 200-meter sprint in under 22 seconds.
Also competing is fellow sprinter Eric Harrison Jr. Harrison, also a senior, was an integral part of the Buckeyes’ 2018 Big Ten outdoor title win. The former Big Ten Freshman of the Year has reached individual event finals six times during Big Ten Championship competition.
The veteran runner has seen success in a multitude of track and field events both as an individual and as part of a team. In previous competition, he has medaled in events such as the men’s 4 x 100-meter relay and the 4 x 400-meter relay. He has also found individual success in the men’s 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Harrison looks to medal in multiple track and field events in the 2020 Olympics. He is representing his home country of Trinidad and Tobago.
Anavia Battle begins her quest for gold on Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. with the semifinals Aug. 2 at 6:20 a.m., and finals Aug. 3 at 6:10 a.m. Eric Harrison will compete in the 4×100 relay beginning Aug. 4 at 8 p.m. with finals set for Aug. 6 at 7:25 a.m.
Kris Johnson
Intern