Sacrifice is sometimes a part of strategy in sports. For the Ohio track and field team, the athletes often have to rest in a smaller meet to hopefully achieve success in bigger meets.
This Saturday’s Ohio Open, which the Bobcats host at Goldsberry Track, is a relaxed meet with the Mid-American Conference Championships taking place next week.
“It’s going to be a real low-key meet, especially for the distance athletes,” coach Clay Calkins said. “Were resting a lot of athletes up for the MAC conference (meet) up at Northern Illinois.”
Also getting some rest are the athletes competing in long sprints from the 400-meter and longer. Calkins said that they would be competing in alternate events in preparation for next weekend.
Hosting the Ohio Open a week prior to the conference meet is a tradition, and it is nice to not have to travel somewhere, especially since the MAC Championships start in the middle of the week, Calkins said.
The tradition of hosting this meet breeds success, and Ohio has made that a habit in the last three years. Ohio athletes often take top honors in the events during competition.
The most successful Ohio Open for the Bobcats in the last three years was in 2008. The Bobcats swept the competition, as an athlete finished in first place in every event.
Saturday’s meet is more of a tune-up to work on finite skills, because even though some times may improve, the heat placement and seeds have already been decided.
“Everything is pretty much set for the MAC championships,” Calkins said. “A lot of the lanes (and) heats are set on times, and that has to happen two weeks prior to the MAC Championships.”
Despite most of the team taking it easy this weekend, Calkins said two units of the team would be competing as if it were a regular week.
“The throwers are going to be throwing full tilt, the vaulters will be vaulting,” Calkins said. “A lot of technical events will still be going.”
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