There will be a distinct Ashland University flavor at the 2015 USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships, Thursday-Sunday (June 25-28) in Eugene, Ore.
Three competitors – A.G. Kruger, Kibwe Johnson and Ryan Loughney – will go in the hammer throw on Thursday. Kruger, AU's Strength & Conditioning Coach, is attempting to qualify for his fourth Olympic Games (2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), and had a season-best throw of 76.87 meters/252-feet-2 on June 4.
Johnson was a three-time national champion as an Eagle, and still boasts AU records for men's indoor weight throw (25.08 meters/82-feet-3½), men's outdoor discus throw (59.15 meters/194-feet-1) and men's outdoor hammer throw (73.54 meters/241-feet-3¼).
Loughney was a five-time national champ at AU and an eight-time All-American.
Drew Windle, who recently completed a stellar collegiate career which included eight national titles, 15 All-American honors, eight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crowns and twice being named United States Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, will run his signature race – the 800-meter run – on Thursday. The semifinals are Friday, and the finals are Sunday.
Elijha Owens will compete in the 400-meter hurdles at nationals on Thursday (semis Friday, finals Saturday). Owens is a 10-time All-American who has Ashland records in the indoor 60-meter hurdles (7.82), indoor 300 meters (34.83), outdoor 110 hurdles (13.72) and outdoor 400 hurdles (50.51).
Kurt Roberts, who won three shot put national titles at AU and was a seven-time All-American, will compete in the shot on Sunday. He has the AU men's indoor record in the shot (19.79 meters/64-feet-11½).
Also competing on Sunday is Katie Nageotte, a two-time national champion and three-time All-American in the pole vault. Nageotte has the AU indoor pole vault record at 4.27 meters/14-feet-0, and the school's outdoor pole vault record at 4.44 meters/14-feet-6 3/4.
The USATF Outdoor Championships will be televised on Friday from 10 p.m.-midnight on NBC Sports Network, Saturday from 4-6 p.m. on NBC, Sunday from 3-4 p.m. on Universal Sports Network and Sunday from 4-6 p.m. on NBC (all times Eastern).
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