A trio of distance runners, a pair of all-time great DII throwers and the victor of an epic high jump competition headline this week’s National Athlete of the Week awards, selected from one of the deepest pools of top-flight nominees seen this season. (via USTFCCCA)

The men's CIS Indoor Championships could be a repeat of the runaway at the Ontario Championships while the women's meet could be decided on the final straightaway of the 4x400m relay -- South of the border several Canadians will be in action at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Arkansas where the hometown Razorbacks are expected to win the men's title for the first time since 2006.

Records for the Nationally Known UK High School Invitational.

K-State high jumper Erik Kynard traveled to Topeka on Wednesday to be recognized and honored by the Kansas Board of Regents for his outstanding 2011-12 season which culminated with an NCAA championship and an Olympic silver medal. (via kstatesports.cstv.com)

Toledo Rogers' alum Erik Kynard ('09) cleared 2.33m (7-7.5) to capture the Olympic Silver Medal at the 2012 London Games. The clearance of 2.33m is just one centimeter off of Kynard's personal record of 2.34m.  Some images courtesy of Photorun.net and Mike Fernandez.

Keep up to date with all of the US Olympic Track and Field athletes with ties to Ohio.

Today I was watching the Diamond League Meet from Moracco on Universal Sports and I was telling my children, Aiden & Emma that I had interviewed Kansas State High Jumper Erik Kynard when he was in High School at the UK High School Invitational.  After watching Kynard and Jesse Williams compete in this meet, my kids decided to compete in their own high jump competition.  In honor of Williams and Kynard, here you go:

A quick recap of how athletes with Ohio ties fared at the Olympic Trials.    Kibwe Johnson (Hammer), A.G. Kruger (Hammer), Tianna Madison (100m), Erik Kynard (High Jump), Bridget Franek (Steeplechase) and Hyleas Fountain (Heptathlon) all have ties to Ohio and have qualified to be on Team USA for the 2012 London Olympics.

An inside look at the top collegiate athletes who have a great chance of making the US Olympic Team.

NEW ORLEANS – Ten men’s semifinalists for collegiate track & field’s biggest award – The Bowerman – were named on Monday. The award’s Men’s Watch List Committee named Princeton’s Donn Cabral, Arizona State’s Jordan Clarke, Illinois State’s Tim Glover, UC Irvine’s Charles Jock, Kansas State’s Erik Kynard, Southern Utah’s Cam Levins, Florida’s Tony McQuay, Florida State’s Maurice Mitchell, Illinois’ Andrew Riley, and Virginia Tech’s Alexander Ziegler as semifinalists. In 2012, several of these athletes thrilled all by winning NCAA titles and notching big performances that changed the record books. (via http://www.ustfccca.org)

Ohioans Rake in USTFCCCA Region Award Winners for  Indoor Track & Field Erik Kynard (Toledo Rogers), Gray Horn (Waynesfiled-Goshen), Christina Manning (Ohio State), Emily Infeld (Beaumont), Jasmine Cotten (University of Cincinnati), John Gaugenti (Bluffton High School), Ryan Loughney (Ashland University), Lauren Sloan (Reynoldsburg), Marc Arce (Coach at University of Findlay)  and Susan Seaton (Coach at University of Cincinnati) all earn Regional Athlete/Coach of the year awards. (via USTFCCCA)

Six athletes with ties to Ohio competed at the Pan American Junior Championship this last weekend, and all fared pretty well.  No Golds, but Ohioans come home with a slew of hardware, including two silvers and three bronze medals.

The five best boys field events to watch on the guys side.

Ohio Boys that are ranked in the top 100 nationally as of 4/19/09.  Ohio is well represented in the high jump and both the shot in discus.  Justin Welch is the current leader in the Hammer Throw, and Shawn Roberts has the second fastest time in the 2000m steeplechase in the nation.  Danny Neff has the 4th best time in the Mile/1600 and Erik Kynard has the 4th best High Jump

Seven feet, 7-1, 7-2, the numbers don't really matter to high jumper Erik Kynard. When the competition begins, there's only one thing that's on the mind of the senior from Rogers High School. "My goal is just to win."

Seven feet, 7-1, 7-2, the numbers don't really matter to high jumper Erik Kynard (pictured right by Peter Draugalis of Draugalis Photography).  When the competition begins, there's only one thing that's on the mind of the senior from Rogers (Ohio) High School. "I just jump as high as my competition takes me," Kynard said. "I don't set goals on how high. My goal is just to win." Ever since he was a freshman clearing 6-6, that's pretty much been the case for the country's top prep athlete in the vertical leap  - winning meets and soaring to new and extraordinary heights.

Rogers OH senior Erik Kynyard finished his indoor season as a Nike Nationals champion in the high jump and did not wait long to be soaring high again in his specialty for the 2009 season. The Kansas State recruit successfully cleared a height of 7 feet 4 1/2 inches at the Huron Relays held at Eastern Michigan. The performance now ranks Kynyard #4 all-time on the US high school all-time list and the season is very young for him to continue to move up on that list. Kynyard leads what has been an incredible start to the spring season for the boys high jump as more than a handful of preps have alreadly went well over 7 feet this season including a 7'3" clearance by a Californian in a dual meet this past week from Nick Ross.

National meets and the last in-state qualifier for the OATCCC Ohio Indoor State Championship Meet are in store for this edition of the weekend wrap up.  Ohio seemed to have a minimal amount of entries in the national meets, but there were still some top notch athletes trying to make their mark on the national scene.

With one month to go until the OATCCC Indoor State meet, many student athletes put up some great times and marks.  A total of 30 new Ohio #1 marks were set this weekend, with 25 of those marks being OATCCC Indoor State Meet events.

College signings are always interesting to see, but everybody wonders why one athlete chose one schol and why another athlete chose a different school.  Inside you will find out why certain athletes chose the school that they did in their own words.  This article will be updated throughout February as more responses are returned.

Fast times, new state leaders and US top 10 performances were all over the Ohio High School Indoor Track and Field scene this past weekend.  Ohio State, Akron, Findlay and Marietta all provided exciting meets and terrific marks for this early in the season.

Erik Kynard soars to a leap of 7'2.5" in the high jump to set the current US #1 mark in that event, and besting the rest of the US by over six inches. (Photo by Mike Fernandez) The opening meet of the 2009 Ohio High School Track and Field Season opened up with two very impressive performances in the field events.  Senior Erik Kynard (Rogers) recorded a US-leading high jump of 7'2.5", adding to his field house record from last year by an inch. In the Weight Throw, junior Justin Welch (Eastwood) threw the US #2 mark in the 25lbs. Weight Throw with a heave of 70'11.75".

On Thursday the U.S. Olympic Trials started up again with much fanfare. During the evening three prep athletes competed against the nation's best, all holding their own. In the women's 1500m, Christine Babcock (CA) placed seventh overall in heat one after leading the opening portion of the race, finishing in 4:18.32, while Jordan Hasay (CA) (pictured left by Tim Fulton) finished seventh in heat two, leading the first 1100m to finish in 4:18.39. Both Babcock and Hasay advanced to tomorrow's semi-finals, although Hasay can't compete due to traveling to World Juniors to compete in the 1500m in Poland. Ohio high jumper Erik Kynard cleared the opening height of 2.15m, but couldn't manage to clear 2.20 in the men's high jump. Thursday Top Highlights - Christine Babcock (CA) advances in women's 1500m, 4:18.32 - Jordan Hasay (CA) finishes seventh in 1500m heat, 4:18.39 - Erik Kynard (OH) leaps 2.15m (7-00.50) in men's high jump

The last day of the USATF Junior National T&F Championships took place Sunday and the results presented were the perfect way to end an excellent weekend. Six Junior National champions Sunday were high school athletes, including Jordan Hasay (CA), Rachel Laurent (LA), Ryan Fleck (OH), Ryann Krais (PA), Geoffrey Tabor (OK) and Laurynne Chetelat (CA). Each one booked their ticket to Poland to compete at the World Junior T&F Championships, July 8-13. See who brought their best on the final day. (Rachel Laurent pictured left by Margot Kelly) Top Sunday Highlights - Rachel Laurent (LA) vaults 13-10 to win women's pole vault - Ryan Fleck (OH) leaps 7-01.50 to take mens high jump - Jordan Hasay (CA) runs 4:18.44, winning womens 1500m - Ryann Krais (PA) takes womens heptathlon crown, 5217 pts. - Geoffrey Tabor (OK) throws 195-05 to wins mens shot put - Laurynne Chetelat (CA) wins women's 3,000m in 9:29.45 Video Interview - Conor McCullough (CA) throws 233-05, second in hammer - Victoria Jordan (TX) second in womens 200m with 23.73

The decision for many athletes this year was hard. Go to Nike Outdoor Nationals, our sports high school track and field champion, or take their talents to Ohio and compete at the USATF Junior National T&F Championships and try to make the world team. Both meets fell on the same weekend this year, so athletes had to make a choice. Well, it turns out many of the top athletes across the country want their shot to make Team USA and the Junior National meet is loaded with talent. See who's got a shot to make the team.

While 15 state meets highlight this weekend's results, numerous conference and state qualifying meets take place as well. From Alaska to Illinois to Pennsylvania, results keep on coming in. Check back all weekend long as we continuosly update what's going on. State Meet Highlights Top Boys Weekend Results - Jordan Clarke (AK) throws 70-06 shot put, 194-08 discus - Chris Derrick (IL) 8:58.88 3200m, 4:14.72 1600m - Dan Block (IL) throws 196-09 discus, 61-01 shot put - Erik Kynard (OH) leaps 7-00 high jump in Ohio Top Girls Weekend Results - Christine Babcock (CA) runs 4:49.32 1600m in CA - Ryann Krais (PA) U.S.#5 at 300m hurdles in 41.60 - Jordan Hasay (CA) 10:24.76 3200m at CIF sections

The weekend started with some great results taking place at the University of Kentucky and the New Jersey Meet of Champions.  Head-to-head match-ups are the name of the game, and so many impressed.  See what is taking place across the country as the weekend rolls forward. ***Jared Hall (OH) beats Isaiah Ward (MI) 1:52.19-1:52.21 in Ohio!!!***Brian Leung (NJ) runs 8:59.77 to Doug Smith's (NJ) 9:01.86 at 3200 in NJ, Chris Derrick runs 9:03.1 in Illinois at 3200m!!!***Rachel Laurent (LA) vaults a U.S. #1 of 13-09.25 at Louisiana Indoor Champs!!!***Nick Vena (NJ) throws SP 66-00.75 at New Jersey Meet of Champions, a big U.S.#1!!!***Becky O'Brien (ME) throws U.S. #1 SP of 50-11 at USATF Indoor Champs, 6th Overall!!!***Chanelle Price (PA) & Tasha Stanley (MD) don't advance to Sunday's 800m finals!!!***William Wynne (GA) U.S. #2 for 60m hurdles in 7.73, U.S. #1 400m in 47.82!!! Video***Christian Taylor (GA) jumps 25-00 in long jump at University of Kentucky!!! VideoTop Boys Highlights- Jared Hall (OH) runs 1:52.19 at Akron (OH), a new U.S.#1 - Brian Leung (NJ) runs 8:59.77, a U.S. #1, at NJ MOC in 3200m - Nick Vena (NJ) throws U.S#1 in NJ MOC with 66-00.75 shot put - Christian Taylor (GA) leaps 25-00 feat at Kentucky, furthers U.S.#1- William Wynne (GA) runs U.S.#2 for 60m hurldes in 7.73 at UK, then comes back and run new U.S.#1 for 400m at 47.82.- Erik Kynard (OH) jumps 7-00 in high jump at Kentucky- Juan Steward (PA) runs U.S.#3 at 200m in 21.67 at Penn StateTop Girls Highlights- Rachel Laurent (LA) vaults 13-09.25 at LA State Champs, U.S.#1 - Becky O'Brien (ME) throws U.S.#1 at 50-11 in SP at USATF Indoors- Chanelle Price (PA) & Tasha Stanley (MD) don't advance in 800 in MA- Brittany Long (GA) speeds to U.S.#1 for 60m in 7.36 at Kentucky  - Chalonda Goodman (GA) runs U.S.#2 for 200m in 23.70 at UK  - Madeline Morgan (AL) runs 4:52.70 in the mile at Kentucky, U.S.#2- Jacquelyn Coward (TN) runs 8.25 at 60m hurdles at UK

Several athletes who lay claim to US #1’s for the current indoor season will be descending upon Lexington, Kentucky this Saturday for the Annual UK High School Indoor Invitational. Due to the central location of the meet, the athletes come from as far south as Florida and Alabama and normally include a high-quality group of athletes from the Midwest as well. This year is no exception as the meet includes 5 athletes who currently hold US #1’s. (Pictured: duPont Manual senior Mary Grace Pellegrini)

It was the first busy weekend for Ohio Indoor Track and Field with seven different meets taking to the track to heat up the competition for qualifying to the state meet. Many great performances were ran, jump and thrown this weekend. Click on the title to read about each meet.

The first meet of the Ohio High School Indoor Track and Field season has now come and gone.  Many athletes competed at Ohio Northern University for the season opening Western Ohio Officials Invitational, including the leading High Jumper in the nation, Erik Kynard.