BRIDGEWATER, Va. --- It has been a banner season for ODAC track & field with event winners and All-Americans shining indoors and those athletes -- as well as others -- showing off their talent in the outdoor arena. The campaign comes to a head this weekend with the ODAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships kicking off what could be an outstanding run for league stars with national competition on the horizon.
Bridgewater College and the Jopson Athletic Complex serve as the host and host venue for this year's conference championship event. This season's affair is set for Sunday and Monday, April 30-May 1. Competition for field events begins at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, with running events starting at 5:00 p.m. ET. On Monday, field events commence at 11:00 a.m. ET with running events speeding into gear at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Live video of action will be provided by the Bridgewater College athletic communications department. Live results are provided by Blue Ridge Timing.
RELATED: 2023 Event Schedule | Day 1 Stream | Day 2 Stream | Live Results
Predicting the ODAC Championships is never an easy task. As a way to benchmark each ODAC team entering the championship weekend, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has expanded its suite of rankings using the DirectAthletics/TFRRS timing system to including an intra-conference snapshot of each league in the country. Athletes earn points for their schools based on their performances in each event and ranking in that event against other athletes from conference teams. The points are added up with a ranking from most-to-least points determining a team's spot in the table.
On the men's ledger, the University of Lynchburg is ranked second in the South Region and #1 in the ODAC with a conference TFRI (track & field rating index) of 1,468.99. Washington and Lee University and the host Eagles own 973.15 and 915.01 ratings. They are fourth and sixth in the region, respectively.
ODAC standouts set three league records leading up to the championships. Lynchburg's Frank Csorba reset the 5,000-meter run record at 14:17.06, while Bridgewater's Peter Fulton has twice reset the league hammer throw standard, currently set to 60.34 meters (197-11.00). Shenandoah University reset its own conference mark i nthe 4x100-meter dash behind a time of 0:40.98 by Wyatt Newcombe, William Crowder, Andre Jackson, and Miles Moore.
In the women's ranks, five teams are ranked inside the top-10 in the regional poll -- Lynchburg at #2, Washington and Lee at #3, Roanoke College at #6, Bridgewater at #8, and Shenandoah at #10. Lynchburg leads the conference TFRI rating standings at 1,367.73 with Roanoke close behind at 1,029.34. Washington and Lee owns a mark of 966.96.
Three records feature new names from regular season meets. Lynchburg's Aniya Seward has her name pegged to two new standards. She is the record-holder in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.76 seconds as well as the triple jump at 12.10 meters (39-8.50). Bridgewater's Adalia Coleman -- the Division III champion in the indoor 60-meter dash for the second straight season -- tied the 100-meter dash record set by former Eagle Amber Celen in 2017 at 11.63 seconds.
Below are links to each of the USTFCCCA rankings pages.
USTFCCCA Track & Field Rankings: Men -- National | Regional | Conference TFRI
USTFCCCA Track & Field Rankings: Women -- National | Regional | Conference TFRI
For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC's home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.