Flashes Track and Field Finishes Competition at Jesse Owens Classic

Friday, May 1

Columbus, Ohio

Kent State University

Jesse Owens Classic

Kent State track and field athlete Beau Harkelroad clears a hurdle during competition at Ohio State, leaning forward with arms extended in mid-stride. He wears a blue Kent State Under Armour singlet and a black headband. Red Ohio State-branded hurdles line the track, with blurred spectators and a brick building visible in the background.

Photo by: Abigail Burkhardt

Flashes Track and Field Finishes Competition at Jesse Owens Classic

5/2/2026 7:26:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field

Results

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Chilled weather conditions caused Kent State to scratch several entries on Saturday as competition concluded at the Jesse Owens Classic.

Payton Shippee was the Golden Flashes' top finisher of the meet, placing second in the men's javelin with a throw of 199'-7". Aaron Schmook finished fifth with a top attempt of 166'-3". Donovan Crawford also recorded a fifth-place showing with a throw of 165'-7" in the men's discus.

Beau Harkelroad led the way in running events and placed third in the men's-400-meter hurdles on Friday with a time of 52.81 seconds. Harkelroad advanced in the men's 110-meter hurdles (14.98) on Saturday but did not run in the finals.

Kent State had three additional sprinters who chose not to compete in finals after advancing from the prelims. Ryan Gruss and Chaz Sakala both recorded times of 10.42 seconds in the men's 100-meter dash, while Laila Eiland ran an 11.87 in the women's 100m.

Baidy Ba clocked a time of 3:48.15 to place sixth in his first men's 1,500-meter run in more than two years.

The Flashes will compete locally to close the regular season at the Akron Last Chance Invitational on Wednesday, May 6 and Thursday, May 7.

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