Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio State University track and field program unveiled its 2026 outdoor schedule on Wednesday, kicking off with a trip to the USF Alumni Invitational in Tampa, Florida, on March 20-21. The schedule culminates with the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 10-13.
A centerpiece of the Buckeyes’ season will be the 40th Jesse Owens Classic, hosted at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on May 1-2. The event marks a significant milestone, occurring 90 years after Jesse Owens’ historic performance at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, where he secured four gold medals and established four world records.
The team’s schedule is designed to build momentum through a series of competitive meets. Following the USF Alumni Invitational, Ohio State will compete at the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina from March 26-28, and then travel to Texas for the Texas Relays from April 1-4. Further challenges include the Tom Jones Memorial in Florida and the Virginia Challenge, both held April 17-18. The prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania, are slated for April 23-25.
The Big Ten Championships will grab place in Lincoln, Nebraska, from May 15-17, serving as a crucial qualifier for the NCAA East First Round, scheduled for May 27-30 in Lexington, Kentucky. Athletes advancing from the East First Round will then compete at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The Jesse Owens Classic, a recurring event on the track and field calendar, previously took place on April 30-May 1, 2021, with results archived on TFRRS.org. The 2025 edition is scheduled for May 2-3, according to DirectAthletics.com.
