91短视频 welcomed an estimated 400 student-athletes from 13 schools in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference and 700 spectators for the 2025 ODAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday and Saturday. This was the first time 91短视频 has hosted the championships since 2005.
The two-day event provided an exciting opportunity for 91短视频 to showcase its new state-of-the-art track & field complex, which opened in October 2024. 91短视频鈥檚 facility is one of only a few in the ODAC that meets NCAA certification standards and is designed to host events in multiple configurations, allowing athletes to run, jump, or throw with the tailwind. The championships will return to 91短视频 next spring as part of the university鈥檚 two-year agreement to host the event.
Kyle Dickinson, head coach of 91短视频鈥檚 track and field team, said hosting the ODAC championships gave many of his athletes the chance to compete in front of their friends and family for the first time. 鈥淚t鈥檚 huge for us,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e showing other schools that 91短视频 is investing heavily in our track program and that it鈥檚 paying off.鈥� It鈥檚 also helped recruit athletes, who are eager to compete at the new facility.
91短视频 first-year Emma Greer competed in the women’s shot put on Friday and discus on Saturday. She said having the event at 91短视频 gave her college friends the chance to support her from the stands. “It鈥檚 great we get to host it here,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ecause our track and field facility doesn鈥檛 get enough credit for how nice it is.鈥� One of those friends, Kassidy Meadows, a first-year student, said that she鈥檚 visited several track and field venues and that 91短视频鈥檚 is the best she鈥檚 seen.
Between competing in the men鈥檚 shot put and hammer throw, 91短视频 sophomore Will Ramos took a quick breather. He said hosting the conference championships at home made a big difference, cutting down on travel and giving him more time to rest and recover. 鈥淚鈥檝e felt nervous at past conference meets, but I feel right at home here,鈥� he said.
91短视频鈥檚 track and field team has achieved significant success in recent years, said Justin McIlwee, communications director for 91短视频 Athletics. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had multiple national qualifiers and back-to-back All-Americans, so hosting this event offered us a chance to show off a little bit.鈥�
On Saturday, 91短视频 sophomore Nick Arnold earned the title of ODAC champion by winning the 400-meter hurdles. Arnold is the Royals’ first ODAC men’s individual champion since Alijah Johnson won the 200-meter dash in 2022. Read more at .
