Experience the Mud, Test Your Skills at Fall Frenzy
History and Public Access
This year's event marked the 11th in OSU's history and was the second time it was open to the public, attracting around 50 spectators at the Cowboy Racing Testing Facility. It showcased the collaborative efforts of different universities and disciplines.The Cowboy Racing event led by President John Musshafen and his team attracted participants from engineering, business, marketing, and agricultural disciplines. It provided a unique platform for students to showcase their skills and work together.
Dr. Daniel Fisher, mechanical and aerospace engineering professor and Zink Center director, praised the OSU teams for running the event like pros. Students from four universities brought their vehicles to compete on the tough and muddy OSU Baja track.
Vehicle Testing and Technological Advancement
Attending teams brought their vehicles to test their competitive capabilities on the challenging track. This allowed them to push their cars' endurance and handling to the limit and test newly developed technologies.The event gave teams the chance to evaluate past competition cars while experimenting with new designs and components. It was a platform for innovation and learning.
Ray Lucas, Zink Center competition hub manager, noted the impact of the collaborative effort with Bullet Racing President Aidan Rogers and her team. Over 20 members from the Formula SAE team helped with track safety, demonstrating the power of teamwork.
The One-Hour Endurance Run
The one-hour endurance run was the highlight of Fall Frenzy. Teams had to have one driver change and last as long as possible. In the end, only two cars were still going, proving the adequacy of the obstacles on the OSU track and the technical skill required.Kansas State University brought four vehicles, making a total of eight vehicles competing. KSU took first place, OSU came in second, and the University of Oklahoma placed third.
Fall Frenzy reflects the importance of hands-on learning for engineering students. It allows them to test their vehicles and gain insights into their designs before manufacturing next semester.
Follow these links to learn more about Fall Frenzy and Cowboy Racing.Unleashing Aquatic Excellence at the 2024 Sarasota Sharks Turkey Meet
Canadian Olympic Gold Medalist's Return to the Pool
Canadian Olympic gold medalist Summer McIntosh made a significant impact at this meet. After her incredible performance at the Paris Olympics where she won gold in multiple events, she returned to the competition pool. She closed out the 2024 Sarasota Sharks Turkey Meet with two more personal bests in secondary events—the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke. This demonstrated her continued dominance and determination in the swimming world.
Her first event at the Turkey Meet was the 200-yard breaststroke, where she swam a remarkable 2:08.86 to claim the win. She also picked up the win in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:35.74. These victories showcased her versatility and ability to excel in different swimming disciplines.
Impressive Performances in Various Events
McIntosh's final three events at the meet were the 100 fly, 100 backstroke, and 100 breaststroke. In the 100 backstroke, she clocked 51.35 to win, splitting 24.94/26.41. This marked her first time swimming the 100 backstroke in yards and demonstrated her ability to adapt to different swimming distances and styles.
Her SCM 100 backstroke best is 1:02.72 from January 2020, but her LCM 100 backstroke of 59.64 from February's Southern Zone Senior Championships is a better indicator of her current backstroke prowess. This shows her consistent improvement and growth as a swimmer.
She then lowered her lifetime best in the 100-yard breaststroke, swimming 1:01.40. This improvement of 2.71 seconds from her previous time at this meet two years ago was a testament to her hard work and dedication. Her split of 1:01.91 on the first 100 of her 200 breaststroke indicated that a drop was coming in the individual 100 breast.
Overall Success at the Meet
McIntosh also swam 51.95 in the 100-yard fly, where her lifetime best is a 51.10 from the 2022 Winter Juniors – East Championships. She went five-for-five in event wins over the weekend at a meet designed for Winter Juniors and below members of the Sarasota Sharks and surrounding local clubs. This shows her dominance and ability to perform at a high level in various competitions.
With her impressive performances at the 2024 Sarasota Sharks Turkey Meet, McIntosh is now slated to race internationally next month at the 2024 Short Course World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. This is a testament to her talent and potential on the global stage.