OATCCC Hall Of Fame
Donica Merriman

Donica Jaquae’ Merriman, a 1997 graduate of Trotwood Madison High School, was a dominate high school female hurdler/sprinter in the State of Ohio and among the best in the nation in the mid 1990’s. Donica competed wearing the red and white of the Trotwood Madison Rams from 1994-1997. Over a four-year period, she placed in the top 3 seven times in 3 individual events and in the top 5 three times in the 4x100 Meter Relay. In 1994, as a freshman, she captured her first individual Division 1 state title by placing 1st in the 200 Meter Dash in a time of 25.16 and placed 3rd overall in the 100 Meter Hurdles in 14.13. She followed up with a very dominating state meet appearance her sophomore season with a 1st place finish in the 100 Meter Hurdles in 13.99, a 1st place finish in the 200 Meter Dash in 24.32, a 3rd place finish in the 100 Meter Dash in 12.11 and added a 3rd place team finish in the 4x100 Meter Relay. She scored 26 individual points along with being on the 4x100 Meter Relay team which scored 6 points accounting for the 32 points scored by the Rams earning Trotwood Madison High School the 1995 OHSAA Girls Division I State Team Co-Championship (tied with Cleveland Hts.). The first two seasons of her high school career were very impressive, but Donica continued to dominate at the 1996 OHSAA State Championships with a 4th individual 1st place finish in the 100 Meter Hurdles establishing a new Division 1 State Championship record in 13.74 and a 3rd place team finish in the 4x100 Meter Relay. Then in her senior season she captured her 5th individual 1st place finish by placing 1st, for the 3rd time in 4 seasons, in the 100 Meter Hurdles and added a 5th place team finish in the 4x100 Meter Relay. In 4 State Track & Field Championships she also earned 10 All-Ohio honors and in addition to a 1995 State Team Co-Championship, she helped the Trotwood Madison Rams place 5th in 1994, 6th in 1996 and 13th in the 1997 OHSAA Girls Division 1 Track & Field Championship team standings. Upon graduation from Trotwood Madison High School Donica chose to continue her track & field career by signing with the Ohio State Buckeyes to pursue a collegiate track & field career. Wearing the scarlet & gray of the Buckeyes she continued to add to her already impressive track & field resume. Donica helped raise the standards for the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s track & field program as a member of the team from 1988-2001. As a collegiate sprinter and hurdler, she claimed numerous championships, none bigger than the women’s 2001 Outdoor NCAA 100 Meter Hurdles championship in a time of 12.73w, in which she became the first Buckeye in women’s program history to win an outdoor national championship. In addition to her outdoor championship Donica also captured the 2001 NCAA Indoor 60 Meter Hurdles championship. Her accomplishments earned Donica six NCAA All-American honors, 4 in outdoor (1998-2001) and 2 indoor (2000-2001). Donica excelled at the national level but dominated at the conference level. She captured 9 individual Big Ten Championships – outdoor 200 Meter Dash (1999), 100 Meter Hurdles – 100 Meter Dash – 200 Meter Dash – 4x400 Meter Relay (2000), indoor 60 Meter Hurdles (1999, 2000, 2001), 200 Meter Dash (2000, 2001). In addition to her All-American honors Donica was a three-time All-Big 10 selection (1998-2000), three-time Big Ten Athlete of the Year (2000 outdoor, 2000-2001 indoor), two-time Big Ten Athlete of the Championships (2000 outdoor, 2001 indoor). Donica still holds five spots on the Buckeyes’ All-Time Top Five indoor / outdoor performance lists. Donica was also a World Championships semi-finalist in the 100m hurdles in 2001. In 2006 Donica was inducted into the Ohio State Track & Field Hall of Fame and inducted in 2023 into the Trotwood Madison High School Athletic Hall of Fame. In recognition of your outstanding accomplishments the OATCCC is proud to include Donica Merriman as a 2026 Hall of Fame inductee. Congratulations Donica!