April 30, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Jennifer Embry (Houston, Texas, Memorial H.S.) and Ike Olekaibe (Las Vegas, Nev., Cimmaron-Memorial H.S.) have been named Purdue's Athletes-of-the-Month for their outstanding performances in April. The award is sponsored by WLFI-TV and Twin City Dodge-Chrysler-Plymouth.
Embry, a junior on the women's tennis team, is 26-11 on the season, with a 7-3 mark in the month of April. Currently the nation's 49th-ranked singles player, Embry opened up the month with an upset win at the No. 1 position, defeating Marquette's 36th-ranked Elisa Penalvo in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. The defeat of Penalvo avenged last year's loss for Embry. She also avenged two other losses from last year, defeating Michigan State's Brooke West, and Michigan's Danielle Lund. Embry closed out the month with a defeat of the 38th-ranked singles player in the country, Wisconsin's Barb Urbanska. Embry is also part of the 22nd-ranked doubles team in the country. The duo of Embry and freshman Missy Wright upset Marquette's 12th-ranked pair of Ana Fernandez and Penalvo. Wright and Embry are the third-highest ranked team in the Big Ten.
Olekaibe, a junior on the men's track and field team, showcased his talents in the month of April in two nationally-prominent meets. Olekaibe opened the month of April with participation at the Big 4 Classic Meet, at Indiana State. He placed third in the long jump, with a mark of 21-feet, 8-inches, and second in the triple jump with a distance of 50'0". The following week, Olekaibe took home victories in both events he competed in. He won the triple jump with a distance of 50'6", and took the long jump title with a mark of 23'0". Olekaibe closed out the month with his most impressive performances. On April 16, Olekaibe traveled to the Mt. SAC Relays to compete against the top competition in the world. Faced with the challenge of competing against select Olympians, Olekaibe placed fifth, with his third-best triple jump of his career (52'7"). He would follow that performance with a win in the prestigious Drake Relays. Olekaibe's mark of 53'0", was enough to provisionally qualify him for the NCAA Championships, and move him into Power Rankings No. 2 ranking in the NCAA in the triple jump.