Jan. 25, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue track and field team got out to an early lead and didn't look back as it swept Indiana State in the annual Edmonds Cup meet. The women's team picked up a 90-59 victory, while the men routed the Sycamores 91-57.
"The score says it all," head coach Lissa Olson said. "I'm very pleased with the performance of all the athletes today. We are seeing a step up in emotion and an increase in excitement from these athletes. I'm very proud of the effort, attitude and enthusiasm they are displaying."
The Old Gold and Black claimed its first win of the day in the women's weight throw. All-American Serene Ross threw an NCAA provisional mark of 18.07m/59-3.50 in the event. Simona Kovacic followed next in the pole vault with an NCAA provisional mark of 3.801m/12-5.50.
The men's throwers picked up on the women's enthusiasm and landed some NCAA marks of their own. Keith McBride tossed his third consecutive NCAA provisional mark in the weight throw at 19.53m/64-1.00. Hours later, Nick Swathwood also landed his third NCAA provisional mark in the shot put at 18.38m/60-3.75. Purdue got its last NCAA provisional mark much later when All-American Shaun Guice cleared the high jump bar at 2.16m/7-1.00.
The Boilermakers won the next two events with ease. Lindsay Zinn cruised to a 4:57.24 victory in the mile. Pooh Williams claimed the pole vault with a leap of 2.16m/7-1.00.
Next the women garnered the top three spots in the 60m hurdles with Shannon Kelley leading the way with a time of 9.03. On the men's side, Prentice Stovall shattered the school record in the event with a career-high time of 7.97.
Janelle Johnson won the triple jump with a mark of 11.82m/39-9.50. The men's triple jump, which was the last event to end, found Daniel Harris on top with a mark of 15.23m/49-11.75.
The men's sprinting events found Jacques Reeves and Kenneth Baxter neck in neck. Reeves tied his career-high in the 60m dash with a time of 6.80, while Baxter finished second in 6.85. In the 200m, Baxter won in 21.82, while Reeves trailed with a time of 21.85.
Kristen Truscott led the trio of Boilermakers who topped the high jump with a mark of 1.72m/5-7.75. Barbara Wenger and Donnie Fellows both won the 3,000m events with respective times of 10:03.21 and 8:15.16 before the relay events.
The women's 4x400m team won with a time of 3:52.75, while the men finished first with a time of 3:16.78.
"As track and field coaches, we are faced with the fact that this is such an individual sport," Olson said. "It is important that the athletes not only focus on individual performances, but also realize that everyone plays a major factor in the overall team score. That will be an important factor in our success throughout the year."
Purdue will compete next week at the Scarlet and Gray Invitational hosted by conference foe, Ohio State. The Boilermakers will then face one of the year's toughest challenges at the Armory Collegiate Invitational in New York.
"Our two most important meets are coming up," Olson says. "We will face the toughest competition we have ever faced in New York."