Feb. 22, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's indoor track team finished out its home season with a bang, qualifying four individuals for the NCAA Championships in five events, at the Boilermaker Invitational in Lambert Fieldhouse Saturday.
The meet, which marked the final home appearance for several Boilermaker seniors, pitted Purdue against IPFW and Goshen College, but it was the Old Gold and Black that stood out above all, taking 14 event titles.
Junior Scott Hecht recorded a career-best toss of 64-11 ? in the weight throw to kick off the day for the men and improve on his previous NCAA mark by four inches. Sophomore Jamar Green provisionally qualified for nationals in the long jump with a career-best leap of 25-2 3/4 , while freshman Jerod Void clocked a provisional time of 7.94 in the 60-meter hurdles in his first race of the season. Hecht continued his success in the throwing ring with an eight-inch personal best in the shot put to provisionally qualify with a heave of 58-9 ?. Senior Hence "Pooh" Williams wrapped up the meet for the Boilermakers by clearing a career-best 17-9 in the pole vault to better his NCAA qualifying mark in the event by two inches.
Senior Prentice Stovall claimed the 60-meter hurdles title for Purdue, recording a 7.92, missing his personal best by four hundredths of a second. Football crossover Joey Harris clocked a 6.79 in the prelims of the 60-meter dash and a 22.27 to win the 200-meter dash in his first meet of the season. Dan Mathers won the 3000m and Richard Adams rounded out the winners with a 400-meter dash victory.
The Purdue women also dominated the competition, recording 18 personal best marks and claiming six event titles.
Junior Tiffany Britten led the way for the Old Gold and Black with victories in the weight throw (52-6) and shot put (46-8 ?). Junior Kim Jordan won the 800-meter with a time of 2:10.87, while Simona Kovacic took the pole vault title with a clearance of 12-6. Laura Farley won the 3,000m (10:22.89) and LaShauna Harris captured the 200m title (25.37) to finish out the Boilermaker victories.
"We definitely accomplished what we had set out to do and more," head coach Lissa Olsen said. "I am so pleased about the performances today. This was a chance for the athletes to come in and fine tune some things and, despite a lower level of competition than last week, they performed very well.
"In the hurdles, Jerod Void qualified for nationals in his first-ever high hurdles race and that is just phenomenal. Pooh Williams is continually improving, Jamar Green jumped a life-time best in the long jump and Joey Harris won the 60 and the 200m in his first meet. On the women's side, Kim Jordan ran a wonderful 800m time, while the sprinters, LaShauna Harris, Shanette Stewart and Ina Jackson all came away with personal bests. Tiffany Britten and Scott Hecht both won the shot and the weight. It seems like I could go on and on about all the great performances there were. The athletes on both sides are really on a roll and improving every week. We accomplished exactly what we needed to in order to prepare to be successful next week at the Big Ten Championships."
Boilermaker Invitational
Feb. 22, 2003
Men
1st Hence Williams Pole Vault 17-9 (P)
1st Jamar Green Long Jump 25-2 3/4 (P)
1st Scott Hecht Weight Throw 64-11 ? (P)
1st Scott Hecht Shot Put 58-9 ? (P)
1st Prentice Stovall 60 Hurdles 7.92
1st Dan Mathers 3000m 8:46.74
1st Joey Harris 60m 6.79p
1st Joey Harris 200m 22.27
1st Richard Adams 400m 50.42
2nd Jerod Void 60 Hurdles 7.94 (P)
Women
1st Tiffany Britten Weight Throw 52-6
1st Kim Jordan 800m 2:10.87
1st Simona Kovacic Pole Vault 12-6
1st Tiffany Britten Shot Put 46-8 1/4
1st Laura Farley 3,000m 10:22.89
1st LaShauna Harris 200m 25.37
(P) -- provisional qualifying mark
p -- mark was achieved in the prelims of an event