April 11, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's track and field teams will compete in their first scoring meet of the outdoor season Saturday at the Miami Invitational in Oxford, Ohio. The Boilermakers will face men's and women's teams from Ball State, Butler, Cedarville, Marshall, Louisville, Valpariso, IUPUI and the host school.
The Purdue coaching staff brings a partial roster to George Rider Track, as a number of other Boilermakers head to Knoxville, Tenn., to compete at the Sea Ray Relays. The men's team consists of only 10 entries, most of whom are distance runners; however, the women's team will be represented in nearly every event with 26 competitors, giving the Boilermakers a chance to win the team title.
The women are led on the track by sophomores Gina Harvey and Amber Ferner and senior Krissy Liphardt. Harvey leads the team with four wins, collecting victories in the 200 and 400 meter dashes and the 4x100 relay. Liphardt recently competed in the 400 hurdles at the Texas Relays and placed 14th with a time of 1 minute, 1.69 seconds, her fastest time of the season.
Ferner and the rest of the distance corps will see live competition for the first time in two weeks, after receiving last weekend off. In her only race this season, Ferner recorded an NCAA Regional qualifying time of 10:49.75 in the 3,000 meter at the Stanford Invitational.
Sophomore Kyle Orender also posted a solid effort at Stanford, clocking a ninth-place time of 29:53.18 in the 10,000. Orender is joined at Miami by many of his cross country teammates, including senior Robert Heise, who took first in the 10,000 at the Purdue Invite, and sophomore David Rae, who looked impressive during his first-place run in the steeplechase at Rankin Track and Field.
Junior Brad Bolyard looks to be Purdue's top scoring threat in the 200 and 400 dashes. Bolyard has recorded two first place finishes in the 200 in two tries, finishing in 22.48 at the Ohio State Relays and in 22.74 at the Purdue Invitational.
Senior Hence "Pooh" Williams, an NCAA Indoor Championship competitor in the pole vault, will serve as the men's team's sole field representative. Williams has already registered two NCAA Regional qualifying marks during the outdoor campaign, reaching a high of 5 meters (16 feet, 4 3/4 inches) at the Texas Relays.
The women's team has three athletes competing in the pole vault, including seniors Simona Kovacic and Amy Spellmeyer. Kovacic reached the regional qualifying mark at the Texas Relays, with a second-place height of 3.85 meters (12-7 1/2).
Purdue should expect a good showing from javelin thrower Angela Anoliefoh, who has placed first in both outdoor meets. Anoliefoh qualified for regionals after recording a launch of 43.46 meters (142-7) at the Purdue Invite. Her first-place throw at the Ohio State Relays traveled 39.19 meters (128-6).
The Miami Invitational starts Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with the men's hammer throw and will conclude at 5:10 p.m. with the women's 4x400 relay.