April 26, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Kern Woods scored high marks in the field and on the track Saturday at the Boilermaker Invitational. Woods placed first in the long jump, registering an NCAA regional qualifying distance of 24 feet, 1 3/4 inches and later clocked a winning time of 14.51 seconds in the 110 meter hurdles.
Woods' leap in the long jump was a season best and is the second best effort recorded by a Boilermaker this season. Jamar Green holds the team's season record at 24-5 3/4.
Green did not receive the chance to compete against his cohort at Rankin Track and Field, since he and his 4x100 and 4x200 relay teammates were busy racing for the championships of America at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia.
The squad of Green, Kenneth Baxter, Jacques Reeves and Prentice Stovall finished sixth in both relays. The 4x100 team clocked a time of 40.56 and the 4x200 scored a mark of 1:24.70. Mississippi State won the 4x100 championship, with its time of 39.20, and Texas rounded up the 4x200 title, coming in at 1:21.65.
Keith McBride and his colleagues excelled in the hammer throw championships at Penn. McBride recorded a career best mark of 208-03, which placed him second. Teammate Scott Hecht finished third with an effort of 198-07 and J.P. Smolenski took 6th at 198-04.
The men's team received a pair of outstanding field performances at the Boilermaker Invite from Pooh Williams in the pole vault and Brian Smith in the javelin. Williams, an NCAA regional qualifier, squashed the competition with his leap of 17-6 1/2. Runner-up Adam Pierson of Illinois finished nearly a foot behind at 16-6 3/4.
Smith's winning margin was just as impressive. His winning throw of 203-02, topped Matt Conley's (Ball State) effort by over three feet (200-00).
In the women's field events at Rankin, Carrie Long was the Boilermakers' sole victor during Saturday's competitions. The senior reached an NCAA regional qualifying height of 5-7 in the high jump, beating out Notre Dames' Jennifer Kearney (5-5).
Despite losing out to several competitors, the Boilermaker pole vault trio of Megan Darraugh, Meghan McKenzie and Jocelyn Lindsay qualified for NCAA regionals after all reached a height of 12-0 (3.66 meters). The women placed fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
Purdue now has 25 athletes slated to compete at the regional meet in Columbus, Ohio on May 30 and 31.
The Boilermaker women's team received wins on the track from the 4x100 relay team of Ina Jackson, Shanna Carter, LaShauna Harris and Shanette Stewart (47.34), and from Ragina Harvey in the 400 (56.85).
Distance runners Kyle Orender and Robert Heise stole the top-two spots in the 1,500. Orender crossed first in 3:54.71 and Heise followed right behind at 3:55.89.
Assistant coach Carri Long was the only Boilermaker in action Saturday at the Drake Relays. Long, competing in the special high jump, placed fifth with a leap of 5-10. Long competed against such notables as Amy Acuff (2nd place; 6-2) and Gwen Wentland (1st; 6-2).
All of Purdue's track and field athletes will assemble together for the first time this outdoor season as they team up to battle the Indiana Hoosiers in a dual meet at Rankin Track and Field. Competition is slated to begin Saturday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m.