Jan. 16, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's indoor track and season kicks off Saturday morning with the multi-team Purdue Invitational. Teams from Ball State, Butler, Cincinnati, Dayton, Louisville, Indianapolis, IPFW will comprise the field along with the Indiana Invaders and Pioneer Track Clubs.
The non-scoring meet is slated to begin at 9 a.m. with the women's weight throw competition. Running events start at 11:30 a.m. with the women's 5,000 meter run.
"Our goal for this meet is individual improvement, so the other coaches and I will be focusing on the athletes' techniques," said head coach Lissa Olson, who is starting her third season as head coach of the men's and women's teams. "Since many of us are coming back from a three-week holiday, this meet will serve as a starting point to see where we are at and how we can get better."
Olson believes that the athletes who remained on campus and worked through the holidays have set loftier goals and will immediately want to record an NCAA mark. Among the many athletes who called Lambert Fieldhouse home over holiday break were throwers Nedzad Mulabegovic, Keith McBride and Scott Hecht. All three reached the NCAA Outdoor Championships a year ago, with Mulabegovic and McBride attaining All-America status.
Another All-American coming back is sprinter Kenneth Baxter, who reached All-America status twice last season in the 200-meter dash. Olson said that for Saturday's meet, Baxter will be utilized in the 60, as well as some more distance-oriented races such as the 400 and 4x400 relay, in order that he receives more distance training. For Baxter and the other runners, the Purdue Invitational is being treated as another training day, which will prepare them for the more prestigious meets arriving later in the season.
Olson is excited about watching the collegiate debuts of several rookies, including pole vaulter Andy Bodey, horizontal jumper Rayland Currie and runner Terrell Thompson. Since all performed exceptionally well at the December intrasquad meet, Olson wants to see if they can continue performing at a high level against real competition. Olson commends Thompson on his versatility, as he will be able to compete in the 400, 600, 800 runs while anchoring the 4x400 relay.
Currie is also expected to compete in the 4x400, along with Baxter, Thompson and Dedrick Tillerson.
The women's team is immediately bolstered by the return of redshirt sophomore Lindsay Zinn. The 2002 Big Ten Indoor Freshman of the Year missed all of last season with an injury, after scoring in three conference meet races the year previous. Big performances are also expected of varsity record holders Tiffany Britten (outdoor shot put) and Kim Jordan (indoor 800 meters).
Britten opens this indoor season at her highest level, since she rapidly improved her throwing performances over the course of last season. Britten ended her sophomore campaign with a top effort of 46-2 in the shot put, but improved by well over four feet as a junior in order the capture the varsity record. She enters this season with an indoor best of 47-4 in the shot put and 53-3 in the weight throw.
Olson believes that Jordan's senior season will be her best one ever. A runner-up in the 800 at last year's indoor championships, Jordan will be working hard to recapture that title, which she won as a sophomore in 2001. Jordan won several key races last indoor season, including the 600 at the Indiana/Ohio State triangular, and then started the outdoor campaign with three consecutive wins in the 800 before slowing down to injury.
Jordan will be accompanied by a strong supporting staff on the track, most notably LaShauna Harris, Gina Harvey and T'Nita Waters. All three provided good marks at the Intrasquad so Coach Olson expects improvement at the invitational.
Following this weekend, the teams venture to Columbus, Ohio on Jan. 24 for the Ohio State/Indiana tri-meet and will return home on Jan .30 for the annual Indiana State dual. The meet between the Sycamores and Boilermakers begins at 5 p.m.