Feb. 21, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue's women's track and field team closed its indoor regular season Saturday at the Lambert Fieldhouse, playing host to the Boilermaker Invitational. Purdue dominated most of the events, competing against IPFW and a dozen unattached competitors.
The non-scoring meet served as an extra training session for the women, who begin gearing up for next weekend's Big Ten Championships at the University of Iowa.
"Although this meet was more like an intrasquad, we're able to get more from our athletes against live competition, than we would out of a extended practice," said head coach Lissa Olson. "Both our team's were among the best at the N.Y. Armory meet, and if they remember how well they competed in New York, then we'll succeed at Big Ten's. Every individual competitor needs to realize how much every point means to their team."
Former Boilermakers Ebbie Metzinger and Simona Kovacic provided the meet's biggest highlight, as they dominated the pole vault competition. Metzinger, the Big Ten indoor champion in 2002, recorded a new Lambert Fieldhouse record of 13 feet -3 1/2 inches (4.05 meters), breaking the previous record set by UCLA's Tracy O'Hara on Feb. 5, 1999 (13-1 1/2; 4.00m).
Kovacic, the Big Ten indoor champion in 2003, placed second with a height of 12-9 1/2 (3.90) and current Boilermaker Jocelyn Lindsay finished third with a height of 11-9 3/4 (3.60).
Courtney Magnuson won the weight throw title with her launch of 58-1 (17.70), while teammate Astin Steward finished runner-up at 55-9 (16.99). Mandy Bodnar recorded a personal best of 49-7 3/4 (15.13), placing fifth.
Steward also performed well in the shot-put, finishing third with a season best effort of 40-6 3/4. However, Tiffany Britten won the shot put title with her launch of 48-6 1/4 (14.79).
In the sprints and hurdle races, the 60-meter title was claimed by T'Nita Waters with a time of 7.70 and Tiffany Colvin registered a personal best in the 60 hurdles with her winning time of 8.94 seconds.
Purdue finished well in all middle-distance and distance races. Lindsay Zinn won the 3,000-meter run with her mark of 10:20.08, Laura Farley won the 800 in 2:13.12, Gina Harvey won the 400 in 57.25, and Larissa Williams claimed the 600 title at 1:39.07. Caitlin Baird was Purdue's top finisher in the mile, coming across second in 5:16.34.
The Boilermakers wrapped the meet with wins in the 4x400 and distance medley relays. Kaleena Cappel, Williams, Laura Bradner and Zinn comprised the winning distance medley relay team, which finished in 12:38.10.