April 16, 2005
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Following its performance in Terre Haute this weekend, Purdue may not want to leave the friendly confines of Indiana's State Marks Field.
The 22nd-ranked Boilermakers women's team continued to collect win after win for a second straight day, claiming the Pacesetter invitational team title with 212.5 points. The host Sycamores were a distant second with 158.50 points and Marquette was third with 107 points.
Leah Kincaid and LaShauna Harris led the team as both won three events. Harris won the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the 100-meter hurdles. Her winning times were listed at 11.76, 23.80 and 13.93. Kincaid was runner-up to Harris in the hurdles, coming across in 14.21.
Kincaid's wins came in the long and triple jumps and with the 4x400-meter relay team of Angela Anoliefoh, Stephanie Stromp and Ashley Kemp. The team crossed in 3:50.88 and Eastern Illinois came in second at 3:52.27.
Kincaid's winning leap in the long jump was a regional qualifying distance of 6.02 meters (19 feet - 9 inches) and her triumphant effort in the triple jump was a personal best of 12.13 meters (39-9 3/4).
Elsewhere in the field, Purdue swept the top three places in the discus as Mandy Bodnar recorded the winning throw of 44.58 (146-3). Lindsay Polhemus was second at 44.11 (144-9) and Astin Steward was third with an effor of 43.85 (143-10). Overall, Purdue women won all but two field events this weekend, just missing out on the shot put and pole vault titles.
Also winning for the Boilermakers were Laura Stier (high jump), Lindsey Blaine (javelin), Amber Ferner (3,000 steeplechase) and Lindsay Zinn (5,000). Ferner's winning time of 10.44.44 not only qualified her for an appearance at regionals, but she also established a new Marks Field record.
Purdue's men's team finished second with 153 points, behind Indiana State's 242 points. But despite the runner-up finish, head coach Jack Warner was still pleased with the final results.
"I'm very pleased with how we competed," said Warner. "We had a lot of personal bests, and its good to see the kids on a roll. They all have a very positive attitude, which I know will carry into the postseason."
Senior All-American Kenneth Baxter led the Boilermakers with victories in the 100 and 200-meter dashes, clocking regional qualifying times of 10.46 and 20.87. Also winning were Derek Watkins in the high jump (2.10; 6-10 3/4) and Keith Hopkins in the 110-meter hurdles (14.42).
Purdue returns home for the final time Saturday, April 23rd for the Indiana Intercollegiates. The day-long scoring meet featuring several in-state rivals begins at 9 a.m.