May 27, 2006
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Purdue's women's track and field team posted its best finish at NCAA Mideast Regionals, finishing eighth with 26.50 points.
The Boilermaker women have made quiet and steady progress since their first regional meet in 2003 when they tied for 27th with 5.5 points. In 2004 they were 12th with 16 points; last season they dropped to 13th but scored 21 points.
Four female student-athletes scored for the Boilermakers Saturday at Tom Black Track and Field, but only pole vaulter Mallory Peck finished among the top five to automatically qualify for nationals. Senior vaulter Jocelyn Lindsay and hurdler Leah Kincaid both placed sixth in their respective events and will have to wait and see if they receive an at-large bid to NCAA's.
Peck and Lindsay reached a top height of 3.96 meters (12-11.75), which was a personal best for the rookie, but Peck advanced on a tiebreaker, missing four times to Lindsay's five.
Peck will join Kara Patterson and Lindsay Blaine at the NCAA national championships in Sacramento. Patterson and Blaine qualified for nationals after placing first and third in the javelin. Patterson is a two-time NCAA Mideast regional champion.
Kincaid missed the top five by .20 seconds, finishing the 100-meter hurdle course in 13.70 seconds. Celriece Law a freshman from Tennessee was fifth at 13.50.
Also scoring for the women's team was Amber Ferner, who placed eighth in the 3000-meter steeplechase in 10:34.60. Senior David Rae just missed out on points in the men's steeplechase, taking ninth at 9:05.18. Rae fell down during the race but battle back to finish among the top ten, impressing head coach Jack Warner.
Update
Purdue head coach Jack Warner announced Tuesday morning that the Boilermakers will be represented by six-student athletes at the NCAA Championships at Sacramento State University, June 7 to 10.
In addition to the three automatic qualifiers, Mallory Peck, Kara Patterson and Lindsay Blaine, the NCAA also has invited Keith Hopkins (hurdles), Leah Kincaid (hurdles) and David Rae (steeplechase).