March 31, 2007
Complete Results | Photo Gallery 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Despite a small lighting storm, occasional rain flurries and a 45-minute delay, the Purdue University men's and women's track and field teams posted a solid performance at the third-annual Mike Poehlein Invitational, held Saturday at Rankin Track and Field.
Senior Laura Farley and freshman Jonathan Pullum posted the highlights of the day for the Old Gold and Black, notching the Boilers' 15th and 16th NCAA Regional qualifiers of the young season. Farley qualified with a time of 2:09.45 in the women's 800-meter run, and Pullum claimed top honors in the men's discus, marking 52.37 meters (171-10).
First-place finishers for Purdue on the day included seniors Lindsey Blaine, Rayland Currie, Justin Stadt and Brian Williams, juniors Astin Steward and Jh'Rome Tuggle, sophomores Stephen Bach and Ranay Harvey and freshman Robert Jenkins.
Blaine finished just shy of her personal best in the javelin, marking 50.26 meters (164-11), while Rayland Currie missed his collegiate best in the triple jump by less than two inches (14.79m/48-06.25). Stadt captured the men's 5,000-meter run crown with a time of 14:56.60, finishing just ahead of fellow junior Eric Hammond (15:07.41).
Williams headlined a Boilermaker sweep in the men's javelin, marking 59.89 meters (196-06) to finish ahead of rookie Steve Carlson and junior Jim Schwingendorf. Carlson posted a toss of 57.81 meters (189-08) in his collegiate debut, while Schwingendorf notched 55.49 meters (182-01).
Steward set a personal record and notched the fourth farthest hammer throw in school history, tossing it 57.27 meters (187-11). She also grabbed second in the women's discus with a mark of 46.60 meters (152-11), while senior teammate Mandy Bodner followed in fourth with a throw of 45.49 meters (149-03).
Tuggle led a 1-2 finish in the men's 200-meter dash, edging sophomore teammate Zach Logan by 0.47 seconds with a time of 21.37. Tuggle's time was just 0.18 seconds shy of NCAA Regional qualification.
Bach took home the men's 1,500-meter run title with a time of 4:00.34, while Harvey set a personal record in the women's 100-meter hurdles, crossing the line in just 14.47. Jenkins rounded out the Boilers' victories with a time of 48.96 in the men's 400-meter dash.
Sophomore Ben Harpenau bettered his regional qualifying mark in the hammer throw, finishing second with a personal-best toss of 57.20 meters (187-08). First-year Adetayo Adesanya make a solid outdoor debut with a second-place height in the high jump (2.02m/6-07.50), while classmate Lance Moe cleared 4.00 meters (13-01.50) in his first career outing at the pole vault. Fellow freshmen Sarah Grabowski and Katie Morrical had good days on the women's side as Grabowski notched fourth in the high jump in her spring opener, notching a height of 1.54 meters (5-00.50), and Morrical took third in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:36.49.
Liz Wanless of the New York Athletic Club set a new Rankin Track and Field women's shot put record with a mark of 17.86 meters (58-07.25). Purdue school-record holder Sheena James took second in the event with a throw of 15.20 meters (49-10.50).
The Boilermakers look to expand their postseason field next weekend at the Auburn Invitational.