April 13, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Purdue University braved rainy and windy conditions on Friday evening to post a solid start to the 2007 Tom Botts Invitational, hosted by the University of Missouri at Audrey J. Walton Stadium. Seniors Lindsey Blaine and Brian Williams and junior Astin Steward and all took home victories on the day for the Boilers.
Steward set a new personal best and recorded the second-longest toss in school history in the hammer throw with a mark of 58.96 meters (193-05). The throw was good enough to win the event for the second time this season and is the 14th longest throw in the country this year. Teammates Stacey Wannemacher, Sheena James and Mandy Bodner followed her in fourth, fifth and sixth places as Bodner topped her season best with a throw of 46.08 meters (151-02).
Blaine nearly grabbed her top throw of the year in the women's javelin, hurling it 49.89 meters (163-08) to win her fourth straight meet in the event, while Williams cracked the 60-meter mark for the second straight week on the men's side with a toss of 60.08 meters (197-01) to take first.
Freshman Katie Morrical raced to a second-place showing in the women's 3,000-meter run, clocking a personal-best time of 9:54.94, while junior teammate Danielle Ginther finished eighth in 10:38.11. Junior captain Leah Kincaid grabbed a silver medal as well, marking 5.70 meters (18-08.50) in the women's long jump.
Sophomore Ben Harpenau was the Boilermakers' top finisher in the men's hammer throw, taking home fourth place with a mark of 58.87 meters (193-02).
Competition is schedule to begin tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. with the women's 4x100-meter relay and the men's pole vault. In the case of extreme inclement weather, the second day of events will be postponed until Sunday morning.