April 14, 2007
Complete Results | Photo Gallery 
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Purdue University men's and women's track and field teams concluded the 2007 Tom Botts Invitational, hosted by the University of Missouri on Saturday, with a number of outstanding performances as junior Astin Steward was named the most outstanding female athlete winning the hammer throw on Friday and the discus on Saturday, while classmate Keith Hopkins earned most outstanding athlete honors on the men's side with his victory in the men's 110-meter high hurdles.
Steward's discus throw was the second longest in school history as she marked 52.41 meters (171-11) to set the meet record as well. The toss is good for 13th in the nation so far this year and the No. 1 throw in the NCAA Mideast region. Senior teammate Lindsay Polhemus notched a mark of 46.61 meters (152-11) to take home fourth in the discus in her season debut.
Junior Keith Hopkins bettered his NCAA Regional qualifying time in the men's 110-meter high hurdles, blazing to a 13.88 second finish. His time is the seventh best in the country this season and set a new Tom Botts Invitational record. Senior teammate Rickey Pinkney and junior captain Brian Kaluf followed in second and third places with times of 14.06 and 14.46, respectively.
Sophomore Mallory Peck notched an outdoor career best, clearing 4.05 meters (13-03.50) to place first in the women's pole vault. Her height is the second highest in Purdue history, is tied for the fourth highest in NCAA Division I and is the top vault in the NCAA Mideast region.
Sophomore Ranay Harvey led a Purdue 1-2 finish in the women's 400-meter hurdles, clocking a 1:03.09, while freshman teammate Rachel Stalzer finished in 1:04.83 in her first collegiate outing in the event. Harvey set a personal record in the women's 100-meter hurdles for the third straight week as well, breaking the tape in 14.16 seconds to place third.
Freshman Lance Moe grabbed the men's high jump crown, clearing 2.03 meters (6-08.00), while sophomore Eric Sparks earned his first men's pole vault title of the season, marking 4.90 meters (16-00.75).
The Old Gold and Black concluded the meet with a first-place showing in the men's 4x400-meter relay as junior Jh'Rome Tuggle and sophomores Zach Logan, Andrew Smith and Stephen Bach teamed for the win.
The Boilermakers return to the friendly confines of Dave Rankin Track and Field next weekend as they host the Dave Rankin Invitational on Saturday. The meet is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. with the women's hammer throw.