Feb. 9, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's and women's track and field team wrapped up an outstanding showing at the 21st annual Meyo Invitational, hosted by the University of Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday, as the Boilermakers matched one school record and came close to a few others.
Just four meets into his collegiate career, Purdue freshman Shane Crawford tied the Boilermakers' 60-meter dash record on Saturday with a time of 6.70 in the finals. Crawford clocked a 6.75 preliminary time to advance to the finals, where he matched former Boilermaker Kenneth Baxter's time to take home third place overall. His new time moves him six spots up the national list, where he's now tied for 13th in the country.
Fellow rookie Josh Hembrough burned up the track as well, falling just 0.03 seconds shy of the Boilermaker record, but still winning the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.79. Hembrough's time is tied for the second fastest in school history and is now the sixth fastest run in NCAA Division I this season.
Senior speedster Jh'Rome Tuggle found his was on to his second all-time Purdue list in as many days, completing the men's 200-meter dash in 21.45. His time earned him fourth overall and is the fifth fastest in Boilermaker history, but still remains just 0.22 seconds shy of the NCAA provisional standard.
The Boilermaker men got season-best efforts out of junior Stephen Bach and freshman Matt De Silva, as Bach posted a time of 1:52.59 in the 800-meter run and De Silva clocked an 8:22.88. Sophomore Adetayo Adesanya matched his career-best mark in the high jump, clearing 2.09 meters (6-10.25), and freshman Billy Hardcastle and senior Tyler Miller were solid in the shot put, taking fourth and sixth, respectively.
On the women's side, sophomore Ashlee Lengacher just missed the Boilermakers' top-five list and the NCAA provisional standard in the 800-meter run, crossing the line in 2:09.74. This is the third straight meet Lengacher has shattered her previous best in the 800, as she started the season with a personal-best time of 2:15.61.
Junior Ranay Harvey produced the fifth fastest 60-meter hurdle time in school history, qualifying for the finals with a preliminary time of 8.71, and then crossing the line in a career-best 8.67 in the finals. Fellow junior Lauren Scott notched a season-best time in the 400-meter dash, posting a time of 57.23, and sophomore Stacey Wannemacher brought home a fifth-place showing in the shot put with a mark of 14.88 meters (48-10.00).
The Boilermakers return to action on Friday and Saturday at the Iowa State Classic.