April 25, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Sophomore Jonathan Pullum highlighted the Purdue men's track and field team's first day at the 2008 Penn Relays, placing second in the Men's Discus Throw Championships of America on Friday. Seniors Leah Kincaid and Astin Steward continued to headline the Boilermaker women's efforts as Kincaid advanced to tomorrow's finals in the 100-meter hurdles, while Steward medaled in the Discus Throw Championship of America.
Pullum exceeded his career-best mark by nearly two meters, hurling the discus 56.65 meters (185-10). He jumped from fifth to third on Purdue's all-time list in the event, and leapt from 31st to 18th in the national standings this season.
Kincaid's time of 13.43 is the second fastest of her career, the fourth best in the Big Ten, eighth fastest in the region and No. 20 time in the nation. Steward earned the silver medal in discus with a mark of 51.62 meters (169-04). Sophomore Christina Madison competed in a second event as well, placing eighth in the collegiate division women's triple jump with a leap of 12.28 meters (40-03.50).
Freshman Billy Hardcastle placed in a pair of events on Friday, finishing seventh in the men's Shot Put and Discus Throw Championships of America with respective marks of 17.09 meters (56-00.00), and 49.73 meters (163-02). Senior Brian Kaluf won his section and tied his career-best time of 52.09 in the men's 400-meter hurdles. The mark was good for ninth-place overall and is his second straight NCAA Regional time in the event.
The Purdue women's distance runners followed yesterday's distance medley outing with an eighth-place showing in the 4x1,500-meter Championship of America race. Sophomores Kristin Phillips and Ashlee Lengacher and freshman Kristina Krasich competed for the second straight day, while fellow rookie Lindsey McKnight joined the group in this effort.