May 9, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Purdue sophomore Stacey Wannemacher scored her team-leading third NCAA Regional qualifying mark of the season on Friday to lead the Boilermakers' men's and women's track and field teams at the Billy Hayes Invitational, hosted by Indiana University.
Having already surpassed the regional standards in the women's shot put and discus this year, Wannemacher only needed to exceed the 54-meter mark in the hammer throw to complete the throws trifecta. She did so on Friday, hurling it a career-best 54.53 meters (178-11) to earn third place overall. She also won the shot put meet title, falling just shy of her career-best with a throw of 15.82 meters (51-10.75).
Her mark gives the Boilermakers 34 regional qualifying marks this season, extending the single-season school record already broken this year.
Senior teammate Astin Steward topped Wannemacher in the hammer, taking first with a throw of 57.87 meters (189-10), and was the runner-up in the discus with a mark of 47.57 meters (156-01).
Rookie Lindsey McKnight clocked a collegiate best in the women's 800-meter run, placing sixth with a time of 2:12.11, while fellow freshman Kristina Krasich came in eighth with a personal record of 2:13.39. Junior Lauren Scott beat out the 57-second mark for the second straight meet in the women's 400-meter run, taking eighth with a time of 56.65.
Senior Brian Kaluf headlined the Purdue men's efforts, improving his career-best in the 110-meter hurdles for the second straight meet, and winning the event title with a time of 14.08. He also placed third in the 400-meter hurdles, just missing his collegiate best with a mark of 52:16.
Junior Zach Logan clocked his season-best time in the men's 400-meter run, placing eighth in 48.29, and sophomore Adetayo Adesanya notched second in the high jump with a clearance of 2.05 meters (6-08.75).
Rookie Billy Hardcastle claimed the top spot in the men's shot put, hurling it 17.00 meters (55-09.25), and placed second in the discus at 51.85 meters (170-01). Senior Jim Schwingendorf and sophomore Steve Carlson closed out the day with respective second and fourth-place showings in the men's javelin. Schwingendorf marked 55.11 meters (180-10), while Carlson threw it 51.08 meters (167-07).
The Old Gold and Black return to action on Friday, traveling to the University of Illinois for the 2008 Big Ten Outdoor Championships.