May 2, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Junior Stacey Wannemacher paced the Purdue men's and women's track and field teams at the Jesse Owens Track Classic, hosted by Ohio State this weekend. Wannemacher became the first Boilermaker to earn three NCAA Regional qualifying marks this season, exceeding the regional standard in the shot put, discus and hammer throw and pushing the Purdue women's qualifying total to 18 events and surpassing their 2008 total.
Friday's delay didn't hinder Wannemacher as she turned in her second NCAA regional mark of the season and career-best toss in the women's hammer throw, finishing sixth overall and fourth among collegians with a mark of 55.58 meters (182-04). The throw also regains Wannemacher the Big Ten's top mark in the event, surpassing Minnesota freshman DeAnne Hahn. She returned to top all collegiate competitors in the shot put, marking 16.18 meters (53-01.00) and only finishing behind a pair of professionals, including Liz Wanless of the New York Athletic Club who set a meet record with a throw of 18.04 meters (59-02.25). Wannemacher capped her day with a regional mark and season-best throw of 48.06 meters (157-08) in the discus, taking seventh place overall.
Fellow junior Christina Madison upped her career-best and Big Ten-leading mark in the women's long jump, capturing second place with a leap of 6.29 meters (20-07.75). She continues to get closer to the Boilermakers' outdoor record in the event, now just 16 centimeters (6.25") shy of Leah Kincaid's all-time mark.
Junior Brianna Neumann and senior Mallory Peck tied for second place in the women's pole vault, clearing matching heights of 3.85 meters (12-07.50), which equals the regional standard. Senior Ranay Harvey finished in similar fashion in the women's 100-meter hurdles, matching the regional time of 13.92 to earn seventh place. Junior Nkeiru Ugwoaba took home third in the women's triple jump, exceeding the regional standard with a mark of 12.41 meters (40-08.75).
Senior Lauren Scott broke 56 seconds in the women's 400-meter dash for the second time in her career on Saturday, setting a new personal record with a time of 55.67. She finished 11th overall and eighth in the college standings on the day. Sophomore Emily Breslin matched her season-best in the women's high jump, clearing 1.70 meters (5-07.00) to earn seventh place on the day.
Junior Lance Moe secured the Purdue men's seventh NCAA Regional qualifying mark of the season, clearing the standard of 2.10 meters (6-10.75) in the high jump. Moe finished third overall, just behind fellow junior Adetayo Adesanya, who claimed second with a matching height. Junior Eric Sparks won the men's pole vault with a jump of 5.20 meters (17-00.75), and was the only competitor to clear the 17-foot barrier.
Sophomore Josh Hembrough posted the top collegiate time of the day in the men's 110-meter hurdles, earning second overall and eclipsing the NCAA Regional standard with his time of 13.92. Fellow sophomore Bill Hardcastle extended his season best in the men's shot put, earning fifth place with his throw of 17.43 meters (57-02.25).
Junior Steve Carlson posted a season-best for the second straight week in the men's javelin, taking fourth place with a toss of 59.74 meters (196-00), and sophomore Shane Crawford just missed the regional mark and secured fifth place overall in the men's 100-meter dash, crossing the line in 10.68.
Freshman Gabe Pirtle became the first Boilermaker to break the 49-second barrier in the men's 400-meter dash in the 2009 outdoor campaign, smashing his personal record with a time of 48.54. Pirtle also helped the Boilermakers' 4x400-meter relay squad to its best time of the season as they took home fifth place with a time of 3:13.68.
Purdue has 25 NCAA Regional qualifying marks this season with 18 on the women's side and seven on the men's. The Boilermakers have just one meet remaining before the Big Ten Outdoor Championships as a small group will head south to Bloomington, Ind., on Friday for the Billy Hayes Invitational.