May 30, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Purdue senior Kara Patterson won her fourth career NCAA Mideast Regional Championship in the women's javelin to lead the Boilermakers' men's and women's track and field teams at the University of Louisville on Saturday. The men finished with a team score of 24 points to take 10th place, while the women compiled 14 points to tie for 17th.
Patterson increased her NCAA lead in the event, hurling a season-best mark of 58.56 (192-01). The victory not only set the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship and Cardinal Park record, but marked the fifth consecutive regional championship in the event for the Boilermakers, dating to Patterson's first championship in 2006. She also earns an automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships, where she'll attempt to capture her first national title.
Purdue junior Eric Sparks grabbed a meet title in the men's pole vault, becoming the fifth Boilermaker to ever win an NCAA Mideast Regional Championship and becoming the second automatic qualifier for the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Sparks cleared 5.36 meters (17-07.00) and every bar preceding it on his first attempt, running away with the win. Senior Ben Pax and sophomore Chris Thoman wrapped up their season in the pole vault as Pax finished 12th with a mark of 5.06 meters (16-07.25), while Thoman was unable to clear a height.
Senior Ben Harpenau locked up his second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships in the men's hammer throw, earning an automatic bid with a third-place showing. Harpenau launched a career-best 64.52 meters (211-08) on his third attempt of the day, extending his top mark for a second straight meet. Sophomore Josh Hembrough grabbed an automatic bid to nationals as well, earning fourth place in the men's 110-meter hurdles with a time of 13.92. This marks Hembrough's third consecutive national qualification as he advanced to the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships and earned NCAA All-America honors in the 60-meter hurdles at the 2009 NCAA indoor meet.
Junior Stacey Wannemacher scored a team point for the Purdue women in the shot put, capturing eighth place with a mark of 15.94 meters (52-03.75). While unable to earn an automatic bid, Wannemacher will likely earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships as she entered the weekend with the nation's 12th-best mark. Freshman teammate Terri Anderson had a solid showing as well, throwing 15.39 meters (50-06.00) to finish 12th overall. Anderson remains eligible for an at-large bid, but will have a tough time earning one as she entered the regional meet ranked 35th in the nation.
Junior Nkeiru Ugwoaba was just off the bubble for the NCAA Championships after her 13th-place effort in the triple jump on Saturday. Her mark of 12.32 (40-05.00) left her just shy of a position for an at-large bid as she came into the weekend tied for the No. 25 spot in the country.
The Boilermakers wrapped up the regional championships with four automatic NCAA Outdoor Championship qualifiers and await official word of at-large bids, which will be announced by the NCAA on Tuesday at approximately 3 p.m. (EST).