March 6, 2010
SOUTH BEND, Ind. & AMES, Iowa - The Purdue men's and women's track and field teams had solid finishes at the Notre Dame Alex Wilson Invitational and Iowa State Last Chance Qualifier on Saturday. Junior Stacey Wannemacher led the way, improving her career best in the women's weight throw to 19.90 meters (65-03.50), winning it and the shot put at Iowa State.
Wannemacher's throw improved her position as the third-best in Purdue's history in the weight throw, closing in on former record holder Toyinda Smith and current record holder Astin Steward. The toss is good for 17th best in NCAA Division I this season and could possibly qualify her for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the event. She's already a lock to attend the national meet in the women's shot put, and won Saturday's event with a toss of 15.91 meters (52-02.50). Sophomore Terri Anderson was second in the shot put, hurling 15.13 meters (49-07.75) after an indoor career-best showing at the Big Ten Indoor Championships last weekend.
On the men's side at Iowa State, junior Bill Hardcastle was third in the men's shot put, marking 17.74 meters (58-02.50) to just miss exceeding the NCAA provisional standard in the event for the third straight meet.
Senior Brianna Neumann led the Purdue effort at Notre Dame on Saturday, winning the women's pole vault with a mark of 4.13 meters (13-06.50). She tied Mary Saxer for the top height of the day, but claimed the event title on misses, clearing the winning mark on her second attempt. Neumann has cleared the automatic standard for the pole vault and will attend the national meet next weekend. Fellow senior Nkeiru Ugwoaba was the meets only entry in the women's triple jump and despite a solid showing of 12.57 meters (41-03.00), she was unable to hit the NCAA provisional standard and improve her season best.
Freshman Geoff Davis and senior Adetayo Adesanya were first and third in the men's high jump as Davis cleared 2.15 meters (7-00.50) for the meet title. Davis is likely to qualify for the NCAA Championships with his season-best of 2.20 meters (7-02.50), but Adesanya will not follow as he was only able to clear 2.10 meters (6-10.75) and didn't improve his qualifying mark.
In the Boilermakers' only track entry of the day, senior Nan Hammel posted another solid time in the women's 800-meter run, crossing the line in 2:09.74 for 11th place overall.
Official fields for the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships will be released this week and a full preview of the event and Purdue's entries will be available at PurdueSports.com. The national meet is hosted by the University of Arkansas Friday and Saturday, March 12-13.