April 16, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's and women's track and field teams got the fourth-annual Dave Rankin Invitational underway, competing in the hammer throw Friday evening at Rankin Track. Three of the six Boilermakers competing posted season-best marks, including junior Bill Hardcastle who exceeded his career best as well.
Hardcastle finished fifth in the men's competition, stretching his season best to 54.94 meters (180-03) and exceeding his career best by half a meter. He was followed by teammates Connor McCulley, Ben Schnepp and Jakob Engel, who were all just shy of their season-best throws. McCulley was 14th overall at 48.38 meters (158-09), Schnepp was 15th at 47.57 meters (156-01) and Engel was 16th at 47.42 meters (155-07).
On the women's side, both freshman Bre Fife and sophomore Emily Leckenby notched season bests as Fife finished 10th overall with a toss of 46.17 meters (151-06) while Leckenby was 14th at 44.82 meters (147-00). Fife's throw was a career best as well, marking her second straight career-best effort at Rankin Track.
Aaron Falk of Hillsdale College won the men's competition, throwing 64.04 meters (210-01), while unattached competitor Anna Weber won the women's side with a toss of 58.98 meters (193-06).
Competition resumes tomorrow at 10 a.m. with the women's javelin.