April 3, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue men's and women's track and field teams outlasted some tough weather to put forth solid results at the sixth-annual Mike Poehlein Invitational on Saturday. The Boilermakers won several events on the day and posted a variety of other personal records as the meet lasted over 10 hours due to a lightning delay midway through the meet.
The Boilermakers' distance groups put forth a wealth of outstanding efforts, winning four events and posting a series of personal records. Senior Sarah Klaczynski won the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase and smashed her career best with a time of 10:51.24, good for the fourth-fastest mark in the event in school history, while sophomore Cale Allen topped the men's field in the steeplechase, crossing the line in 9:28.14 in his first career effort. Senior Nan Hammel and sophomore Simon Rogers won the women's and men's 1,500-meter runs as Hammel notched a time of 4:38.88 on the women's side, and Rogers topped the men's field with a mark of 3:52.48. Junior Caden Shields and senior Kristin Phillips had solid efforts in the men's and women's 5,000-meter runs as the both just missed personal records. Shields won the men's race in 14:35.46, while Phillips was second in the women's race in 17:37.63.
Senior Christina Madison and sophomore Leah Eber posted their second straight 1-2 finish in the women's long jump, however it was Madison who took first this time, leaping 5.92 meters (19-05.25) to top the field, while Eber was second at 5.68 meters (18-07.75). Senior Nkeiru Ugwoaba marked an event sweep for the Boilermakers, taking third with a season-best 5.65 meters (18-06.50). Junior Chris Kirtz captured the men's long jump title on the day, improving his season best with a mark of 7.30 meters (23-11.50). Ugwoaba returned to win the women's triple jump with a new season-best leap of 12.57 meters (41-03.00), backed up quickly by Madison in second place with a season best of 12.18 meters (39-11.50).
Junior Emily Breslin won the women's high jump for the second straight meet, sailing over 1.76 meters (5-09.25), however due to weather conditions the event was held indoors and therefore doesn't count towards NCAA qualification purposes. The men's pole vault was also contested indoors as senior Eric Sparks cleared 5.20 meters (17-00.75) to top the field, and unlike the high jump, indoor pole vault marks count towards qualification for the NCAA preliminary rounds. Senior Lance Moe topped the men's high jump after the meet was moved back outdoors, clearing 2.05 meters (6-08.75). Senior Brianna Neumann was second in the women's pole vault, clearing 4.02 meters (13-02.25) against a competitive field that contained unattached standouts Mary Saxer (Notre Dame) and Vera Neuenswander (Indiana).
Junior Bill Hardcastle tossed a pair of season bests in the men's discus and shot put, taking third place in both with a mark of 54.33 meters in the discus and 17.48 meters (57-04.25) in the shot put. Sophomore Elaine Gilbert won the women's javelin, falling just shy of her career best with a toss of 39.02 meters (128-00).
The Boilermakers head back on the road next weekend, traveling to the University of Georgia for the Spec Towns National Team Invitational.