June 12, 2010
EUGENE, Ore. - The Purdue men's and women's track teams wrapped up competition at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships, hosted by the University of Oregon at Hayward Field on Saturday. Senior Sarah Klaczynski and junior Bill Hardcastle were the last two Boilermakers to compete, vying in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase and men's shot put, respectively.
Saturday marked the end of an amazing senior season for Klaczysnki, who entered her final campaign having never placed at a conference meet or participated in a national meet, and now graduates a Big Ten Championship medalist and NCAA Championship finals qualifier. She wrapped up her Purdue career with a 12th-place showing in the women's steeplechase, crossing the line in 10:22.59, which would've been a career-best heading into the weekend. Klaczynski set the Boilermakers' school record in the event in the NCAA Semifinals on Thursday, posting a time of 10:11.17 to qualify for the finals.
Hardcastle completed his junior campaign with a 16th-place effort in the shot put, marking 17.52 meters (57-05.75) on Saturday. Throwing second in the first flight of competition, he opened with a toss of 16.92 meters (55-06.25), and improved to his top throw on his second effort, but was still a reach away from advancing to finals.
The Purdue women broke a streak of three straight NCAA Outdoor Championships in which they had scored, while the men were unable to reach the scoring column after putting up their first national outdoor mark in five years in 2009. Texas A&M swept the men's and women's national titles for the second consecutive season as the men edged out Florida by one points with 55 points, while the women ran away with the title with 72 points.