April 10, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Purdue men's and women's track and field teams continued their outstanding improvements of the outdoor season on Saturday, turning in a wealth of top marks at the 32nd-Annual Sun Angel Track Classic, hosted by Arizona State University. Junior Leah Eber and senior Chris Kirtz had two of the exceptional performances, posting respective runner-up showings in the women's and men's long jumps.
The Boilermakers had 26 top-eight showings on Saturday, including seven in the premier event sections, a collegiate event victory and six second place collegiate efforts. Eber and Kirtz had two of the biggest personal records for Purdue in the meet as Eber moved to second all-time at Purdue and is now tied for sixth in the nation in the women's long jump at 6.30 meters (20-08.00), while Kirtz improved his personal record for the second time this year and is tied for 20th in the country at 7.52 meters (24-08.25). Freshman Seth Virgil followed Kirtz's lead in the men's long jump, taking fifth place and posting a huge career best at 7.29 meters (23-11.00).
Junior Terri Anderson had a solid day of competition, winning the women's collegiate shot put and taking fifth in the premier women's discus throw. Her toss of 14.16 meters (46-05.50) was good enough to lead a Boilermaker 1-2 finish in the collegiate shot put, leading freshman teammate Liberty Slinden who threw 13.97 meters (45-10.00), while Anderson also marked 49.10 meters (161-01) for her placing in the discus. Other top efforts in the women's throws came from senior Stacey Wannemacher and freshman Dani Bunch as they finished sixth and seventh in the premier shot put and Wannemacher took eighth in the collegiate discus. Wannemacher tossed 15.55 meters (51-00.25) in the shot and 45.91 meters (150-07) in the discus, while Bunch matched her season-best 14.80 meters (48-06.75) in the shot put. Senior Bill Hardcastle led the Purdue men's efforts in the throws, placing sixth in the premier shot put and fourth in the collegiate discus. He fell just shy of his season-best toss in the shot put at 17.41 meters (57-01.50) and marked a season best 51.27 meters (168-02) in the discus.
Other top field event performances for the Old Gold and Black came courtesy of senior Emily Breslin and sophomore Geoff Davis in the women's and men's high jumps. Breslin finished second on the women's side and matched her season best with a clearance of 1.75 meters (5-08.75), while Davis tied for second in the men's competition, improving his outdoor season best to 2.10 meters (6-10.75), despite a nagging ankle injury from the SEC/Big Ten Challenge.
The Boilermakers had a series of successful efforts on the track side, including senior Shane Crawford's fourth-place showing in the men's premier 100-meter dash and junior Ladd Mercer's second-place finish in the men's collegiate 1,500-meter run. Crawford was just shy of his season-best with a time of 10.55 and was the second collegiate athlete across the line, while Mercer clocked a season-best time of 3:55.00, good for the fastest mark by a Boilermaker this season. Freshman Stephen Schulz was fourth in the men's 5,000-meter run, completing the race in 14:20.69, sophomore Kari Shoolbraid lowered her outdoor personal record in the women's 800-meter run to 2:12.13 to finish seventh and sophomore Scott Lasiter placed fifth in his Boilermaker debut in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, running a time of 9:19.47. Senior Jacob Palmer lowered his season-best mark in the men's 800-meter run as well, dropping his mark to 1:51.64 to take seventh place. Juniors Janan Graham and Elise Glass took home sixth and seventh, respectively, in the women's premier 400-meter dash as well, racing around the track in 57.08 and 57:35.
Despite a powerful headwind, the Boilermakers had solid showings in the men's and women's hurdles races as senior Josh Hembrough and freshman Brandon Winters took fourth and seventh in the men's 110-meter hurdles, while freshman Ciana Tabb was eighth in the women's 100-meter hurdles. Hembrough finished the race in 14.65, Winters turned in a mark of 14.79 and Tabb completed her contest in 14.65 seconds.
The Boilermakers return to the friendly confines of home next weekend, hosting the Dave Rankin Invitational. More information on next weekend's competition will be released throughout the week at PurdueSports.com, including an updated schedule and heat sheets. The meet will start on Friday with the hammer throw, while the remainder of the events will be held Saturday.