April 9, 2011
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Purdue men's and women's track and field teams got things off to a solid start at the 32nd-Annual Sun Angel Track Classic, hosted by Arizona State University on Friday at Joe Sellah Track at Sun Angel Stadium. The early-season improvement continued for the Boilermakers as they tallied five season-best marks on the day, including a pair of personal records.
Senior Stacey Wannemacher was the lone Boilermaker to compete in a premier event on Friday, trying her hand in the women's hammer throw against some of the nation's best. She came up sixth in the competition, edging out her best throw of the season at 56.47 meters (185-03), while post-collegian Jessica Crosby was the event winner with a venue- and meet-record throw of 72.22 meters (236-11). Purdue freshman teammate Dani Bunch bettered her career best in the hammer throw for the third consecutive meet, placing fifth in the collegiate division with a mark of 56.01 meters (183-09).
On the men's side, senior Bill Hardcastle followed Bunch's lead and improved his career best for the second event in a row, extending his top hammer throw performance to 55.57 meters (182-04) to finish 13th in the collegiate division. Sophomore Cal Luby made his Boilermaker varsity debut as well, throwing 53.05 meters (174-00) to finish 15th.
The Boilermakers had some impressive performances in both the men's and women's pole vault, led by junior Elizabeth Stover's season-best jump on the women's side and senior Chris Thoman's second-place effort in the seeded section of the men's competition. Stover bettered her season best for the third meet in a row, clearing 3.81 meters (12-06.00) to tie for second in the collegiate division. Freshman teammate Katie Vierk was just behind her, tying for seventh at 3.51 meters (11-06.25). Thoman and freshman Mitch Erickson competed in the seeded flight on the men's side as Thoman soared over his top mark of 5.03 meters (16-06.00) on his first attempt, while Erickson was seventh with a mark of 4.93 meters (16-02.00). Sophomore Kyle Campbell bettered his season best to take second in the collegiate competition of the men's pole vault, marking 4.93 meters (16-02.00).
Competition resumes Saturday at 9 a.m. (PT) with the women's discus, while running events commence at 12:30 p.m. with the women's 100-meter hurdles.