June 10, 2011
DES MOINES, Iowa - Purdue sophomore Geoff Davis put the Boilermaker men's track and field team in the scoring column on Friday, posting a sixth-place finish in the men's high jump at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships, hosted by Drake University at Drake Stadium. This marks Davis's second NCAA placewinning performance of the season and the 39th time the Boilermakers have scored at the national outdoor meet in school history.
Davis turned in a top mark of 2.17 meters (7-01.50) on the day, clearing a trio of bars on his way to the podium. After passing at the opening height, he cleared 2.10 meters (6-10.75) on his second attempt and 2.14 meters (7-00.25) on his first attempt. Davis marked his top clearance on his second jump, as one of just six athletes in the field of 24 to make the bar. However, the other five who advanced went on to clear 2.20 meters (7-02.50). Sophomore Erik Kynard of Kansas State won an intense head-to-head battle with fellow sophomore Ricky Robertson of Mississippi topping out at 2.29 meters (7-06.00) for the NCAA crown in the event.
This marks the first time the Purdue men have scored at the national meet since 2009, when Adetayo Adesanya took fifth in the men's high jump en route to a tie for 52nd place. The Boilermakers scored in six straight national meets from 2000-to-2005, including a top showing of 26th place with 9.5 points in 2000. Davis is the fifth Boilermaker male in school history to place at the national meet in the high jump, following Adesanya, Noel Ruebel, Ryan Fitzpatric and three-time All American Shaun Guice.
Sophomore Jakob Engel competed in the men's shot put on Friday, but had a rough first outing at the national meet, tossing a trio of fouls in his NCAA Championship debut. Arizona State sophomore Jordan Clarke captured the NCAA title in the event, tossing a top mark of 19.75 meters (64-09.75) on his fifth attempt to edge out BYU senior Leif Arrhenius.
Senior Stacey Wannemacher concludes the Boilermakers' NCAA entries tomorrow afternoon, competing in the women's shot put at 11 a.m. (CT).