WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -Â Chukwuebuka Enekwechi picked up two of the conference's top honors, the Big Ten announced on Tuesday. Enekwechi was named the men's Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year and the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Championships for his efforts in the hammer throw and shot put.
Enekwechi defended his hammer throw conference title by breaking the school, facility, conference championship and Nigerian National records last Friday. The junior threw a winning distance of 72.77m (238-9), which was the top mark in the country over the weekend, and ranks third nationally for the 2015 season. He also scored in the shot put with a sixth-place finish. His best mark in the event was 18.45m (60-6.50).
For the season, Enekwechi broke the school, and Nigerian, record in the hammer throw four times. His season-best shot put mark was 19.46m (63-10.25), which ranks second in school history and 16th in the country. His mark is the third-best in the Big Ten.
Enekwechi won the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week award twice during the outdoor season and already nine times during his Purdue career. He is a three-time First Team All-American in the weight throw and has a Second Team All-America honor for the shot put during his indoor career. Outdoors, Enekwechi is two-time Second Team All-American in the hammer throw and two-time First Team All-Big Ten, including this season.
Enekwechi makes it two straight years for the Purdue men winning conference awards, after Raheem Mostert was named the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Championships last season after winning the 100m and 200m dashes, and running the anchor leg of the silver medal 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Enekwechi is Purdue's first male to win the Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year, as well as Big Ten Field Athlete of the Championships since Bill Hardcastle in 2008.
The conference also announced the sportsmanship winners of each team. Enekwechi was the honoree on the men's side for Purdue, while Devynne Charlton picked up the award for the women.
The Boilermakers are back in action next weekend with the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Jacksonville, Florida. Official draws will be announced later in the week.