T&F Set to Open NCAA Championships

March 10, 2016

Women's Entries / Men's Entries / Timing Schedule and Live Results / Meet Notes

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Fifteen student athletes are set to compete in nine events at the NCAA Championships Friday and Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama. The Boilermakers qualified for two relays, two throwing events, two jumping events and three other track events. Friday's action is set to begin a 6 p.m. ET.

THE COMPETITION
The 13th ranked men and 16th ranked women take on the top 16 individuals in each event, aside from relay events which are top 12, across the country. The meet is scored 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 in each event, with the winner scoring 10 points, runner-up eight, third place six, and so on. The team with the most combined points is crowed the national champion.

LAST YEAR'S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi finished third in the men's weight throw to score six points for the Boilermakers. He was the lone qualifier on the men's side and led them to a t-31 finish. Devynne Charlton qualified in the 60-meter hurdles and finished 12th. The women did not score a point at the meet.

BOILERMAKERS IN THE MEET
The Boilermakers qualified in nine events, with five on the women's side and four on the men's side.

- Enekwechi qualified in the shot put and weight throw. The senior is a four-time weight throw qualifier and has finished third three-consecutive years. This is the second time he has qualified for the indoor meet in the shot put. He was a second team All-American in the meet in 2014. Enekwechi is No. 1 in the NCAA in the weight throw and No. 6 in the shot put.
- Brionna Thomas qualified in the 400m dash and as a member of the 4x400m relay. Thomas is making her first trip to the indoor NCAA meet, after qualifying in the 4x100m and 4x400m relays outdoors last season. Thomas had the No. 13 time in the country in the 400m this season.
- Savannah Carson qualified for the long jump. She is making her first trip to the indoor national meet, after qualifying for the 4x100m outdoors last season. Carson's long jump mark is No. 9 in the country.
- Katie Hoevet is making her first NCAA Championships appearance. The senior has the nation's 11th fastest mile.
- Charlton is making her second straight trip to the indoor NCAA meet and also qualified for the outdoor meet in the 100m hurdles and 4x100m relay last year. Charlton is tied for the nation's fastest 60m hurdles time this season, after winning the Big Ten championship two weeks ago.
- Anaquan Peterson qualified in the triple jump. The junior is making his first NCAA Championships trip and is ranked 10th nationally.
- The Big Ten champion women's 4x400m relay team of Thomas, Aarin Jones, Carmiesha Cox and Symone Black qualified as the No. 7 team in the country. Taylor Dunlap is also with the group as the alternate.
- The men's 4x400m relay team of Nicholas Parks, Kyle Webb, Kinard Rolle and Shawndail McLaren qualified for the meet with the No. 11 time in the country. Obokhare Ikpefan is the team's alternate.

COVERAGE
The two-day meet will be streamed live on ESPN3 Friday and Saturday. Friday's coverage is set to begin 6:25 p.m. ET, while Saturday's broadcast starts at 4:55. ESPN2 will air the meet Sunday at 7 p.m. Live scoring of the meet is also available at http://www.ncaa.com/di-mens-and-womens-track-field-championship-results.

Fans can follow the Purdue action on Twitter @PurdueTrackXC. A full recap will be posted to PurdueSports.com after each day of the meet.