Pretty great first day at Big Ten's. Check it out here! #BoilerUp https://t.co/WfKWHzlGJf
- PurdueTrack&Field (@PurdueTrackXC) May 14, 2016
Friday Results / Saturday Heat Sheets
LINCOLN, Neb. - Chukwuebuka Enekwechi became the first person in Big Ten history to win the men's hammer throw three times as he won his third consecutive title in the event Friday. Enekwechi had his best two throws of the competition on his final two attempts, which vaulted him from second to first and gave him the title. Matthew McClintock finished runner-up in the 10,000-meter race for the second year in a row.
"It was super difficult coming in knowing I'd won two (Big Ten hammer titles) in a row as well as having the meet record," Enekwechi said. "That was all mounted pressure on me. It took the pressure off by throwing 67-meters to open because I knew I had already secured five more throws. I was honestly surprised my last two throws were 68- and 69-meters. I just tried to let loose. It was a decent throw on my fifth attempt and it gave me a relatively early lead, but in throwing that could go either way. (Minnesota's) Sean (Donnelly) could have found a second wind, or he could have locked up with the pressure. I did have some relief to be in the lead, but I knew I wasn't out of striking distance.
"When it was over, I was definitely relieved to win. It's also a huge honor (to be the first person to win three in a row). A lot of guys don't know much about the throws, but the first day with the hammer taking center stage, there's a lot of support from the team, coaches and fans. I was satisfied with the final results. For stuff to go right at this meet three years in a row, I feel there's some luck in play. But everything kind of came together for that moment today and it's something I will be able to look back on and appreciate."
Enekwechi was in second place entering the fifth round of throws when he launched his biggest mark of the day, a distance of 68.35 meters (224-3) to put him in the lead heading into the last round of throws. On his final attempt, the fifth-year senior extended his lead with a toss of 69.39m (227-08). The only man left with a throw was regular season conference leader Sean Donnelly of Minnesota, who was second. His attempt landed outside the sector on the left side, which meant Enekwechi was the winner.
Enekwechi's win was his fourth overall gold medal at Big Ten conference meets. He has now earned 11 conference medals, including at least one in seven of the eight conference championships in which he has competed. His win earned him, and the men's team, 10 points, which gives Enekwechi 101 career points scored at Big Ten meets and he still has the shot put Sunday. His win is the seventh time in the 18 years of Big Ten hammer throw that Purdue has won the event. Enekwechi has three, while Ben Harpenau (2009), John Paul Smolenski (2005), Keith McBride (2004) and Chris Brown (2001) each have one.
"Scoring 101 career Big Ten points is a huge deal," Enekwechi said. "It's a pretty number, but I'd like to improve that number Sunday. I appreciate this stuff more after it happens, I think. Looking back at all the accomplishments, I can relive the moments. But as it's happening, I'm just living in the moment. I think Sunday after it's all done, I'll appreciate everything that has happened this weekend and over my career a bit more."
McClintock competed in the 10k Friday night in cool, dark and windy conditions. The senior ran in fifth-place for about the first 8,000-meters, before he made his move and took the lead. McClintock held a narrow edge until the final lap when he and Michigan's Ben Flanagan were side-by-side. The two went back-and-forth until the last 200m when Flanagan moved ahead. McClintock finished well ahead of the secondary pack - more than nine seconds in front of third place - to earn the silver medal for the second year in a row. McClintock still has the 5,000-meter run ahead of him, which he will compete in Sunday as he looks to defend his title from last year.
In the women's hammer throw, Micaela Hazlewood had a huge personal record coming out of the first flight. The sophomore threw 59.96m (196-09) on her first attempt, which was enough to advance her to finals. That throw ranks third in program history and is exactly six feet shy of the school record. Hazlewood went on to finish ninth in the event, one spot shy of scoring, with a mark that would have finished top five each of the last three years, including second in 2014. Alisha Bahler and Sarah Loesch finished second and third, respectively, in the first flight of the hammer. Bahler ended up taking 11th and Loesch 13th with marks both over 174 feet.
Tim Deal and Matthew Garrison opened up in the decathlon Friday with the 100-meter dash, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400m dash. After the first day of events, Tim Deal is fifth with 3,917 aided by strong efforts in the 100- and 400-meter dashes, while Garrison is sixth with 3,903. In the 100m, Deal ran a wind-aided (+3.5) time of 10.71 seconds to earn 926 points. In the 400m, the last event of the day for the decathletes, Deal ran the fastest time in the field, crossing the finish line in 48.82 seconds to earn 870 points. Garrison had three events scoring at least 850 points. In the high jump, he cleared 2.06m (6-09.00) to earn 859 points, his best effort of the day. He opened with a wind-aided (+2.9) 100m dash time of 11.03 seconds to earn 854 points. He then leapt a wind-aided (+3.4) 7.17m (23-06.25) to also earn 854 points.
Sharise Lund and Jeremy Craven ran in the women's and men's 10k, respectively. Craven finished 16th with a time of 30:48.11, while Lund wrapped up the day by taking 15th.
The men are in first place after the first day with 18 points. The women are yet to score, but have competed in just two scoring events.
Saturday's action begins at 10:30 a.m. ET with the decathlon 110-meter hurdles. The day's action will run until 7:45 p.m.