WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Senior Brionna Thomas was named the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Week for the second time in a month, the conference office announced Wednesday. Thomas was part of two school records, a Drake Relays record and won three events at the prestigious meet over the weekend.
Thomas ran a season-best 22.99 seconds to win the 200-meter dash at the meet. That time is second in the Big Ten this year and 27th in the country. In the relays, Thomas was part of the winning group in the 4x200- and 4x400-meters. The 4x200-meter relay team, with teammates sophomore Chloe Abbott, senior Savannah Roberson and junior Yakira Love, won by 5.22 seconds with a school-record time of 1:32.24. That time is the second fastest in the country this year and the fastest at the Drake Relays since 1989.
The 4x400-meter relay wrapped up the day. Thomas ran the second leg and, with teammates senior Symone Black, Abbott and senior Jahneya Mitchell, clinched Purdue's first Hy-Vee Cup with the win. The team finished with a Drake Relays and school record time of 3:28.42. That is the second-fastest time in the NCAA this year.
The honor is the second of Thomas' career and the seventh for a Purdue woman this outdoor season.
The Boilermakers are back in action next week as they head to Bloomington, Indiana, for the Big Ten Outdoor Championships.