WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermakers are set to open the 2018 cross country season Friday. For the second consecutive year, the men's and women's teams will start with the Crusader Open at Sunset Hills Farm. The women's 5,000-meter race is slated to take off at 5 p.m. ET, with the men's 6k to follow at 5:45.
The women's team remains undefeated in its last three appearances at the Open, while the men won two of its last three.
On the women's side, Jenna Halderman took the top time in 2017's edition of the Crusader Open, clocking in at 17:44.6 for the fastest 5k time of her career. The Peru, Indiana native finished fourth, which also was a personal best.
On the men's side, Jacob Hanawalt was the top-placed returner, finishing with a time of 18:24.1.
This year's roster features seven newcomers on the men's team and welcomes five to the women's. The Boilermakers are coming off a strong 2017 cross country campaign, which saw Curt Eckstein unanimously voted the Big Ten Men's Cross Country Freshman of the Year, becoming just the second Boilermaker in program history to win the honor. Eckstein helped the Purdue men's team to a fifth place finish at the Big Ten Championship for the program's highest placing at the meet since 1986.
In addition, each of Purdue's three all-region honorees are back – Emma Benner, Jaret Carpenter and Eckstein. Benner was Purdue's lone qualifier for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, where she finished 120th.
The women's team remains undefeated in its last three appearances at the Open, while the men won two of its last three.
On the women's side, Jenna Halderman took the top time in 2017's edition of the Crusader Open, clocking in at 17:44.6 for the fastest 5k time of her career. The Peru, Indiana native finished fourth, which also was a personal best.
On the men's side, Jacob Hanawalt was the top-placed returner, finishing with a time of 18:24.1.
This year's roster features seven newcomers on the men's team and welcomes five to the women's. The Boilermakers are coming off a strong 2017 cross country campaign, which saw Curt Eckstein unanimously voted the Big Ten Men's Cross Country Freshman of the Year, becoming just the second Boilermaker in program history to win the honor. Eckstein helped the Purdue men's team to a fifth place finish at the Big Ten Championship for the program's highest placing at the meet since 1986.
In addition, each of Purdue's three all-region honorees are back – Emma Benner, Jaret Carpenter and Eckstein. Benner was Purdue's lone qualifier for the NCAA Cross Country Championships, where she finished 120th.