WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Seniors Jaret Carpenter and Janae' Moffitt of the track & field team have been named Purdue's recipients of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, the Big Ten Conference has announced.
Two of the most decorated student-athletes in program history, Carpenter and Moffitt's careers conclude with their names found throughout the Purdue cross country and track & field record books.
Purdue's All-Time Medal Of Honor Recipients | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded annually at each university to the student-athlete demonstrating the greatest proficiency in scholarship and athletics. The conference first endowed a Medal of Honor in 1914, while each school named a male and female student-athlete beginning in 1982.
"I'd like to congratulate Janae' and Jaret on their award recognition," Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. "This recognition is emblematic of their character, not only in athletics but also in the classroom."
"Earning this award is a great honor and I want to thank (Cross Country Assistant) Coach (John) Oliver, Coach Elliot, (Associate Athletics Director) Calvin (Williams), and all of the athletic department support staff for providing the essential resources and opportunities to compete against the nation's best athletes," Carpenter said. "I also want to thank my teammates, without them, none of these accomplishments would have been possible. For this reason, I like to consider this award shared among everyone who has played a role in helping me become the best version of myself throughout my collegiate career. Ever grateful, ever true. I am excited for the future of the program and am proud to be a Boilermaker."
"I am so grateful and humbled to have received this incredible honor," Moffitt said. "Purdue University has not only given me the opportunity to learn and grow as a student-athlete but as a person. I am so thankful for their constant support and encouragement throughout my collegiate career and I am proud to now, and forever be, a Boilermaker."
Carpenter is the 15th member of the Purdue men's track & field program and seventh cross country runner to earn the award, while Moffitt is the seventh woman from the track & field squad to be recognized.
Additionally, 2020 marks the third time in school history that the track & field team has received both male and female awards, joining 1995 and 2016.
Carpenter turned in a record-setting senior season, which began in the fall with the cross country team. He finished 10th overall at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, the best finish by a Boilermaker since 1949, and became the 10th All-American in program history, including the second since 1987. He was named the Big Ten Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, the second time a Purdue runner has earned the award. Carpenter also was recognized with USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, All-Big Ten First Team and Academic All-Big Ten accolades and earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
A Wayzata, Minnesota, native, Carpenter was one of two Boilermakers to break the school record in the indoor mile, with his time of 4:02.65 ranking No. 2 in program history. Additionally, he ran the third-fastest 10,000-meter NCAA Regional time in team history (30:15.3) and the third-fastest 8,000-meter Big Ten Championship time (24:03.5). In his career, Carpenter owns three school records, two set indoors (2019) and one outdoors (2018), and is in the top-six in program history in 10 total events. He also collected outdoor All-America honors in 2018, in addition to the 2019 cross country recognition.
Moffitt also concluded a historic career with a championship-caliber senior campaign in the high jump. She won her fourth overall Big Ten title and third indoors, becoming the third woman in conference history to win three or more indoor high jump titles. Moffitt qualified for her fifth NCAA Championships, where she was seeded seventh in the nation. She was named to the All-Big Ten Team for the seventh time in her career and collected first team honors for the fourth time.
A native of Marion, Indiana, Moffitt is No. 3 in Purdue history in the indoor high jump with a mark of 1.84 meters, set in 2017, and she is tied for No. 4 in the outdoor high jump with a jump of 1.82 meters, which she achieved three times. This year, she broke the meet record in the high jump at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational, with a mark of 1.81 meters on Jan. 17 in Iowa City, Iowa.
For more on the Purdue track and field team, visit PurdueSports.com and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Two of the most decorated student-athletes in program history, Carpenter and Moffitt's careers conclude with their names found throughout the Purdue cross country and track & field record books.
Purdue's All-Time Medal Of Honor Recipients | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded annually at each university to the student-athlete demonstrating the greatest proficiency in scholarship and athletics. The conference first endowed a Medal of Honor in 1914, while each school named a male and female student-athlete beginning in 1982.
"I'd like to congratulate Janae' and Jaret on their award recognition," Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. "This recognition is emblematic of their character, not only in athletics but also in the classroom."
"Earning this award is a great honor and I want to thank (Cross Country Assistant) Coach (John) Oliver, Coach Elliot, (Associate Athletics Director) Calvin (Williams), and all of the athletic department support staff for providing the essential resources and opportunities to compete against the nation's best athletes," Carpenter said. "I also want to thank my teammates, without them, none of these accomplishments would have been possible. For this reason, I like to consider this award shared among everyone who has played a role in helping me become the best version of myself throughout my collegiate career. Ever grateful, ever true. I am excited for the future of the program and am proud to be a Boilermaker."
"I am so grateful and humbled to have received this incredible honor," Moffitt said. "Purdue University has not only given me the opportunity to learn and grow as a student-athlete but as a person. I am so thankful for their constant support and encouragement throughout my collegiate career and I am proud to now, and forever be, a Boilermaker."
Carpenter is the 15th member of the Purdue men's track & field program and seventh cross country runner to earn the award, while Moffitt is the seventh woman from the track & field squad to be recognized.
Additionally, 2020 marks the third time in school history that the track & field team has received both male and female awards, joining 1995 and 2016.
Carpenter turned in a record-setting senior season, which began in the fall with the cross country team. He finished 10th overall at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, the best finish by a Boilermaker since 1949, and became the 10th All-American in program history, including the second since 1987. He was named the Big Ten Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, the second time a Purdue runner has earned the award. Carpenter also was recognized with USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, All-Big Ten First Team and Academic All-Big Ten accolades and earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
A Wayzata, Minnesota, native, Carpenter was one of two Boilermakers to break the school record in the indoor mile, with his time of 4:02.65 ranking No. 2 in program history. Additionally, he ran the third-fastest 10,000-meter NCAA Regional time in team history (30:15.3) and the third-fastest 8,000-meter Big Ten Championship time (24:03.5). In his career, Carpenter owns three school records, two set indoors (2019) and one outdoors (2018), and is in the top-six in program history in 10 total events. He also collected outdoor All-America honors in 2018, in addition to the 2019 cross country recognition.
Moffitt also concluded a historic career with a championship-caliber senior campaign in the high jump. She won her fourth overall Big Ten title and third indoors, becoming the third woman in conference history to win three or more indoor high jump titles. Moffitt qualified for her fifth NCAA Championships, where she was seeded seventh in the nation. She was named to the All-Big Ten Team for the seventh time in her career and collected first team honors for the fourth time.
A native of Marion, Indiana, Moffitt is No. 3 in Purdue history in the indoor high jump with a mark of 1.84 meters, set in 2017, and she is tied for No. 4 in the outdoor high jump with a jump of 1.82 meters, which she achieved three times. This year, she broke the meet record in the high jump at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational, with a mark of 1.81 meters on Jan. 17 in Iowa City, Iowa.
For more on the Purdue track and field team, visit PurdueSports.com and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.