WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For the first time since late February, 2020, the Purdue track & field team returns to competition when they open the 2021 indoor season at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational on Saturday, January 16, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Boilermakers will compete against host-Michigan, Indiana, Michigan State and Ohio State at the U-M Indoor Track Building.
The men's competition will begin 10 a.m. ET, while the women compete at 3:30 p.m. The meet is scheduled to run until approximately 1 p.m. for the men and 6:30 p.m. for the women. Fans can follow all the action with live results, video streams and the event schedule at MGoBlue.com's Meet Central page.
"We are looking forward to getting the season started this weekend," Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. "It's been a quick turnaround since we returned to practice together as a team, so we'll have a smaller group traveling, but this will be a good opportunity to get back on the track and compete for the first time this year."
Ten Purdue men will compete in five events and seven women will compete in seven events in the season-opening meet. Four Boilermakers are expected to make their collegiate debuts on Saturday, as Andrew Brandt runs in the 3,000-meter, LJ Hill competes in the long jump, K'Ja Talley runs in the 60-meter hurdles and the 200 and Adam Wiatr competes in the 60-meter dash.
A Look Back at 2019-20
The Boilermakers had a record-setting 2019-20 cross country and indoor track & field season. The team earned a total of seven All-America accolades and 10 All-Big Ten honors, broke five school records and set one Big Ten record. The men's cross country team collected its highest national ranking in program history, at No. 9, while the men's 60-meter dash squad was ranked No. 1 in the final national rankings. Elliott also was named the Great Lakes Region Men's Coach of the Year.
The men's cross country team placed 11th at the NCAA Championships, its best finish since 1950, and won the squad's first-ever regional title. On the indoor track, Purdue won three individual Big Ten titles, one silver medal and five bronze medals. Five Boilermakers earned NCAA berths as one of the top 16 competitors in the nation in their respective events.
Last Season's Indoor Opener
The Boilermakers opened the 2019-20 indoor season with 10 victories at the Fred Wilt Open on Dec. 7, 2019, at Lambert Fieldhouse. Four of their 10 victories came from freshmen and three from sophomores, while seven of the 10 wins also came with a second-place finish. Additionally, three personal-best marks were set by returning student-athletes.
Then-freshman Kerris Roberts recorded one of Purdue's 10 victories, as she won the 60-meter dash with a 7.53, the seventh-fastest time in program history at the time.
Purdue's Last Trip to Ann Arbor
The Simmons-Harvey Invite marks Purdue's first visit to Ann Arbor since the 2019 Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Purdue men placed fourth, with 70 points, while the women were 10th with 25 points. It was the men's second top-10 finish since 2011 and the best showing since the squad was fourth in 2010. Five Boilermakers earned All-Big Ten accolades in 2019 at the U-M Indoor Track Building, including Jalil Brewer, who will compete in the shot put on Saturday.
Up Next: at Indiana
Purdue is back in action next weekend when it travels to in-state rival Indiana, on Jan. 23. The meet is slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. ET, and the Boilermakers are scheduled to compete against Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern at Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The Boilermakers will compete against host-Michigan, Indiana, Michigan State and Ohio State at the U-M Indoor Track Building.
The men's competition will begin 10 a.m. ET, while the women compete at 3:30 p.m. The meet is scheduled to run until approximately 1 p.m. for the men and 6:30 p.m. for the women. Fans can follow all the action with live results, video streams and the event schedule at MGoBlue.com's Meet Central page.
"We are looking forward to getting the season started this weekend," Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. "It's been a quick turnaround since we returned to practice together as a team, so we'll have a smaller group traveling, but this will be a good opportunity to get back on the track and compete for the first time this year."
Ten Purdue men will compete in five events and seven women will compete in seven events in the season-opening meet. Four Boilermakers are expected to make their collegiate debuts on Saturday, as Andrew Brandt runs in the 3,000-meter, LJ Hill competes in the long jump, K'Ja Talley runs in the 60-meter hurdles and the 200 and Adam Wiatr competes in the 60-meter dash.
A Look Back at 2019-20
The Boilermakers had a record-setting 2019-20 cross country and indoor track & field season. The team earned a total of seven All-America accolades and 10 All-Big Ten honors, broke five school records and set one Big Ten record. The men's cross country team collected its highest national ranking in program history, at No. 9, while the men's 60-meter dash squad was ranked No. 1 in the final national rankings. Elliott also was named the Great Lakes Region Men's Coach of the Year.
The men's cross country team placed 11th at the NCAA Championships, its best finish since 1950, and won the squad's first-ever regional title. On the indoor track, Purdue won three individual Big Ten titles, one silver medal and five bronze medals. Five Boilermakers earned NCAA berths as one of the top 16 competitors in the nation in their respective events.
Last Season's Indoor Opener
The Boilermakers opened the 2019-20 indoor season with 10 victories at the Fred Wilt Open on Dec. 7, 2019, at Lambert Fieldhouse. Four of their 10 victories came from freshmen and three from sophomores, while seven of the 10 wins also came with a second-place finish. Additionally, three personal-best marks were set by returning student-athletes.
Then-freshman Kerris Roberts recorded one of Purdue's 10 victories, as she won the 60-meter dash with a 7.53, the seventh-fastest time in program history at the time.
Purdue's Last Trip to Ann Arbor
The Simmons-Harvey Invite marks Purdue's first visit to Ann Arbor since the 2019 Big Ten Indoor Track & Field Championships. The Purdue men placed fourth, with 70 points, while the women were 10th with 25 points. It was the men's second top-10 finish since 2011 and the best showing since the squad was fourth in 2010. Five Boilermakers earned All-Big Ten accolades in 2019 at the U-M Indoor Track Building, including Jalil Brewer, who will compete in the shot put on Saturday.
Up Next: at Indiana
Purdue is back in action next weekend when it travels to in-state rival Indiana, on Jan. 23. The meet is slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. ET, and the Boilermakers are scheduled to compete against Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Northwestern at Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.