JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Purdue track & field team won two events and recorded three top-10 marks in school history to conclude the Big Ten North Florida Hawkeye Invitational on Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida.
Freshman Kaia Harris led the way with a victory in the women's open discus with the second-best throw in program history, while junior Tamar Greene added a win in the men's triple jump invite. Top-10 times also were set by freshman Marcellus Moore and senior Malcolm Dotson in the men's 200-meter dash.
"We came into this week trying to work on some things, and we got a lot of stuff done," Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. "I was pleased with our sprinters, I thought they did a really good job. I was a little disappointed in our men's 4x100 relay, they couldn't get the stick around, but I was excited to see senior Waseem Williams step on the track for the first time. I also was excited for the performance of Kaia Harris in the discus, that was really significant for her. She won her section, which was good. On both sides, our men's and women's sprinters did really well, and our women's 400-meter hurdles did well. Jail Brewer, he had a monstrous performance in the shot put yesterday. We are right where we want to be in terms of preparation. We're going to head into the IU meet with limited participation as we start to gear up and try to build toward a big meet in Texas in two weeks."
Harris' discus throw of 54.11 meters won her event and ranks No. 2 in program history, as she enters the Purdue record books for the first time.
Greene's triple jump victory came with a jump of 16.00 meters. That would rank No. 6 all-time, if he didn't already hold the No. 5 spot on Purdue's list.
Moore registered a pair of second-place finishes. The first was in the 100-meter dash finals, with a wind-aided time of 10.25 seconds. In the 200-meter invite, he also placed second in 20.55 seconds. That is No. 4 in school history.
Senior Samson Colebrooke was just behind Moore in the 100 finals, as he finished with a wind-aided time of 10.27 seconds.
Dotson placed in the top-five in both the 100 and 200. In the 200, he was fourth in 20.84, which is 10th-fastest in program history. The senior was fifth in the 100 finals with a wind-aided time of 10.42.
In the women's 200-meter dash invite, sophomore Camille Christopher took silver with a wind-aided time of 23.61 seconds. Earlier in the day, she was fourth in the 100 finals, thanks to a wind-aided 11.56.
Freshman Deborah Obadofin claimed bronze in the women's open triple jump. In her first collegiate outdoor meet, she registered a jump of 12.08 meters.
Junior Tessa Sheets continued her strong start to the outdoor season in the pole vault when she cleared 4.00 meters for the second consecutive week. That would rank No. 8 in program history if she didn't already hold the No. 6 spot.
In relay competition, the women's 4x100 placed fourth overall in 45.83.
Additionally, sophomore Justin Becker was fifth in the men's 200 open with a wind-aided mark of 21.44. That came after a ran in the 100 finals and was eighth with a wind-aided 10.60.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Freshman Kaia Harris led the way with a victory in the women's open discus with the second-best throw in program history, while junior Tamar Greene added a win in the men's triple jump invite. Top-10 times also were set by freshman Marcellus Moore and senior Malcolm Dotson in the men's 200-meter dash.
"We came into this week trying to work on some things, and we got a lot of stuff done," Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. "I was pleased with our sprinters, I thought they did a really good job. I was a little disappointed in our men's 4x100 relay, they couldn't get the stick around, but I was excited to see senior Waseem Williams step on the track for the first time. I also was excited for the performance of Kaia Harris in the discus, that was really significant for her. She won her section, which was good. On both sides, our men's and women's sprinters did really well, and our women's 400-meter hurdles did well. Jail Brewer, he had a monstrous performance in the shot put yesterday. We are right where we want to be in terms of preparation. We're going to head into the IU meet with limited participation as we start to gear up and try to build toward a big meet in Texas in two weeks."
Harris' discus throw of 54.11 meters won her event and ranks No. 2 in program history, as she enters the Purdue record books for the first time.
Greene's triple jump victory came with a jump of 16.00 meters. That would rank No. 6 all-time, if he didn't already hold the No. 5 spot on Purdue's list.
Moore registered a pair of second-place finishes. The first was in the 100-meter dash finals, with a wind-aided time of 10.25 seconds. In the 200-meter invite, he also placed second in 20.55 seconds. That is No. 4 in school history.
Senior Samson Colebrooke was just behind Moore in the 100 finals, as he finished with a wind-aided time of 10.27 seconds.
Dotson placed in the top-five in both the 100 and 200. In the 200, he was fourth in 20.84, which is 10th-fastest in program history. The senior was fifth in the 100 finals with a wind-aided time of 10.42.
In the women's 200-meter dash invite, sophomore Camille Christopher took silver with a wind-aided time of 23.61 seconds. Earlier in the day, she was fourth in the 100 finals, thanks to a wind-aided 11.56.
Freshman Deborah Obadofin claimed bronze in the women's open triple jump. In her first collegiate outdoor meet, she registered a jump of 12.08 meters.
Junior Tessa Sheets continued her strong start to the outdoor season in the pole vault when she cleared 4.00 meters for the second consecutive week. That would rank No. 8 in program history if she didn't already hold the No. 6 spot.
In relay competition, the women's 4x100 placed fourth overall in 45.83.
Additionally, sophomore Justin Becker was fifth in the men's 200 open with a wind-aided mark of 21.44. That came after a ran in the 100 finals and was eighth with a wind-aided 10.60.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.