CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Purdue track & field team began competition at the 2021 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a school record and six top-10 times in program history on Friday in Champaign, Illinois.
Freshman Ian Hunter broke the Purdue record in the 1,500-meter and was one of six runners to register a top-10 time in program history on day one of the three-day conference championship meet. Junior Curt Eckstein placed fifth overall in the 10,000 as six Boilermakers qualified for finals in their events, while sophomore Isaiah Martin is fourth and senior Rebecca Coan seventh after the first day of competition in the decathlon and heptathlon, respectively. Additionally, 13 personal-best marks were set at Illinois' Gary R. Wieneke Track at Demirjian Park.
"We had a very good showing today," Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. "Our distance runners performed superbly, with five top-10 marks, including Ian Hunter establishing a new school record in the 1,500. We had several athletes advance to the finals, and that's an important thing in this competition, to advance to the next round. Two qualified in the women's 400 hurdles, and our sprints went really well and according to plan. Isaiah Martin and Rebecca Coan had a really solid day to begin the meet, and they're both in really good position to score. Isaiah had five solid events across the board, with two PRs, and Rebecca opened with a PR in the 100 hurdles and continued that momentum throughout the day with two more PRs. I look forward to a good, strong showing for their final day tomorrow."
Along with Hunter's record, Eckstein, juniors Kyle Griffith and Megan Slamkowski and sophomores Tyler Bowling and Camille Christopher recorded top-10 times in Purdue history. Christopher, seniors Samson Colebrooke and Malcolm Dotson and freshmen Anna Maria Leszczynska, Marcellus Moore and K'Ja Talley all advanced to the finals in their respective events.
"Overall it was a really good, solid day. I've been talking to our student-athletes time and time again that they're ready and that they're coached well, and we're seeing some good results so far."
Hunter's record came in the 1,500 with a time of 3:45.61, which bested a mark that lasted four days shy of 48 years. As he moved up from No. 7 in the record books, Hunter beat Galen Hackler's No. 1 time of 3:45.67, set on May 19, 1973.
Also in the 1,500, Griffith finished in 3:45.84 to set the third-fastest time in school history. Just five Boilermakers in history have run the 1,500 in under 3:46.00, with three of them, Hunter, Griffith and senior Joey Humes, achieving the feat in the last two weeks. Prior to May 1, 2021, the last time a Purdue runner was faster than 3:46.00 was 1987.
Eckstein was fifth in the 10,000 in 29:11.52. The third-fastest time in school history, the junior spent the entire race in the lead pack of runners in the 25-lap contest. Bowling also earned a top-10 finish and a top-10 mark, as he was 10th in 29.42.17 to earn the ninth-fastest time in program history.
In her inaugural collegiate running of the 10,000, Slamkowski etched her name in the record books in any event for the first time in her career. Her time of 34:42.32 is No. 5 in school history and the fastest by a Boilermaker since 2017. Slamkowski finished 10th on Friday night.
Christopher qualified for the 200-meter dash final with a top-10 all-time mark. She finished in 23.71, which ranks No. 7 in Purdue history, with a PR by 0.02 seconds. Christopher was seventh overall and third in the second heat and will race in the final on Sunday.
All three Boilermakers reached the men's 200 final. Colebrooke ran the third-fastest qualifying time, with a season-best 20.77. Dotson and Moore each won their heats, Dotson in 21.07 and Moore in 21.08. In a tight finish for the ninth and final spot, Moore edged out two finishers who crossed the line in 21.09. The Purdue trio will race on Sunday in the nine-man final.
Martin and Coan got the meet started with strong showings on the opening day of the decathlon and heptathlon, respectively. Martin had two PRs and a season-best time and sits in fourth place with 4,000 points after five decathlon events, while Coan had three PRs in four events and is in seventh with 3,176 points in the heptathlon.
Martin's Friday began with a personal-best time of 11.04 in the 100, and he closed it with a collegiate-record clearance of 1.94 in the high jump and a season-best time of 49.34 in the 400.
For Coan, her personal-record 100 hurdles time of 14.44 opened the day, and she followed it up with another PR in the high jump as she cleared 1.68 meters on her second attempt. Coan finished the 200 in 26.19 to conclude the day with a lifetime best.
Additionally on Friday night, freshman Payne Turney registered a PR of 4:29.59 in the 1,500.
The 2021 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships continues on Saturday, May 15, with multi events at 11:30 a.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. CT, field events at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT, and running events at 5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT. The meet concludes on Sunday, May 16, with field events at noon ET / 11 a.m. CT and running events at 1:45 p.m. ET / 12:45 p.m. CT.
Fans can follow all the action with live results, free live streams on BTN+ of both track and field events, and the event schedule. Direct links are available on the track & field schedule page on PurdueSports.com/TrackField and on the Big Ten's Championships Central page. Additional updates can be found by following the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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 Ian Hunter broke the Purdue record in the 1,500-meter and was one of six runners to register a top-10 time in program history on day one of the three-day conference championship meet. Junior Curt Eckstein placed fifth overall in the 10,000 as six Boilermakers qualified for finals in their events, while sophomore Isaiah Martin is fourth and senior Rebecca Coan seventh after the first day of competition in the decathlon and heptathlon, respectively. Additionally, 13 personal-best marks were set at Illinois' Gary R. Wieneke Track at Demirjian Park.
"We had a very good showing today," Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. "Our distance runners performed superbly, with five top-10 marks, including Ian Hunter establishing a new school record in the 1,500. We had several athletes advance to the finals, and that's an important thing in this competition, to advance to the next round. Two qualified in the women's 400 hurdles, and our sprints went really well and according to plan. Isaiah Martin and Rebecca Coan had a really solid day to begin the meet, and they're both in really good position to score. Isaiah had five solid events across the board, with two PRs, and Rebecca opened with a PR in the 100 hurdles and continued that momentum throughout the day with two more PRs. I look forward to a good, strong showing for their final day tomorrow."
Along with Hunter's record, Eckstein, juniors Kyle Griffith and Megan Slamkowski and sophomores Tyler Bowling and Camille Christopher recorded top-10 times in Purdue history. Christopher, seniors Samson Colebrooke and Malcolm Dotson and freshmen Anna Maria Leszczynska, Marcellus Moore and K'Ja Talley all advanced to the finals in their respective events.
"Overall it was a really good, solid day. I've been talking to our student-athletes time and time again that they're ready and that they're coached well, and we're seeing some good results so far."
Hunter's record came in the 1,500 with a time of 3:45.61, which bested a mark that lasted four days shy of 48 years. As he moved up from No. 7 in the record books, Hunter beat Galen Hackler's No. 1 time of 3:45.67, set on May 19, 1973.
𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 for Ian Hunter!! Ian breaks the 48-year-old Purdue record in the 1,500 with a time of 3:45.61!
— Purdue Track & Field / Cross Country (@PurdueTrackXC) May 15, 2021
📊 https://t.co/JJdPMFv8k0
📺🆓 https://t.co/j7t86IBFDU#BoilerUp 🚂 #B1GTF pic.twitter.com/QPyYYuO7hX
Also in the 1,500, Griffith finished in 3:45.84 to set the third-fastest time in school history. Just five Boilermakers in history have run the 1,500 in under 3:46.00, with three of them, Hunter, Griffith and senior Joey Humes, achieving the feat in the last two weeks. Prior to May 1, 2021, the last time a Purdue runner was faster than 3:46.00 was 1987.
Eckstein was fifth in the 10,000 in 29:11.52. The third-fastest time in school history, the junior spent the entire race in the lead pack of runners in the 25-lap contest. Bowling also earned a top-10 finish and a top-10 mark, as he was 10th in 29.42.17 to earn the ninth-fastest time in program history.
In her inaugural collegiate running of the 10,000, Slamkowski etched her name in the record books in any event for the first time in her career. Her time of 34:42.32 is No. 5 in school history and the fastest by a Boilermaker since 2017. Slamkowski finished 10th on Friday night.
Christopher qualified for the 200-meter dash final with a top-10 all-time mark. She finished in 23.71, which ranks No. 7 in Purdue history, with a PR by 0.02 seconds. Christopher was seventh overall and third in the second heat and will race in the final on Sunday.
All three Boilermakers reached the men's 200 final. Colebrooke ran the third-fastest qualifying time, with a season-best 20.77. Dotson and Moore each won their heats, Dotson in 21.07 and Moore in 21.08. In a tight finish for the ninth and final spot, Moore edged out two finishers who crossed the line in 21.09. The Purdue trio will race on Sunday in the nine-man final.
Martin and Coan got the meet started with strong showings on the opening day of the decathlon and heptathlon, respectively. Martin had two PRs and a season-best time and sits in fourth place with 4,000 points after five decathlon events, while Coan had three PRs in four events and is in seventh with 3,176 points in the heptathlon.
Martin's Friday began with a personal-best time of 11.04 in the 100, and he closed it with a collegiate-record clearance of 1.94 in the high jump and a season-best time of 49.34 in the 400.
For Coan, her personal-record 100 hurdles time of 14.44 opened the day, and she followed it up with another PR in the high jump as she cleared 1.68 meters on her second attempt. Coan finished the 200 in 26.19 to conclude the day with a lifetime best.
Additionally on Friday night, freshman Payne Turney registered a PR of 4:29.59 in the 1,500.
The 2021 Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships continues on Saturday, May 15, with multi events at 11:30 a.m. ET / 10:30 a.m. CT, field events at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT, and running events at 5 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT. The meet concludes on Sunday, May 16, with field events at noon ET / 11 a.m. CT and running events at 1:45 p.m. ET / 12:45 p.m. CT.
Fans can follow all the action with live results, free live streams on BTN+ of both track and field events, and the event schedule. Direct links are available on the track & field schedule page on PurdueSports.com/TrackField and on the Big Ten's Championships Central page. Additional updates can be found by following the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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.