WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue track & field alumnus and current volunteer assistant coach Chukwuebuka Enekwechi placed 12th overall in the men's shot put final at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Enekwechi recorded a throw of 19.74 meters to earn the 12th-place finish in the final. The mark came on his third and final attempt. Enekwechi had a throw of 18.87 meters on his second attempt after he began the final with a foul. The final was contest on Thursday, August 5, in Tokyo, at the Olympic Stadium.
A 2016 Purdue graduate, Enekwechi became the second Purdue track & field alumni to compete in an Olympic final at the 2020 Tokyo Games. On August 2, Devynne Charlton placed sixth in the women's 100-meter hurdles final.
His shot put final berth came after he had a throw of 21.16 meters in the qualification round. That was seventh overall and fourth in Group B.
Enekwechi, who competed for Nigeria, made his Olympics debut in Tokyo.
In his Purdue career from 2013-16, Enekwechi was a 12-time All-American and five-time NCAA medalist. He is the school record-holder in the shot put (20.37m) and hammer throw (72.77m) outdoors and shot put (19.95m) and weight throw (24.39m) indoors. Enekwechi's NCAA medals include two silvers in 2016, in the shot put outdoors and in the weight throw indoors. He won 12 Big Ten medals, including four golds, and was a three-time Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year.
Currently, Enekwechi is a volunteer assistant coach with Purdue's throwers along with competing professionally.
Charlton and Enekwechi are two of five Purdue track & field athletes, and one of a department-record 10 total current, past or future Boilermakers, to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
Recently named a team captain for the United States Track & Field team, Kara (Patterson) Winger was eighth in Group A and 17th overall in the javelin with a throw of 59.71m on August 3. A 2009 Purdue graduate, Winger is the first female athlete in Purdue history and second overall to participate in four Olympic Games.
Making her Olympics debut, Camille Buscomb placed 14th in her heat and 29th overall in the 5,000m on July 30 for New Zealand. A Boilermaker from 2009-11, she also will run in the 10,000m final on Saturday, August 7, at 6:45 a.m. ET.
2021 Purdue graduate Samson Colebrooke ran in the 100m and earned a time of 10.33 in the heats on July 31. Competing for The Bahamas, Colebrooke was seventh in his heat and 44th overall in his first career Olympics appearance.
A complete preview of Purdue's track & field representatives can be found at PurdueSports.com/TrackField. NBC and NBCOlympics.com are broadcasting the Games. Additional information on how to follow along, the complete schedule and more can be found at PurdueSports.com/Olympics and 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.
Enekwechi recorded a throw of 19.74 meters to earn the 12th-place finish in the final. The mark came on his third and final attempt. Enekwechi had a throw of 18.87 meters on his second attempt after he began the final with a foul. The final was contest on Thursday, August 5, in Tokyo, at the Olympic Stadium.
A 2016 Purdue graduate, Enekwechi became the second Purdue track & field alumni to compete in an Olympic final at the 2020 Tokyo Games. On August 2, Devynne Charlton placed sixth in the women's 100-meter hurdles final.
His shot put final berth came after he had a throw of 21.16 meters in the qualification round. That was seventh overall and fourth in Group B.
Congrats, @TheChukSays!!#BoilerUp 🚂 #OlympiansMadeHere pic.twitter.com/gy3A9UNC3n
— Purdue Track & Field / Cross Country (@PurdueTrackXC) August 5, 2021
Enekwechi, who competed for Nigeria, made his Olympics debut in Tokyo.
In his Purdue career from 2013-16, Enekwechi was a 12-time All-American and five-time NCAA medalist. He is the school record-holder in the shot put (20.37m) and hammer throw (72.77m) outdoors and shot put (19.95m) and weight throw (24.39m) indoors. Enekwechi's NCAA medals include two silvers in 2016, in the shot put outdoors and in the weight throw indoors. He won 12 Big Ten medals, including four golds, and was a three-time Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year.
Currently, Enekwechi is a volunteer assistant coach with Purdue's throwers along with competing professionally.
Charlton and Enekwechi are two of five Purdue track & field athletes, and one of a department-record 10 total current, past or future Boilermakers, to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
Recently named a team captain for the United States Track & Field team, Kara (Patterson) Winger was eighth in Group A and 17th overall in the javelin with a throw of 59.71m on August 3. A 2009 Purdue graduate, Winger is the first female athlete in Purdue history and second overall to participate in four Olympic Games.
Making her Olympics debut, Camille Buscomb placed 14th in her heat and 29th overall in the 5,000m on July 30 for New Zealand. A Boilermaker from 2009-11, she also will run in the 10,000m final on Saturday, August 7, at 6:45 a.m. ET.
2021 Purdue graduate Samson Colebrooke ran in the 100m and earned a time of 10.33 in the heats on July 31. Competing for The Bahamas, Colebrooke was seventh in his heat and 44th overall in his first career Olympics appearance.
A complete preview of Purdue's track & field representatives can be found at PurdueSports.com/TrackField. NBC and NBCOlympics.com are broadcasting the Games. Additional information on how to follow along, the complete schedule and more can be found at PurdueSports.com/Olympics and 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.