WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue cross country team raced at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Friday afternoon in Madison, Wisconsin.
In a highly-competitive field at Wisconsin's Thomas Zimmer Championships Cross Country Course, the Boilermaker men placed 27th and the women were 29th. Senior Curt Eckstein and sophomore Katelyn Wasson were Purdue's top finishers in the team's fourth meet of the season.
"We had some bright spots individually," Purdue coach John Oliver said. "As a whole, we know we can do better. This is a tough race, it throws a lot of punches. We didn't respond like we know we can, and we have to focus on the day-to-day process of being the best possible team we can be in and out of practice. The meets are just a representation of that. Then, when we race and the punches get thrown, we are ready."
Thirty-seven women's teams and 33 men's teams competed in the event. Along with Purdue and host-Wisconsin, the Big Ten was represented by the men and women from Indiana, Michigan State, and Minnesota and the men from Michigan.
In the men's 8k, Eckstein was 30th overall in 23:52.2. Junior Blake Selm finished in 24:59.7 to place 155th, and he was followed by fellow junior Alec Fleming, in 172nd in 25:08.5. Seniors Bailey McIntire, in 25:09.3 (175th) and Tyler Bowling, in 25:17.4 (180th) were right behind him. Freshmen Ian Shaw (194th, 25:33.3) and Caleb Williams (206th, 25:51.6) and sophomore Andrew Brandt (222nd, 26:13.0) rounded out Purdue's finishers.
Wasson led the women with a time of 21:13.0 to finish 90th overall on the 6k course. Junior Emma Tate was just behind her with a time of 21:17.9 to place 99th. Freshman Emma Squires crossed the finish line in 21:47.6 to finish 169th, and sophomore Payne Turney was 195th in 22:00.1. Sophomore Ellie Tate (203rd, 22:11.9), freshman Lauren Bales (225th, 22:25.6) and senior Megan Slamkowski (241st, 22:43.1) also represented the Old Gold and Black.
Seven runners competed for each team in the championship event, while additional entrants ran in the B race.
In the men's B event, junior Ian Hunter was 19th in 25:05.4, and senior Joey Humes was 27th in 25:18.2. Freshman Bryce Hutchinson (32nd, 25:22.6) and sophomore John Pieper (81st, 26:35.0) also ran for the Boilermakers.
For the women in the B race, freshman Caroline Jordan was 62nd in 22:52.0 and freshman Leah Keesling was 85th in 24:32.6.
In one week, Purdue makes the short trip south to Indianapolis for the Butler Invitational on Friday, October 22.
For more on the Purdue cross country and track & field and program, visit PurdueSports.com/CrossCountry and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
In a highly-competitive field at Wisconsin's Thomas Zimmer Championships Cross Country Course, the Boilermaker men placed 27th and the women were 29th. Senior Curt Eckstein and sophomore Katelyn Wasson were Purdue's top finishers in the team's fourth meet of the season.
"We had some bright spots individually," Purdue coach John Oliver said. "As a whole, we know we can do better. This is a tough race, it throws a lot of punches. We didn't respond like we know we can, and we have to focus on the day-to-day process of being the best possible team we can be in and out of practice. The meets are just a representation of that. Then, when we race and the punches get thrown, we are ready."
Thirty-seven women's teams and 33 men's teams competed in the event. Along with Purdue and host-Wisconsin, the Big Ten was represented by the men and women from Indiana, Michigan State, and Minnesota and the men from Michigan.
In the men's 8k, Eckstein was 30th overall in 23:52.2. Junior Blake Selm finished in 24:59.7 to place 155th, and he was followed by fellow junior Alec Fleming, in 172nd in 25:08.5. Seniors Bailey McIntire, in 25:09.3 (175th) and Tyler Bowling, in 25:17.4 (180th) were right behind him. Freshmen Ian Shaw (194th, 25:33.3) and Caleb Williams (206th, 25:51.6) and sophomore Andrew Brandt (222nd, 26:13.0) rounded out Purdue's finishers.
Wasson led the women with a time of 21:13.0 to finish 90th overall on the 6k course. Junior Emma Tate was just behind her with a time of 21:17.9 to place 99th. Freshman Emma Squires crossed the finish line in 21:47.6 to finish 169th, and sophomore Payne Turney was 195th in 22:00.1. Sophomore Ellie Tate (203rd, 22:11.9), freshman Lauren Bales (225th, 22:25.6) and senior Megan Slamkowski (241st, 22:43.1) also represented the Old Gold and Black.
Seven runners competed for each team in the championship event, while additional entrants ran in the B race.
In the men's B event, junior Ian Hunter was 19th in 25:05.4, and senior Joey Humes was 27th in 25:18.2. Freshman Bryce Hutchinson (32nd, 25:22.6) and sophomore John Pieper (81st, 26:35.0) also ran for the Boilermakers.
For the women in the B race, freshman Caroline Jordan was 62nd in 22:52.0 and freshman Leah Keesling was 85th in 24:32.6.
In one week, Purdue makes the short trip south to Indianapolis for the Butler Invitational on Friday, October 22.
For more on the Purdue cross country and track & field and program, visit PurdueSports.com/CrossCountry and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.