WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue track & field team began the indoor season with 15 event wins and three top-10 marks in program history at the Fred Wilt Open on Saturday at Lambert Fieldhouse in West Lafayette, Indiana.
In their first home meet since January 2020, the Boilermakers won 15 of the 21 events they competed in, with seven wins by newcomers making their collegiate or Purdue debuts. The three top-10 marks in the school record books were achieved by a sophomore, a freshman and a senior transfer. Additionally, eight personal-best marks were set by returning student-athletes.
"First of all, I'm just excited that we were able to get on the track," Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. "I was really excited and really pleased with some of the good results that we showed today. I think that the kids were really amped up, they had a lot of bottled-up energy, and it was good to see them show it today."
In its season-opening contest, 18 Boilermakers made their collegiate debuts, and two transfers donned the Old Gold and Black for the first time. Additionally, nine returning student-athletes competed in a specific event for the first time.
Top-10 marks in school history were recorded by freshman Praise Aniamaka, sophomore K'Ja Talley and senior Kelly Cook Jr. Talley led the team with two victories on Saturday.
As he made his collegiate debut, Aniamaka won the triple jump with a mark of 15.75 meters. The seventh-best jump in program history came on Aniamaka's second of six attempts. Additionally, senior Tamar Greene was second with a jump of 15.56m, which would be No. 9 all-time if Greene didn't already hold the second-best mark.
Talley improved on her 60-meter hurdles time, which continues to rank No. 8 in Purdue history. She won the event in 8.44 seconds to best her previous PR of 8.46 set during her freshman campaign. Fellow sophomore Nikia Smith was second with a personal-best time of 8.52 seconds.
In one of the first events of the meet, and his first event as a Boilermaker, Cooke Jr. earned a weight throw mark of 20.09 meters, the eighth-best throw in the record books. He was second to junior Johnny Vanos, who had a winning throw of 20.42m. That would be No. 6 all-time, but Vanos already owns the sixth-best mark of 20.47m set a year ago.
Junior Jessica Bray led the way in the pole vault, as Purdue claimed the top five spots in the event. Bray cleared 4.10 meters for the win with a mark that would be No. 6 all-time if she didn't already have the fourth-best clearance of 4.17m, set in 2020.
Junior Kerris Roberts won the 60-meter dash final with a time of 7.51 seconds. As she improved on her prelim time by 0.09, her finals mark would be No. 10 in program history if she wasn't already seventh, in 7.47 set last season. Also in the event, Smith (7.74) and junior Saran Kouyeth (7.56) set PRs as the Boilermakers finished first-fourth.
Talley's second win of the day was in the 300m, as Purdue owned the top five places. Talley finished in 39.45, as she and her four teammates ran in the event for the first time in their collegiate careers.
To go along with his top-10 performance in the weight throw, Cook added a win in the shot put. His mark of 16.95 meters was ahead of Vanos' 16.25m in second.
Senior Alexis Zatta, the reigning Big Ten champion in the high jump, picked up right where she left off a year ago with a victory to lead a one-two-three finish. Zatta won with a clearance of 1.69m, while sophomore My'Khiyah Williams (1.69m) set a PR and junior Mackenzie Barrett (1.65m) tied her personal best.
Freshman Shianne Dacosta won the 500 in 1:15.47. As she made her collegiate debut, Purdue was first and second in the event. First-year runner Zamen Siyoum won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.23 seconds, cutting 0.09 seconds off his prelim time.
The 600 winner was freshman Mason Wolfe, as he crossed the finish line in 1:22.20. Freshman Grant Gogel tied for the pole vault win thanks to a clearance of 4.68 meters in his debut.
Purdue had all three runners in the 800, and it was freshman Haley Mansfield's 2:22.36 which was the winning time. The Boilermakers also had both competitors in the triple jump, with sophomore Deborah Obadofin taking first with a jump of 11.63m.
The meet concluded with a 4x400 victory in 3:23.19.
Sophomore Emily Kim added a personal-best jump in the long jump thanks to a mark of 5.32 meters.
Up next, the Boilermakers remain at home for the Gene Edmonds Open on Saturday, January 8. The meet will be the team's final competition at Lambert Fieldhouse this season.
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.
In their first home meet since January 2020, the Boilermakers won 15 of the 21 events they competed in, with seven wins by newcomers making their collegiate or Purdue debuts. The three top-10 marks in the school record books were achieved by a sophomore, a freshman and a senior transfer. Additionally, eight personal-best marks were set by returning student-athletes.
"First of all, I'm just excited that we were able to get on the track," Purdue coach Norbert Elliott said. "I was really excited and really pleased with some of the good results that we showed today. I think that the kids were really amped up, they had a lot of bottled-up energy, and it was good to see them show it today."
In its season-opening contest, 18 Boilermakers made their collegiate debuts, and two transfers donned the Old Gold and Black for the first time. Additionally, nine returning student-athletes competed in a specific event for the first time.
Top-10 marks in school history were recorded by freshman Praise Aniamaka, sophomore K'Ja Talley and senior Kelly Cook Jr. Talley led the team with two victories on Saturday.
🎥 Coach Elliott recaps today's Fred Wilt Open, as the Boilermakers open the 2021-22 season at Lambert Fieldhouse.#BoilerUp 🚂 pic.twitter.com/gPK3sElzsi
— Purdue Track & Field / Cross Country (@PurdueTrackXC) December 4, 2021
As he made his collegiate debut, Aniamaka won the triple jump with a mark of 15.75 meters. The seventh-best jump in program history came on Aniamaka's second of six attempts. Additionally, senior Tamar Greene was second with a jump of 15.56m, which would be No. 9 all-time if Greene didn't already hold the second-best mark.
Talley improved on her 60-meter hurdles time, which continues to rank No. 8 in Purdue history. She won the event in 8.44 seconds to best her previous PR of 8.46 set during her freshman campaign. Fellow sophomore Nikia Smith was second with a personal-best time of 8.52 seconds.
In one of the first events of the meet, and his first event as a Boilermaker, Cooke Jr. earned a weight throw mark of 20.09 meters, the eighth-best throw in the record books. He was second to junior Johnny Vanos, who had a winning throw of 20.42m. That would be No. 6 all-time, but Vanos already owns the sixth-best mark of 20.47m set a year ago.
Junior Jessica Bray led the way in the pole vault, as Purdue claimed the top five spots in the event. Bray cleared 4.10 meters for the win with a mark that would be No. 6 all-time if she didn't already have the fourth-best clearance of 4.17m, set in 2020.
Junior Kerris Roberts won the 60-meter dash final with a time of 7.51 seconds. As she improved on her prelim time by 0.09, her finals mark would be No. 10 in program history if she wasn't already seventh, in 7.47 set last season. Also in the event, Smith (7.74) and junior Saran Kouyeth (7.56) set PRs as the Boilermakers finished first-fourth.
Talley's second win of the day was in the 300m, as Purdue owned the top five places. Talley finished in 39.45, as she and her four teammates ran in the event for the first time in their collegiate careers.
To go along with his top-10 performance in the weight throw, Cook added a win in the shot put. His mark of 16.95 meters was ahead of Vanos' 16.25m in second.
Senior Alexis Zatta, the reigning Big Ten champion in the high jump, picked up right where she left off a year ago with a victory to lead a one-two-three finish. Zatta won with a clearance of 1.69m, while sophomore My'Khiyah Williams (1.69m) set a PR and junior Mackenzie Barrett (1.65m) tied her personal best.
Freshman Shianne Dacosta won the 500 in 1:15.47. As she made her collegiate debut, Purdue was first and second in the event. First-year runner Zamen Siyoum won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.23 seconds, cutting 0.09 seconds off his prelim time.
The 600 winner was freshman Mason Wolfe, as he crossed the finish line in 1:22.20. Freshman Grant Gogel tied for the pole vault win thanks to a clearance of 4.68 meters in his debut.
Purdue had all three runners in the 800, and it was freshman Haley Mansfield's 2:22.36 which was the winning time. The Boilermakers also had both competitors in the triple jump, with sophomore Deborah Obadofin taking first with a jump of 11.63m.
The meet concluded with a 4x400 victory in 3:23.19.
Sophomore Emily Kim added a personal-best jump in the long jump thanks to a mark of 5.32 meters.
Up next, the Boilermakers remain at home for the Gene Edmonds Open on Saturday, January 8. The meet will be the team's final competition at Lambert Fieldhouse this season.
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.