IOWA CITY, Iowa. – The Purdue track & field team began the Larry Wieczorek Invitational with a pair of victories and a top-10 mark in school history in Iowa City, Iowa, on Friday.
Junior Kerris Roberts won the 200-meter dash and sophomore Gage Ernsberger was victorious in the high jump on the opening day of the two-day meet. The Boilermakers posted two runner-up finishes and had five third-place showings on Friday. Additionally, fifth-year senior Kelly Cook Jr. improved his eighth-best weight throw mark in school history.
At its first multi-day meet of the season, Purdue is competing against host-Iowa, fellow Big Ten foe Wisconsin, Baylor, Gonzaga and Northern Iowa at the University of Iowa Recreation Building.
Roberts' 200m premier win came in 24.19 seconds, the third-fastest time in the Big Ten this season. She won by 0.03 seconds and bested the third-place finisher by a 0.05-second margin. Kerris' senior teammate Camille Christopher was fourth overall in 24.58, a time that is now No. 8 in the Big Ten.
Ernsberger opened the day with his first collegiate victory. He cleared 2.00 meters in the high jump on his third and final attempt to earn a new personal-best mark. While Ernsberger was winning the men's high jump competition, junior My'Khiyah Williams was the runner-up in the women's high jump. She cleared 1.67 meters on her second attempt, and finished second overall on misses.
Meanwhile, Cook improved on his eighth-best weight throw mark in school history. He registered a throw of 20.27 meters to finish third, topping his previous Boilermaker-best throw of 20.09m. Senior Johnny Vanos was second in the event with a mark of 20.51m. Vanos' throw is No. 6 in the Big Ten this season, and Cook Jr.'s is seventh-best.
Later in the afternoon, Cook added a third-place finish in the shot put. His mark of 17.99 meters is his best as a Boilermaker and No. 9 in the Big Ten this season.
Junior Safin Wills was third in the long jump. On his third of six attempts, Wills jumped 7.36 meters, a mark that is seventh in the Big Ten. In his first season with the Old Gold and Black, it is Wills' best long jump mark as a Boilermaker.
Senior Antonio Mitchell II also registered one of the best marks in the conference in 2021-22. His 200m time of 21.74 is No. 8 in the league, as he placed fourth in the premier event to conclude Friday night's competition.
In the 200m open race, senior Amir Harris was third in 22.27.
Personal-best marks were recorded by junior Saran Kouyeth (25.00, 200m) and Annamaria Leszczynska (25.48, 200m), sophomore Naomi Campbell (25.37, 200m) and freshman Chris Huisman (15.12m, shot put). Junior Jabari Bryant ran a season-best 600m time of 1:22.20.
The Larry Wieczorek Invitational concludes on Saturday. Purdue's opening events are the men's and women's triple jump and women's pole vault at 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT, and competition concludes with two sections of both the men's and women's 4x400 relay beginning at 5:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. CT.
Fans can follow along with live results via Wayzata Timing, and a live stream will be available on B1G+. Updates from Iowa City also can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Additional information, including the meet schedule and direct links to follow along are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
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.
Junior Kerris Roberts won the 200-meter dash and sophomore Gage Ernsberger was victorious in the high jump on the opening day of the two-day meet. The Boilermakers posted two runner-up finishes and had five third-place showings on Friday. Additionally, fifth-year senior Kelly Cook Jr. improved his eighth-best weight throw mark in school history.
At its first multi-day meet of the season, Purdue is competing against host-Iowa, fellow Big Ten foe Wisconsin, Baylor, Gonzaga and Northern Iowa at the University of Iowa Recreation Building.
Roberts' 200m premier win came in 24.19 seconds, the third-fastest time in the Big Ten this season. She won by 0.03 seconds and bested the third-place finisher by a 0.05-second margin. Kerris' senior teammate Camille Christopher was fourth overall in 24.58, a time that is now No. 8 in the Big Ten.
Ernsberger opened the day with his first collegiate victory. He cleared 2.00 meters in the high jump on his third and final attempt to earn a new personal-best mark. While Ernsberger was winning the men's high jump competition, junior My'Khiyah Williams was the runner-up in the women's high jump. She cleared 1.67 meters on her second attempt, and finished second overall on misses.
Meanwhile, Cook improved on his eighth-best weight throw mark in school history. He registered a throw of 20.27 meters to finish third, topping his previous Boilermaker-best throw of 20.09m. Senior Johnny Vanos was second in the event with a mark of 20.51m. Vanos' throw is No. 6 in the Big Ten this season, and Cook Jr.'s is seventh-best.
Later in the afternoon, Cook added a third-place finish in the shot put. His mark of 17.99 meters is his best as a Boilermaker and No. 9 in the Big Ten this season.
Junior Safin Wills was third in the long jump. On his third of six attempts, Wills jumped 7.36 meters, a mark that is seventh in the Big Ten. In his first season with the Old Gold and Black, it is Wills' best long jump mark as a Boilermaker.
Senior Antonio Mitchell II also registered one of the best marks in the conference in 2021-22. His 200m time of 21.74 is No. 8 in the league, as he placed fourth in the premier event to conclude Friday night's competition.
In the 200m open race, senior Amir Harris was third in 22.27.
Personal-best marks were recorded by junior Saran Kouyeth (25.00, 200m) and Annamaria Leszczynska (25.48, 200m), sophomore Naomi Campbell (25.37, 200m) and freshman Chris Huisman (15.12m, shot put). Junior Jabari Bryant ran a season-best 600m time of 1:22.20.
The Larry Wieczorek Invitational concludes on Saturday. Purdue's opening events are the men's and women's triple jump and women's pole vault at 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. CT, and competition concludes with two sections of both the men's and women's 4x400 relay beginning at 5:15 p.m. ET / 4:15 p.m. CT.
Fans can follow along with live results via Wayzata Timing, and a live stream will be available on B1G+. Updates from Iowa City also can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Additional information, including the meet schedule and direct links to follow along are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
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.