GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Sophomore Jabari Bryant entered the Purdue track & field top-10 list on the opening day of the Florida Relays on Friday in Gainesville, Florida.
On a warm, sun-soaked day at James G. Pressly Stadium, Bryant ran the seventh-fastest 400 meter hurdles time in school history as the Boilermakers added one personal-record time, a collegiate-best-tying time and several other marks that are among the best in the Big Ten this season.
Bryant ran the 400m hurdles in 51.80 to place 15th overall with the fourth-fastest mark in the Big Ten this year. As he entered the record books at No. 7 in Purdue history, Bryant is the second Boilermaker with a top-10 time in the event since 2016 and just the fourth since 1987.
Junior Camille Christopher tied her personal-best time in the 200m. She finished in 23.58 to tie her spot at No. 5 in the record books, and the time also is sixth-fastest in the Big Ten this season. Christopher placed 19th in the event.
Also in the 200m, sophomore Saran Kouyeth set a new personal-best mark. Her time of 23.92 is just shy of a spot on the top-10 list and was 36th overall on Friday afternoon.
The day began with the hammer throw, where senior Kelly Cook Jr. placed seventh with a throw of 65.33m. The mark came on his sixth and final attempt and would be fourth-best in the Big Ten in 2022 and just shy of his season-best.
Sophomore Safin Wills notched the fourth-best long jump mark in the conference this season. His jump of 7.49m came on his fifth attempt as Wills was eighth in the invitational event.
In the final event of the day for Purdue, sophomore Kaia Harris also registered a season-best mark. Hers came in the discus thanks to a throw of 50.66m on her first attempt. Harris placed eighth in the invitational competition.
Bryant wasn't the only sophomore with an impressive time in the 400m hurdles, and he was joined by K'Ja Talley and Annamaria Leszczynska. Talley finished 13th overall in 58.47, as she posted the seventh-fastest time in the Big Ten. Leszczynska earned a season-best time of 59.99 to place 21st.
In his inaugural outdoor 200m race as a Boilermaker, senior Antonio Mitchell II finished 23rd overall in 21.10. That is the 10th-fastest time in the Big Ten.
The Florida Relays conclude on Saturday. The Boilermakers' opening event, the men's discus, is at 9 a.m. ET, and the first running event, the women's 100m hurdles, is at noon. The meet concludes with the men's 4x400 relay at 6:10 p.m.
Purdue also is competing at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational in Cincinnati on Saturday. At Gettler Stadium, field events are set for 11 a.m. ET and running events commence at 1:50 for the Old Gold and Black. The day's last event is at 6:05 p.m.
Fans can follow along from Florida with live results and the meet schedule, while the SEC Network+ will have a live stream beginning at 1:30 p.m. In Cincinnati, fans can track live results, watch a live stream and follow the meet schedule. Updates also can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Additional information, including 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.
On a warm, sun-soaked day at James G. Pressly Stadium, Bryant ran the seventh-fastest 400 meter hurdles time in school history as the Boilermakers added one personal-record time, a collegiate-best-tying time and several other marks that are among the best in the Big Ten this season.
Bryant ran the 400m hurdles in 51.80 to place 15th overall with the fourth-fastest mark in the Big Ten this year. As he entered the record books at No. 7 in Purdue history, Bryant is the second Boilermaker with a top-10 time in the event since 2016 and just the fourth since 1987.
Junior Camille Christopher tied her personal-best time in the 200m. She finished in 23.58 to tie her spot at No. 5 in the record books, and the time also is sixth-fastest in the Big Ten this season. Christopher placed 19th in the event.
Also in the 200m, sophomore Saran Kouyeth set a new personal-best mark. Her time of 23.92 is just shy of a spot on the top-10 list and was 36th overall on Friday afternoon.
The day began with the hammer throw, where senior Kelly Cook Jr. placed seventh with a throw of 65.33m. The mark came on his sixth and final attempt and would be fourth-best in the Big Ten in 2022 and just shy of his season-best.
Sophomore Safin Wills notched the fourth-best long jump mark in the conference this season. His jump of 7.49m came on his fifth attempt as Wills was eighth in the invitational event.
In the final event of the day for Purdue, sophomore Kaia Harris also registered a season-best mark. Hers came in the discus thanks to a throw of 50.66m on her first attempt. Harris placed eighth in the invitational competition.
Bryant wasn't the only sophomore with an impressive time in the 400m hurdles, and he was joined by K'Ja Talley and Annamaria Leszczynska. Talley finished 13th overall in 58.47, as she posted the seventh-fastest time in the Big Ten. Leszczynska earned a season-best time of 59.99 to place 21st.
In his inaugural outdoor 200m race as a Boilermaker, senior Antonio Mitchell II finished 23rd overall in 21.10. That is the 10th-fastest time in the Big Ten.
Jabari Bryant has entered the record books!!
— Purdue Track & Field / Cross Country (@PurdueTrackXC) April 1, 2022
A time of 51.80 by Jabari in the 400m hurdles is No. 7 in school history and 4th-fastest in the Big Ten this year!
📊 https://t.co/lUWzvlCnqg#BoilerUp 🚂 pic.twitter.com/EuE1qkoZyW
The Florida Relays conclude on Saturday. The Boilermakers' opening event, the men's discus, is at 9 a.m. ET, and the first running event, the women's 100m hurdles, is at noon. The meet concludes with the men's 4x400 relay at 6:10 p.m.
Purdue also is competing at the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational in Cincinnati on Saturday. At Gettler Stadium, field events are set for 11 a.m. ET and running events commence at 1:50 for the Old Gold and Black. The day's last event is at 6:05 p.m.
Fans can follow along from Florida with live results and the meet schedule, while the SEC Network+ will have a live stream beginning at 1:30 p.m. In Cincinnati, fans can track live results, watch a live stream and follow the meet schedule. Updates also can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Additional information, including 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.