DES MOINES, Iowa – Two top-three finishes, two finals qualifiers and a top-10 mark in program history highlighted the second day of the Drake Relays for the Purdue track & field team in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday.
The men's 4x200 relay team earned a runner-up finish and the women's 4x200 relay squad was third, while both 4x100 relays advanced to Sunday's finals. Additionally, sophomore Amaya King improved her place at No. 7 in school history in the shot put.
The Boilermakers' final events of the day were the 4x200 relays. Under the lights at Drake Stadium, the men finished in second place in 1:23.91. That was just 0.80 seconds behind the winner, but 1.13 seconds ahead of the third-place team. It was seniors Antonio Mitchell II and Amir Harris, freshman Tyneilus Morrow and junior Justin Becker who took home silver.
In the women's 4x200, Purdue placed third in 1:35.35. The foursome of sophomores Saran Kouyeth, Kerris Roberts and Naomi Campbell and junior Camille Christopher picked up the top-three finish by 0.59 seconds.
Earlier in the day, Kouyeth, Roberts, Christopher and Campbell ran in the 4x100 prelims and notched the third-fastest time. They finished in 44.65 for the best time in the third heat and earned the automatic berth in tomorrow's final.
The men's 4x100 also made Saturday's final. Harris, Mitchell II, Becker and Morrow finished in 39.78, which is a season-best time by a Boilermaker 4x100 relay team. They were second in the opening heat but earned a berth in the final with the third-fastest overall time.
Already seventh in school history in the shot put, King improved her mark at No. 7 with a throw of 15.22 meters. It came on her second attempt and bested her previous outdoor collegiate best of 15.17m. King finished 10th overall in the event.
Junior Jessica Bray and sophomore Safin Wills both notched seventh-place finishes. Bray's came in the pole vault with a season-best clearance of 4.02m. It was tied for the third-best mark of any competitor in the event, though Bray was seventh overall on misses thanks to a third-attempt make.
Wills, the reigning Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week, was seventh in the long jump. On his second attempt, he jumped 7.40m.
The Drake Relays conclude on Saturday, with Purdue's field events at 12:30 p.m. ET and track events at 1:38 p.m. ET. The team's final race ends at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Fans can follow along with live results and the meet schedule, and USATF.TV will provide a live stream. 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.
The men's 4x200 relay team earned a runner-up finish and the women's 4x200 relay squad was third, while both 4x100 relays advanced to Sunday's finals. Additionally, sophomore Amaya King improved her place at No. 7 in school history in the shot put.
The Boilermakers' final events of the day were the 4x200 relays. Under the lights at Drake Stadium, the men finished in second place in 1:23.91. That was just 0.80 seconds behind the winner, but 1.13 seconds ahead of the third-place team. It was seniors Antonio Mitchell II and Amir Harris, freshman Tyneilus Morrow and junior Justin Becker who took home silver.
In the women's 4x200, Purdue placed third in 1:35.35. The foursome of sophomores Saran Kouyeth, Kerris Roberts and Naomi Campbell and junior Camille Christopher picked up the top-three finish by 0.59 seconds.
Earlier in the day, Kouyeth, Roberts, Christopher and Campbell ran in the 4x100 prelims and notched the third-fastest time. They finished in 44.65 for the best time in the third heat and earned the automatic berth in tomorrow's final.
The men's 4x100 also made Saturday's final. Harris, Mitchell II, Becker and Morrow finished in 39.78, which is a season-best time by a Boilermaker 4x100 relay team. They were second in the opening heat but earned a berth in the final with the third-fastest overall time.
Already seventh in school history in the shot put, King improved her mark at No. 7 with a throw of 15.22 meters. It came on her second attempt and bested her previous outdoor collegiate best of 15.17m. King finished 10th overall in the event.
Junior Jessica Bray and sophomore Safin Wills both notched seventh-place finishes. Bray's came in the pole vault with a season-best clearance of 4.02m. It was tied for the third-best mark of any competitor in the event, though Bray was seventh overall on misses thanks to a third-attempt make.
Wills, the reigning Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week, was seventh in the long jump. On his second attempt, he jumped 7.40m.
The Drake Relays conclude on Saturday, with Purdue's field events at 12:30 p.m. ET and track events at 1:38 p.m. ET. The team's final race ends at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Fans can follow along with live results and the meet schedule, and USATF.TV will provide a live stream. 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.