WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Fifth-year Johnny Vanos and junior K'Ja Talley of the Purdue track & field team have been named Big Ten Athletes of the Week on Wednesday by the Big Ten Conference, after impressive season-opening performances on Saturday.
Vanos is the Big Ten Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week, while Talley is named the Big Ten Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week. Vanos is honored for the second time in his career, along with earning the same distinction on January 12, 2022. Talley's accolade is the first of her career and the first time Purdue has been bestowed with a women's indoor track weekly award since 2018.
This week's recognition comes after both Vanos and Talley notched top-10 performances in school history at the Edmonds-Wilt Invitational on December 10 at Lambert Fieldhouse. The duo accounted for three of Purdue's 14 wins and three of the squad's four top-10 marks in program history at the season-opening meet.
Vanos won the weight throw with a mark of 21.34 meters on his third attempt. With his throw that now leads the nation, he moved up to No. 4 all-time in the Purdue record book. Vanos' victory was by 0.87m as he improved on his previous best of 21.34m, achieved last season. A native of Forest, Ontario, Canada, Vanos leads the country in the weight throw by 0.11m and has the top throw in the Big Ten by 1.91m. It's the best throw by a Boilermaker since 2015.
Talley won both events she raced in on Saturday and registered two top-10 times in the process. In the 60-meter hurdle prelims, she ran the fastest time in 8.40, which moved her up to No. 6 in the record books. Ninety minutes later in the final, Talley improved her new PR with a winning time of 8.26 to move into a tie for the third-fastest time in school history. For the Dearborn, Michigan, native, it's the fastest mark by a Boilermaker since 2017, the fourth-fastest time in the country this season and the fastest in the Big Ten. Talley came into the meet with a PR of 8.44 that was No. 8.
One hour after her 60m hurdle win, Talley won the 300m with a personal-best 39.03. It was the ninth-fastest mark in the country in the event last week.
Following a break for the holidays, Talley, Vanos and the Boilermakers return to the track on Saturday, January 14, at the Big Ten Invitational in Chicago. The competition will be held at the year-old Track & Field Center at Gately Park and is the first of two meets in the Windy City for the Boilermakers in 2023.
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.
Vanos is the Big Ten Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week, while Talley is named the Big Ten Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week. Vanos is honored for the second time in his career, along with earning the same distinction on January 12, 2022. Talley's accolade is the first of her career and the first time Purdue has been bestowed with a women's indoor track weekly award since 2018.
This week's recognition comes after both Vanos and Talley notched top-10 performances in school history at the Edmonds-Wilt Invitational on December 10 at Lambert Fieldhouse. The duo accounted for three of Purdue's 14 wins and three of the squad's four top-10 marks in program history at the season-opening meet.
Vanos won the weight throw with a mark of 21.34 meters on his third attempt. With his throw that now leads the nation, he moved up to No. 4 all-time in the Purdue record book. Vanos' victory was by 0.87m as he improved on his previous best of 21.34m, achieved last season. A native of Forest, Ontario, Canada, Vanos leads the country in the weight throw by 0.11m and has the top throw in the Big Ten by 1.91m. It's the best throw by a Boilermaker since 2015.
Talley won both events she raced in on Saturday and registered two top-10 times in the process. In the 60-meter hurdle prelims, she ran the fastest time in 8.40, which moved her up to No. 6 in the record books. Ninety minutes later in the final, Talley improved her new PR with a winning time of 8.26 to move into a tie for the third-fastest time in school history. For the Dearborn, Michigan, native, it's the fastest mark by a Boilermaker since 2017, the fourth-fastest time in the country this season and the fastest in the Big Ten. Talley came into the meet with a PR of 8.44 that was No. 8.
One hour after her 60m hurdle win, Talley won the 300m with a personal-best 39.03. It was the ninth-fastest mark in the country in the event last week.
Following a break for the holidays, Talley, Vanos and the Boilermakers return to the track on Saturday, January 14, at the Big Ten Invitational in Chicago. The competition will be held at the year-old Track & Field Center at Gately Park and is the first of two meets in the Windy City for the Boilermakers in 2023.
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.