ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Purdue track & field team won six events and earned four top-10 times in program history on Saturday at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Fifth-years Justin Becker and Camille Christopher and freshman Zachary Evans all posted victories that came with top-10 times to lead the way for the Boilermakers at the U-M Indoor Track Building. Junior Cierra Williams added a record book-qualifying time of her own, while fifth-year Johnny Vanos, sophomore Brett Otterbacher and the men's 4x400 relay all won on Saturday.
One of the opening events on the track was the 60-meter, where Christopher won the final in 7.44 seconds. Tied for the sixth-fastest time in school history, she notched the eighth-fastest mark in the Big Ten this season less than an hour after she automatically qualified out of the prelims.
In the men's 60m, Evans followed it up with a winning time of 6.73 seconds. That is tied for No. 9 all-time and is third in the Big Ten in 2022-23. Evans was one of four Boilermakers who advanced out of the prelim and raced in the eight-runner final. That included third-place finisher Eric Young II, who's time was 6.84 to his PR.
Williams added her name in the record book in the 400m with a runner-up time of 54.45. It's the eighth-fastest time in the event in Purdue history and the second-fastest in the conference this season. Additionally, in her inaugural collegiate 400m race, freshman Jaylie Lohmeyer was fourth in 55.95, which is eighth in the Big Ten.
Becker also earned a top-10 time with a first-place finish, and that came in the 200m. The fastest time in the Big Ten this season and the No. 9-fastest time in Boilermaker history now is Becker's 21.22, as he moved up from No. 10 on Purdue's list. Just behind him was junior Jahn Riley's 21.43. The runner-up finish is a personal-best and second in the Big Ten.
Meanwhile, Vanos continued his strong start to the season with another win in the weight throw. This time his winning mark was 21.74 meters, just shy of his 21.95m set two meets ago that is No. 4 in Purdue history. Vanos' win was his second in three meets in 2022-23.
Fresh off a pair of top-10 times in back-to-back meets to open the indoor campaign, Otterbacher had another impressive race, this time in the 400m. As he raced in the event for the first time indoors collegiately, Otterbacher won the race in 47.67, the third-fastest mark in the Big Ten.
Less than two hours after her 60m final, Christopher ran a season-best 200m to place second overall. She crossed the finish line in 24.18, which ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten this season.
Fifth-year Jessica Bray also had a season-best mark on Saturday, with a clearance of 3.96m in the pole vault. She was third overall, on misses, and the mark is No. 8 in the conference so far this season.
The day concluded with the 4x400 relay, as the Boilermaker men were victorious in 3:11.21. Senior Jabari Bryant, Riley, Otterbacher and Young II ran for the meet-ending win.
Additionally, personal-best marks also were registered by junior Caroline Jordan (9:56.64, 3,000m), sophomores Danny Affleck (4.60m, pole vault), Cale Ayers (17.42m, weight throw) and Emma Squires (4:49.67, mile) and freshmen John Hanson (16.18m, shot put) and Leo Maxwell (16.59m, weight throw).
Squires' mile time of 4:49.67 is No. 8 in the Big Ten and just shy of a spot on Purdue's top-10 list.
Purdue competed against host-Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor. In the team standings, the Boilermaker women were third, with 101 points, and the men were fourth, with 68 points. Michigan claimed both team titles with 195 men's points and 153 women's points.
Next weekend, Purdue heads to a pair of meets from January 27-28. In its first multi-day competition of the year, the Boilermakers will travel to the Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky, and the Indiana University Relays in Bloomington, Indiana.
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.
Fifth-years Justin Becker and Camille Christopher and freshman Zachary Evans all posted victories that came with top-10 times to lead the way for the Boilermakers at the U-M Indoor Track Building. Junior Cierra Williams added a record book-qualifying time of her own, while fifth-year Johnny Vanos, sophomore Brett Otterbacher and the men's 4x400 relay all won on Saturday.
One of the opening events on the track was the 60-meter, where Christopher won the final in 7.44 seconds. Tied for the sixth-fastest time in school history, she notched the eighth-fastest mark in the Big Ten this season less than an hour after she automatically qualified out of the prelims.
In the men's 60m, Evans followed it up with a winning time of 6.73 seconds. That is tied for No. 9 all-time and is third in the Big Ten in 2022-23. Evans was one of four Boilermakers who advanced out of the prelim and raced in the eight-runner final. That included third-place finisher Eric Young II, who's time was 6.84 to his PR.
Williams added her name in the record book in the 400m with a runner-up time of 54.45. It's the eighth-fastest time in the event in Purdue history and the second-fastest in the conference this season. Additionally, in her inaugural collegiate 400m race, freshman Jaylie Lohmeyer was fourth in 55.95, which is eighth in the Big Ten.
Becker also earned a top-10 time with a first-place finish, and that came in the 200m. The fastest time in the Big Ten this season and the No. 9-fastest time in Boilermaker history now is Becker's 21.22, as he moved up from No. 10 on Purdue's list. Just behind him was junior Jahn Riley's 21.43. The runner-up finish is a personal-best and second in the Big Ten.
Meanwhile, Vanos continued his strong start to the season with another win in the weight throw. This time his winning mark was 21.74 meters, just shy of his 21.95m set two meets ago that is No. 4 in Purdue history. Vanos' win was his second in three meets in 2022-23.
Fresh off a pair of top-10 times in back-to-back meets to open the indoor campaign, Otterbacher had another impressive race, this time in the 400m. As he raced in the event for the first time indoors collegiately, Otterbacher won the race in 47.67, the third-fastest mark in the Big Ten.
Less than two hours after her 60m final, Christopher ran a season-best 200m to place second overall. She crossed the finish line in 24.18, which ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten this season.
Fifth-year Jessica Bray also had a season-best mark on Saturday, with a clearance of 3.96m in the pole vault. She was third overall, on misses, and the mark is No. 8 in the conference so far this season.
The day concluded with the 4x400 relay, as the Boilermaker men were victorious in 3:11.21. Senior Jabari Bryant, Riley, Otterbacher and Young II ran for the meet-ending win.
Additionally, personal-best marks also were registered by junior Caroline Jordan (9:56.64, 3,000m), sophomores Danny Affleck (4.60m, pole vault), Cale Ayers (17.42m, weight throw) and Emma Squires (4:49.67, mile) and freshmen John Hanson (16.18m, shot put) and Leo Maxwell (16.59m, weight throw).
Squires' mile time of 4:49.67 is No. 8 in the Big Ten and just shy of a spot on Purdue's top-10 list.
Purdue competed against host-Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State Saturday afternoon in Ann Arbor. In the team standings, the Boilermaker women were third, with 101 points, and the men were fourth, with 68 points. Michigan claimed both team titles with 195 men's points and 153 women's points.
Next weekend, Purdue heads to a pair of meets from January 27-28. In its first multi-day competition of the year, the Boilermakers will travel to the Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville, Kentucky, and the Indiana University Relays in Bloomington, Indiana.
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.