CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Ten top-three finishes and one top-10 time in school history were the highlights for the Purdue track & field team on the second and final day of the season-opening Hurricane Invitational at Cobb Stadium in Coral Gables, Florida, on Saturday.
To open the outdoor campaign, fifth-year Justin Becker ran the seventh-fastest 200-meter time in the Boilermaker record books. Another five outdoor collegiate debuts were made on Saturday, after 13 were made on Friday's first day.
Becker placed third overall in the 200m with a time of 20.63, a wind-legal mark by more than 0.20 seconds. The time ranks No. 7 all-time in Purdue history and is the fastest since 2021 and fourth-fastest since 2005.
Junior Cierra Williams earned her best collegiate finish in the outdoor 400m, as she placed second overall. Her time of 53.41 was more than one second faster than the third-place finisher.
Junior LJ Hill began his outdoor season with a runner-up finish in the men's triple jump. It came thanks to a mark of 14.42 meters on his fourth jump. Sophomore Praise Aniamaka was right behind him in third (13.89m). In the women's triple jump, sophomore Rieko Wilford also was third (12.52m), which came after she earned a personal-best long jump mark (5.72m).
Action on the track began with the 4x100, where the Purdue women placed third with a time of 44.61. Junior Nikia Smith followed with a third-place finish of her own in the 100m hurdles, courtesy of a wind-legal collegiate-best mark of 13.82.
A day after he made his outdoor collegiate debut, freshman John Hanson notched a third-place finish in the shot put, with a mark of 15.94m on his fourth attempt.
The meet concluded with the 4x400, where both the Purdue men and women finished third overall, in 3:15.27 and 3:40.97, respectively.
Personal-best times also were recorded by Becker in the 100m (10.29-w, PR in all conditions) and fifth-year Tyneilus Morrow (100m, 10.52-w, PR in all conditions)
Additionally, sophomore Taliyah Booker (400m, 55.39) and freshmen Connor Czajkowski (100m, 10.54-w), Zachary Evans (100m, 10.40-w), Jaylie Lohmeyer (400m, 55.39) and Eric Young II (400m, 49.42) made their outdoor collegiate debuts on Saturday.
On Friday to open the outdoor season, fifth-year Johnny Vanos won the hammer throw and senior Jessica Bray was second in the pole vault as 13 of the 17 Boilermakers to compete made their outdoor collegiate debuts.
Next weekend, Purdue's distance runners will race at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, North Carolina. The meet, hosted by NC State, is set for March 23-25.
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.
To open the outdoor campaign, fifth-year Justin Becker ran the seventh-fastest 200-meter time in the Boilermaker record books. Another five outdoor collegiate debuts were made on Saturday, after 13 were made on Friday's first day.
Becker placed third overall in the 200m with a time of 20.63, a wind-legal mark by more than 0.20 seconds. The time ranks No. 7 all-time in Purdue history and is the fastest since 2021 and fourth-fastest since 2005.
Justin Becker is into the outdoor top-10 list!! 💨
— Purdue Track & Field / Cross Country (@PurdueTrackXC) March 18, 2023
After several top-10 times during the indoor season, Justin stamps his name at No. 7 in the outdoor 200m in 20.63! He finishes 3rd overall in the event.#BoilerUp 🚂 pic.twitter.com/zcaHQlajkr
Junior Cierra Williams earned her best collegiate finish in the outdoor 400m, as she placed second overall. Her time of 53.41 was more than one second faster than the third-place finisher.
Junior LJ Hill began his outdoor season with a runner-up finish in the men's triple jump. It came thanks to a mark of 14.42 meters on his fourth jump. Sophomore Praise Aniamaka was right behind him in third (13.89m). In the women's triple jump, sophomore Rieko Wilford also was third (12.52m), which came after she earned a personal-best long jump mark (5.72m).
Action on the track began with the 4x100, where the Purdue women placed third with a time of 44.61. Junior Nikia Smith followed with a third-place finish of her own in the 100m hurdles, courtesy of a wind-legal collegiate-best mark of 13.82.
A day after he made his outdoor collegiate debut, freshman John Hanson notched a third-place finish in the shot put, with a mark of 15.94m on his fourth attempt.
The meet concluded with the 4x400, where both the Purdue men and women finished third overall, in 3:15.27 and 3:40.97, respectively.
Personal-best times also were recorded by Becker in the 100m (10.29-w, PR in all conditions) and fifth-year Tyneilus Morrow (100m, 10.52-w, PR in all conditions)
Additionally, sophomore Taliyah Booker (400m, 55.39) and freshmen Connor Czajkowski (100m, 10.54-w), Zachary Evans (100m, 10.40-w), Jaylie Lohmeyer (400m, 55.39) and Eric Young II (400m, 49.42) made their outdoor collegiate debuts on Saturday.
On Friday to open the outdoor season, fifth-year Johnny Vanos won the hammer throw and senior Jessica Bray was second in the pole vault as 13 of the 17 Boilermakers to compete made their outdoor collegiate debuts.
Next weekend, Purdue's distance runners will race at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, North Carolina. The meet, hosted by NC State, is set for March 23-25.
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.