AUSTIN, Texas, SAN MARCOS, Texas and CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Purdue track & field team concluded a long weekend in Texas with four top-10 marks in school history on Saturday, April 1.
Saturday's action saw the Boilermakers competing at the four-day Texas Relays in Austin, Texas, the three-day Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, Texas, and at one day of the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Senior Kerris Roberts and the women's 4x400 relay ran top-10 times at the Texas Relays, while fifth-year Johnny Vanos and sophomore Rieko Wilford notched top-10 marks at the Bobcat Invitational. Roberts was one of two Boilermakers running in the 200-meter invitational, and the 4x400 was joined by the women's 4x100 in the Texas Relays finals on Saturday.
The record book performances began in the morning at the Bobcat Invitational, where Vanos earned a mark of 66.32 meters in the hammer throw that is No. 6 all-time. It came on his sixth and final attempt and was his fourth personal-best throw of the day, as he placed fifth overall in the event. Vanos started with a PR of 62.99m on his second throw, which debuted him in Purdue's top-10 list at No. 7. A throw of 63.56m followed on his third attempt, which was bested by a 63.80m on his fifth throw. That still would be seventh in school history before the 66.32m moved Vanos up to No. 6. It's the second-best throw by a Boilermaker in the event since 2015.
Moments later, Wilford competed in the triple jump and notched a career-record mark of 12.90m. Already at No. 5 in program history with a jump of 12.79m a season ago, Wilford rose to No. 4 with the best jump by a Boilermaker since 2014. It came on her second attempt to secure a runner-up finish in the event. Along with her 12.90m-jump, Wilford added three more jumps that would be top-10 in school history.
Thirty minutes north in Austin at the Texas Relays, the Boilermakers had four entries run on Saturday afternoon, two in the finals and two in the 200m invitational. The two relays, the women's 4x100 and women's 4x400, earned their finals berth after qualifying on Friday.
The afternoon started with the 4x100 final, as Purdue placed seventh with a season-best time of 44.38. Roberts, senior Saran Kouyeth, junior Naomi Campbell and fifth-year Camille Christopher finished Saturday's race just shy of their best mark as a foursome, set in 2021, that is No. 5 in the record books.
Roberts and Christopher then ran in the 200m invitational. Roberts finished in 23.34 seconds to come in 14th overall. She improved her personal-best time by 0.08 seconds and remains at sixth in Purdue history. Christopher was 19th in 23.88.
The Texas Relays concluded with the 4x400, where the Boilermakers put a stamp on the prestigious four-day meet with the fifth-fastest time in team history. Junior K'Ja Talley, Kouyeth, junior Cierra Williams and freshman Jaylie Lohmeyer crossed the finish line in 3:33.41. They earned the fastest time by a Purdue relay squad since 2018.
At the Oliver Nikoloff Invite in Cincinnati, a pair of personal bests were achieved. Sophomore Ikeava Bryant had a shot put mark of 13.16m, and fellow second-year Jaelyn Burgos ran the 1,500m in 4:52.93. Additionally, senior Andrew Brandt made his season track & field debut (1,500m, 3:57.52) while freshmen Christel Elkins (1,500m, 4:54.63), Jessica Lyons (800m, 2:21.31) and Mary Sowinski (400m hurdles, 1:07.59) made their collegiate outdoor debuts.
Also in San Marcos at the Bobcat Invite, PRs were earned by sophomores Owen Schafer (400m, 48.69) and Cale Ayers (hammer throw, 58.33m) and freshman Keon Perkins-Sullivan made his outdoor collegiate debut (hammer throw, 48.43m).
The 95th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays featured athletes from 15 top-25 men's teams and 13 ranked women's programs. The national meet was hosted by the University of Texas at Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium. Texas State's Bobcat Invite was at the Texas State Track & Field Complex, while the Cincinnati-hosted Oliver Nikoloff Invite was at Gettler Stadium.
Recap all the action from day one, day two and day three in Texas at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
Next weekend, the Boilermakers stay closer to home when they travel to Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, for the Fighting Illini Challenge on April 8.
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.
Saturday's action saw the Boilermakers competing at the four-day Texas Relays in Austin, Texas, the three-day Bobcat Invitational in San Marcos, Texas, and at one day of the Oliver Nikoloff Invitational in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Senior Kerris Roberts and the women's 4x400 relay ran top-10 times at the Texas Relays, while fifth-year Johnny Vanos and sophomore Rieko Wilford notched top-10 marks at the Bobcat Invitational. Roberts was one of two Boilermakers running in the 200-meter invitational, and the 4x400 was joined by the women's 4x100 in the Texas Relays finals on Saturday.
The record book performances began in the morning at the Bobcat Invitational, where Vanos earned a mark of 66.32 meters in the hammer throw that is No. 6 all-time. It came on his sixth and final attempt and was his fourth personal-best throw of the day, as he placed fifth overall in the event. Vanos started with a PR of 62.99m on his second throw, which debuted him in Purdue's top-10 list at No. 7. A throw of 63.56m followed on his third attempt, which was bested by a 63.80m on his fifth throw. That still would be seventh in school history before the 66.32m moved Vanos up to No. 6. It's the second-best throw by a Boilermaker in the event since 2015.
Moments later, Wilford competed in the triple jump and notched a career-record mark of 12.90m. Already at No. 5 in program history with a jump of 12.79m a season ago, Wilford rose to No. 4 with the best jump by a Boilermaker since 2014. It came on her second attempt to secure a runner-up finish in the event. Along with her 12.90m-jump, Wilford added three more jumps that would be top-10 in school history.
Thirty minutes north in Austin at the Texas Relays, the Boilermakers had four entries run on Saturday afternoon, two in the finals and two in the 200m invitational. The two relays, the women's 4x100 and women's 4x400, earned their finals berth after qualifying on Friday.
The afternoon started with the 4x100 final, as Purdue placed seventh with a season-best time of 44.38. Roberts, senior Saran Kouyeth, junior Naomi Campbell and fifth-year Camille Christopher finished Saturday's race just shy of their best mark as a foursome, set in 2021, that is No. 5 in the record books.
Roberts and Christopher then ran in the 200m invitational. Roberts finished in 23.34 seconds to come in 14th overall. She improved her personal-best time by 0.08 seconds and remains at sixth in Purdue history. Christopher was 19th in 23.88.
The Texas Relays concluded with the 4x400, where the Boilermakers put a stamp on the prestigious four-day meet with the fifth-fastest time in team history. Junior K'Ja Talley, Kouyeth, junior Cierra Williams and freshman Jaylie Lohmeyer crossed the finish line in 3:33.41. They earned the fastest time by a Purdue relay squad since 2018.
At the Oliver Nikoloff Invite in Cincinnati, a pair of personal bests were achieved. Sophomore Ikeava Bryant had a shot put mark of 13.16m, and fellow second-year Jaelyn Burgos ran the 1,500m in 4:52.93. Additionally, senior Andrew Brandt made his season track & field debut (1,500m, 3:57.52) while freshmen Christel Elkins (1,500m, 4:54.63), Jessica Lyons (800m, 2:21.31) and Mary Sowinski (400m hurdles, 1:07.59) made their collegiate outdoor debuts.
Also in San Marcos at the Bobcat Invite, PRs were earned by sophomores Owen Schafer (400m, 48.69) and Cale Ayers (hammer throw, 58.33m) and freshman Keon Perkins-Sullivan made his outdoor collegiate debut (hammer throw, 48.43m).
The 95th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays featured athletes from 15 top-25 men's teams and 13 ranked women's programs. The national meet was hosted by the University of Texas at Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium. Texas State's Bobcat Invite was at the Texas State Track & Field Complex, while the Cincinnati-hosted Oliver Nikoloff Invite was at Gettler Stadium.
Recap all the action from day one, day two and day three in Texas at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
Next weekend, the Boilermakers stay closer to home when they travel to Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, for the Fighting Illini Challenge on April 8.
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.