AUSTIN, Texas – The 4x100 relay team entered the record books as the Purdue track & field team opened competition at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday.
On a hot, sun-filled early evening at Texas' Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium, the Boilermakers ran the third-fastest time in program history in the men's 4x100 relay semifinal.
Purdue finished in 39.36 seconds to place 21st overall. Junior Jahn Riley, fifth-year Justin Becker and freshmen Connor Czajkowski and Eric Young II will earn honorable mention All-America accolades by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The foursome posted the first top-10 time in the event since 2021, and the mark is just behind the school-record time of 38.75, set in 2019, and the second-fastest time of 39.06, ran in 2021. It is just ahead of the No. 3 time, 39.38, set in 2014.
With today's race, Becker concludes a decorated Purdue career that saw him make the NCAA Championships in the 4x100 every season and earn four All-America accolades. He has numerous top-10 times in Boilermaker history, including the top three 4x100 times and four of the fastest five. Becker is a four-time Big Ten medalist, with two gold medals. That includes a bronze medal in the 4x100 on May 14 with his three NCAA teammates.
Czajkowski, Riley and Young II raced at their first NCAA Championships and are recognized as All-Americans for the first time.
Along with the 4x100 relay, the Boilermakers are represented by sophomore Praise Aniamaka in the triple jump and the women's 4x400 relay at the national championships. Eleven athletes have made the trip to Texas, where they qualified as one of 24 entries in their events.
Up next is the 4x400 semifinal on Thursday, June 8, at 11:48 p.m. ET / 10:48 p.m. CT. On Friday, June 9, Aniamaka competes in the triple jump final at 9:10 p.m. ET / 8:10 p.m. CT. The 4x400 final will conclude the four-day meet on Saturday, June 10, at 11:21 p.m. ET / 10:21 p.m. CT.
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results and watch all of the action live on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Coverage on ESPN2 begins at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and at 9 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday. Non-running events will feature a dedicated live stream on ESPN+. Additional championships information, including tickets and the complete schedule, is available at TexasSports.com and NCAA.com. Updates from Austin can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Direct links to follow along also are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
The NCAA Championships feature 24 entries in each event, 12 who qualified from the NCAA East Prelims and 12 from the west. Aniamaka, the 4x100 and the 4x400 all earned national championships berths in Jacksonville, Florida, from May 24-27.
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.
On a hot, sun-filled early evening at Texas' Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium, the Boilermakers ran the third-fastest time in program history in the men's 4x100 relay semifinal.
Purdue finished in 39.36 seconds to place 21st overall. Junior Jahn Riley, fifth-year Justin Becker and freshmen Connor Czajkowski and Eric Young II will earn honorable mention All-America accolades by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The foursome posted the first top-10 time in the event since 2021, and the mark is just behind the school-record time of 38.75, set in 2019, and the second-fastest time of 39.06, ran in 2021. It is just ahead of the No. 3 time, 39.38, set in 2014.
With today's race, Becker concludes a decorated Purdue career that saw him make the NCAA Championships in the 4x100 every season and earn four All-America accolades. He has numerous top-10 times in Boilermaker history, including the top three 4x100 times and four of the fastest five. Becker is a four-time Big Ten medalist, with two gold medals. That includes a bronze medal in the 4x100 on May 14 with his three NCAA teammates.
Czajkowski, Riley and Young II raced at their first NCAA Championships and are recognized as All-Americans for the first time.
Along with the 4x100 relay, the Boilermakers are represented by sophomore Praise Aniamaka in the triple jump and the women's 4x400 relay at the national championships. Eleven athletes have made the trip to Texas, where they qualified as one of 24 entries in their events.
Up next is the 4x400 semifinal on Thursday, June 8, at 11:48 p.m. ET / 10:48 p.m. CT. On Friday, June 9, Aniamaka competes in the triple jump final at 9:10 p.m. ET / 8:10 p.m. CT. The 4x400 final will conclude the four-day meet on Saturday, June 10, at 11:21 p.m. ET / 10:21 p.m. CT.
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results and watch all of the action live on ESPN2 and ESPN+. Coverage on ESPN2 begins at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday and at 9 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday. Non-running events will feature a dedicated live stream on ESPN+. Additional championships information, including tickets and the complete schedule, is available at TexasSports.com and NCAA.com. Updates from Austin can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Direct links to follow along also are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
The NCAA Championships feature 24 entries in each event, 12 who qualified from the NCAA East Prelims and 12 from the west. Aniamaka, the 4x100 and the 4x400 all earned national championships berths in Jacksonville, Florida, from May 24-27.
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.