TAMPA, Fla. – A top-10 mark in program history and six top-five finishes opened the outdoor season for the Purdue track & field team at the USF Alumni Invitational in Tampa, Florida, on Friday.
On a hot and sun-soaked day at the USF Track & Field Stadium, sophomore Leo Maxwell entered the record books in the hammer throw. He was one of the six Boilermakers to place in the top five in a meet that featured 20 teams, including three other Big Ten foes. Maxwell's personal-record throw also was one of nine PRs for the Old Gold and Black on Friday.
The two-day meet, which kicks off the outdoor track & field season, concludes a week-long training trip in Tampa for Purdue.
Maxwell posted a throw of 63.33 meters on his sixth and final attempt to etch his name on the Boilermakers' top-10 list at No. 8 all-time. Maxwell entered the season with a PR of 55.71 and quickly eclipsed it with an opening throw of 60.41m. His second attempt went 60.85m, followed by a foul on his third.
Into the final out of the first flight, Maxwell's fourth mark was 60.21m before a fifth throw of 61.22m. His sixth and final throw was the biggest of the day, at 63.33m, to secure the spot in the record books. It was a PR by 7.62m to help Maxwell place fifth overall in the event. He was one of only three throwers with five marks of 60.00m or better in the competition.
To conclude the day, junior Jason Polydoris was the runner-up in the 5,000m. He finished in 14:51.55 and was one of three runners to break 15:00 as the sun set on Florida's Gulf Coast.
Sophomore Rebecca Caliendo joined Maxwell with a fifth-place finish in the weight throw. As she made her outdoor collegiate debut, Caliendo posted a mark of 51.75m on her second attempt to ensure a spot in the final.
Two Boilermakers tied for fifth place in the pole vault. Junior Grant Gogel and sophomore Collin Kao both cleared 5.00m to achieve personal records. Both marks are the best by a Boilermaker outdoors in the event since 2015.
Junior Damazvia Dames finished fifth in the long jump. On her first jump, she posted a mark of 6.03m, which stood as the fifth-best after six attempts.
Along with Gogel, Kao and Maxwell, personal bests were achieved by senior Logan Sandlin (javelin, 41.49m), juniors Cale Ayers (hammer throw, 59.80m) and Zoe Sullivan (200m, 24.43) and sophomores Jalen Elrod (long jump, 5.80m and 200m, 24.93) and John Hanson (shot put, 16.88m).
Caliendo was one of four Boilermakers who made their outdoor collegiate debuts on Friday.
The USF Alumni Invite will conclude on Saturday, March 16. Field events open the day at 11 a.m. ET and action on the track commences at 12:30 p.m. The event is scheduled to wrap up at 4:20 p.m.
Fans unable to cheer the Boilermakers on in person can follow along with live results and watch the action on ESPN+. Additional updates from Tampa can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook, while direct links, including the meet schedule, are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
Along with Purdue and host-USF, this weekend's field includes Big Ten opponents Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State. Fifty-one Boilermakers made the trip to the Sunshine State and the team will have a total of 58 entries this weekend.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.
On a hot and sun-soaked day at the USF Track & Field Stadium, sophomore Leo Maxwell entered the record books in the hammer throw. He was one of the six Boilermakers to place in the top five in a meet that featured 20 teams, including three other Big Ten foes. Maxwell's personal-record throw also was one of nine PRs for the Old Gold and Black on Friday.
The two-day meet, which kicks off the outdoor track & field season, concludes a week-long training trip in Tampa for Purdue.
Maxwell posted a throw of 63.33 meters on his sixth and final attempt to etch his name on the Boilermakers' top-10 list at No. 8 all-time. Maxwell entered the season with a PR of 55.71 and quickly eclipsed it with an opening throw of 60.41m. His second attempt went 60.85m, followed by a foul on his third.
Into the final out of the first flight, Maxwell's fourth mark was 60.21m before a fifth throw of 61.22m. His sixth and final throw was the biggest of the day, at 63.33m, to secure the spot in the record books. It was a PR by 7.62m to help Maxwell place fifth overall in the event. He was one of only three throwers with five marks of 60.00m or better in the competition.
To conclude the day, junior Jason Polydoris was the runner-up in the 5,000m. He finished in 14:51.55 and was one of three runners to break 15:00 as the sun set on Florida's Gulf Coast.
Sophomore Rebecca Caliendo joined Maxwell with a fifth-place finish in the weight throw. As she made her outdoor collegiate debut, Caliendo posted a mark of 51.75m on her second attempt to ensure a spot in the final.
Two Boilermakers tied for fifth place in the pole vault. Junior Grant Gogel and sophomore Collin Kao both cleared 5.00m to achieve personal records. Both marks are the best by a Boilermaker outdoors in the event since 2015.
Junior Damazvia Dames finished fifth in the long jump. On her first jump, she posted a mark of 6.03m, which stood as the fifth-best after six attempts.
Along with Gogel, Kao and Maxwell, personal bests were achieved by senior Logan Sandlin (javelin, 41.49m), juniors Cale Ayers (hammer throw, 59.80m) and Zoe Sullivan (200m, 24.43) and sophomores Jalen Elrod (long jump, 5.80m and 200m, 24.93) and John Hanson (shot put, 16.88m).
Caliendo was one of four Boilermakers who made their outdoor collegiate debuts on Friday.
The USF Alumni Invite will conclude on Saturday, March 16. Field events open the day at 11 a.m. ET and action on the track commences at 12:30 p.m. The event is scheduled to wrap up at 4:20 p.m.
Fans unable to cheer the Boilermakers on in person can follow along with live results and watch the action on ESPN+. Additional updates from Tampa can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook, while direct links, including the meet schedule, are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
Along with Purdue and host-USF, this weekend's field includes Big Ten opponents Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State. Fifty-one Boilermakers made the trip to the Sunshine State and the team will have a total of 58 entries this weekend.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.