DES MOINES, Iowa, and TUCSON, Ariz. – The Purdue track & field team concluded the regular season with a top-10 time in school history as the Boilermakers competed at the Desert Heat Classic in Tucson, Arizona, and the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday.
Freshman Alexia Smith entered the record books in the 400-meter on Saturday evening in Arizona, two days after the Old Gold and Black earned three top-10 times in Iowa. This weekend, Purdue's distance runners, throwers and jumpers were at Drake Stadium from April 25-27 and the sprinters and jumpers competed in the one-day meet at Arizona's Drachman Stadium.
On a sunny and slightly windy late afternoon in Tucson, Smith ran the 400m in 53.56 seconds to tie for No. 10 in program history. Her time is fifth-fastest in the Big Ten this season and is a collegiate-best by 0.99 seconds. Smith was fifth overall in the event on Saturday and placed first in the third heat by nearly one second.
On Saturday morning in Iowa, sophomore Collin Kao was the runner-up in the pole vault. He cleared a personal-best 5.12m to register Purdue's best mark in the event since 2015. The clearance came on Kao's second attempt, and he eclipsed his previous PR of 5.00m set twice before during this outdoor campaign.
Fellow sophomore Leo Maxwell was third in the hammer throw with a 62.45m on his first attempt. Additionally, senior Logan Sandlin also posted a PR in the pole vault, clearing 4.82m in Des Moines.
Collegiate-best times also were achieved in Tucson by freshmen Jada Lee (100m, 11.97), Alyssa Tate (100m, 11.98 and 200m, 24.53) and Nia Wilson (100m, 11.78). Lee and Wilson's bests were in all conditions and Tate's is a wind-legal PR. Senior Jahn Riley (400m, 47.28), sophomore Nolan Macklin (200m, 21.27) and the women's 4x100 relay (45.13) ran season-best times on Saturday in the Grand Canyon State.
On Thursday to begin the weekend, a pair of record-book marks in the steeplechase, by senior Caleb Williams and junior Jaelyn Burgos, was followed by a top-10 time in the 10,000-meters from senior Caroline Jordan. Junior Jason Polydoris won the 10,000m to conclude the night. The Boilermakers earned four top-five finishes and registered five personal-best times. Friday's Drake Relays was highlighted by sophomore Seth Allen placing third in the discus championship.
The postseason is up next, beginning with the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships from May 10-12. Michigan will host the annual event in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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.
Freshman Alexia Smith entered the record books in the 400-meter on Saturday evening in Arizona, two days after the Old Gold and Black earned three top-10 times in Iowa. This weekend, Purdue's distance runners, throwers and jumpers were at Drake Stadium from April 25-27 and the sprinters and jumpers competed in the one-day meet at Arizona's Drachman Stadium.
On a sunny and slightly windy late afternoon in Tucson, Smith ran the 400m in 53.56 seconds to tie for No. 10 in program history. Her time is fifth-fastest in the Big Ten this season and is a collegiate-best by 0.99 seconds. Smith was fifth overall in the event on Saturday and placed first in the third heat by nearly one second.
On Saturday morning in Iowa, sophomore Collin Kao was the runner-up in the pole vault. He cleared a personal-best 5.12m to register Purdue's best mark in the event since 2015. The clearance came on Kao's second attempt, and he eclipsed his previous PR of 5.00m set twice before during this outdoor campaign.
Fellow sophomore Leo Maxwell was third in the hammer throw with a 62.45m on his first attempt. Additionally, senior Logan Sandlin also posted a PR in the pole vault, clearing 4.82m in Des Moines.
Collegiate-best times also were achieved in Tucson by freshmen Jada Lee (100m, 11.97), Alyssa Tate (100m, 11.98 and 200m, 24.53) and Nia Wilson (100m, 11.78). Lee and Wilson's bests were in all conditions and Tate's is a wind-legal PR. Senior Jahn Riley (400m, 47.28), sophomore Nolan Macklin (200m, 21.27) and the women's 4x100 relay (45.13) ran season-best times on Saturday in the Grand Canyon State.
On Thursday to begin the weekend, a pair of record-book marks in the steeplechase, by senior Caleb Williams and junior Jaelyn Burgos, was followed by a top-10 time in the 10,000-meters from senior Caroline Jordan. Junior Jason Polydoris won the 10,000m to conclude the night. The Boilermakers earned four top-five finishes and registered five personal-best times. Friday's Drake Relays was highlighted by sophomore Seth Allen placing third in the discus championship.
The postseason is up next, beginning with the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championships from May 10-12. Michigan will host the annual event in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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.