LEXINGTON, Ky. – Graduate student Cameron Miller advanced to the quarterfinals as the Purdue track & field team began competition at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships East First Round in Lexington, Kentucky, on Wednesday.
On a windy day filled with intermittent light rain, sunshine and several lightning delays, the Boilermakers had six competitors in five events to begin the four-day competition. The University of Kentucky is hosting this year's meet at the Outdoor Track & Field Complex.
Miller moved on to Friday's quarterfinals in the 200-meter, while all five other Boilermakers placed higher than where they were seeded entering the meet.
With a 10th-place finish, Miller is one of 24 runners in the 200m to advance to race in the quarterfinal on Friday. From there, 12 will move on to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 5-8. Forty-eight athletes began the meet in each event.
Miller crossed the finish line in 20.49 seconds. He was second in the sixth and final heat to earn one of the heat's three automatic-qualifying spots. Miller was 10th overall in the race and earned the top-10 place by 0.05 seconds.
Graduate student Safin Wills was 23rd in the long jump with a mark of 7.33 meters. It came on his first of three attempts, and he added a 7.29m on his third attempt. Wills, at his third career NCAA meet, will see his weekend continue in the triple jump on Friday. He will look to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships for the third time, along with 2021 and 2022.
The day began with a pair of Boilermakers in the hammer throw, as both junior Cale Ayers and sophomore Leo Maxwell made their NCAA debuts. Maxwell was 23rd in the event with a throw of 62.74m and Ayers was 35th with a mark of 59.24m. The duo see their notable seasons come to a close after Ayers reached his first Big Ten podium, finishing seventh, and Maxwell entered the school record books in the hammer throw at No. 8.
Sophomore Collin Kao cleared 4.92m in the pole vault to finish 41st at his first NCAA meet. Kao, who is the first men's Boilermaker to make NCAAs in the pole vault since 2012, saw his inaugural season in the Old Gold and Black highlighted by Purdue's best pole vault clearance since 2015 earlier this year.
Another newcomer was sophomore Nolan Macklin, who raced at his second NCAA Championships and first at Purdue. Macklin ran in the 100m and was 45th in 10.75 seconds.
The four-day meet continues on Thursday, May 23, with the first day for the women. The men are back on Friday, May 24, and the women conclude their competition on Saturday, May 25. Thursday sees the Boilermakers race in the 100m hurdles first round at 3 p.m. to open their day. On Friday, the discus starts at 1 p.m., with the squad's first running event the 3,000m steeplechase at 5:40 p.m. Saturday's action gets underway for the Old Gold and Black with the steeplechase at 5:40 p.m. and the triple jump at 6 p.m.
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results and watch all of the action live on ESPN+ (Thursday | Friday | Saturday). Additional NCAA First Round information, including tickets and the complete schedule, is available UKAthletics.com. Updates from Lexington 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 Boilermakers have 16 qualifiers this week represented by 18 student-athletes in 14 different events. Purdue has multiple competitors in two events, and one relay also is among the field for the Old Gold and Black.
The NCAA East First Round, along with the West First Round, feature 48 qualifiers in each individual event and 24 teams in each relay. The top 12 finishers in every event from both the east and west will advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 5-8.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.
On a windy day filled with intermittent light rain, sunshine and several lightning delays, the Boilermakers had six competitors in five events to begin the four-day competition. The University of Kentucky is hosting this year's meet at the Outdoor Track & Field Complex.
Miller moved on to Friday's quarterfinals in the 200-meter, while all five other Boilermakers placed higher than where they were seeded entering the meet.
With a 10th-place finish, Miller is one of 24 runners in the 200m to advance to race in the quarterfinal on Friday. From there, 12 will move on to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 5-8. Forty-eight athletes began the meet in each event.
Miller crossed the finish line in 20.49 seconds. He was second in the sixth and final heat to earn one of the heat's three automatic-qualifying spots. Miller was 10th overall in the race and earned the top-10 place by 0.05 seconds.
Graduate student Safin Wills was 23rd in the long jump with a mark of 7.33 meters. It came on his first of three attempts, and he added a 7.29m on his third attempt. Wills, at his third career NCAA meet, will see his weekend continue in the triple jump on Friday. He will look to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships for the third time, along with 2021 and 2022.
The day began with a pair of Boilermakers in the hammer throw, as both junior Cale Ayers and sophomore Leo Maxwell made their NCAA debuts. Maxwell was 23rd in the event with a throw of 62.74m and Ayers was 35th with a mark of 59.24m. The duo see their notable seasons come to a close after Ayers reached his first Big Ten podium, finishing seventh, and Maxwell entered the school record books in the hammer throw at No. 8.
Sophomore Collin Kao cleared 4.92m in the pole vault to finish 41st at his first NCAA meet. Kao, who is the first men's Boilermaker to make NCAAs in the pole vault since 2012, saw his inaugural season in the Old Gold and Black highlighted by Purdue's best pole vault clearance since 2015 earlier this year.
Another newcomer was sophomore Nolan Macklin, who raced at his second NCAA Championships and first at Purdue. Macklin ran in the 100m and was 45th in 10.75 seconds.
The four-day meet continues on Thursday, May 23, with the first day for the women. The men are back on Friday, May 24, and the women conclude their competition on Saturday, May 25. Thursday sees the Boilermakers race in the 100m hurdles first round at 3 p.m. to open their day. On Friday, the discus starts at 1 p.m., with the squad's first running event the 3,000m steeplechase at 5:40 p.m. Saturday's action gets underway for the Old Gold and Black with the steeplechase at 5:40 p.m. and the triple jump at 6 p.m.
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results and watch all of the action live on ESPN+ (Thursday | Friday | Saturday). Additional NCAA First Round information, including tickets and the complete schedule, is available UKAthletics.com. Updates from Lexington 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 Boilermakers have 16 qualifiers this week represented by 18 student-athletes in 14 different events. Purdue has multiple competitors in two events, and one relay also is among the field for the Old Gold and Black.
The NCAA East First Round, along with the West First Round, feature 48 qualifiers in each individual event and 24 teams in each relay. The top 12 finishers in every event from both the east and west will advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 5-8.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.