WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Indoor Track & Field is set for its first full team meet of the 2024-25 season on Friday at the Blue Demon Holiday Invitational. The meet comes after Douglas Buckeridge kicked off the season individually in Boston last weekend.
The program is set to welcome back 10 men's and nine women's athletes that rank in the top 10 in Purdue history in their respective indoor events.
Purdue returns five men's and three women's athletes that finished top eight in an event at the Big Ten Championships. The men's 4x400m, that finished seventh at the championship, returns all-four runners.
Men's Notes
• Brett Otterbacher is the only athlete to appear in the program's top 10 of three separate races with his No. 2 rank in the 400m (46.83), 500m (1:02.50) and 600m (1:17.52). He was eighth at last season's Big Tens in the 400m.
• Praise Aniamaka, the lone All-American from last year's team, returns after he finished ninth in the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the triple jump with a season-best 15.98m (52-5.25). He was also the Big Ten runner-up last season.
• Cameron Miller returns his program-record 20.40 in the 200m last season. He also ran the second-fastest time by a Boilermaker with a 20.54 in the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Miller earned bronze in the Big Team Indoor Championships with a 20.82.
• Other returners in the program's top 10: Andreas Hantson No. 3 in the heptathlon (5,417 points), Kiefer Bell No. 4 in the mile (4:03.99), Jasiah Rogers tied No. 5 in the 60m (6.66), Logan Sandlin No. 6 in the heptathlon (5,169 points), Bode Gilkerson tied No. 9 in the high jump (7-00.25/2.15m), Nolan Macklin No. 10 in the 200m (21.17) and Nickens Lemba No. 10 in the 500m (1:04.36).
Women's Notes
• Alexia Smith is the one of two women's athlete to appear twice in top 10 program categories with her No. 3 rank in the 500m (1:12.06) and No. 8 ran in the 400m (1:12.06).
• Emma Squires also ranks twice in the top 10 of an event with her No. 4 rank in the 3000m (9:28.12) and No. 10 rank in the mile (4:47.29).
• Zoe Sullivan enters the season second in program history in the 60m hurdles (8.24). She is the highest-ranked active women's athlete in her respective event. Sullivan finished eighth in the event at Big Tens last season.
• Nia Wilson is fourth in program history in the 60m (7.39) - a time she set in last season's Big Ten Championship prelims. She finished ninth in the finals.
• Bryanna Craig led the women's side at Big Tens last season with her runner-up finish in the pentathlon. She ranks fourth in program history with a 4,046-point personal-best in the event.
• Jalen Elrod joined Craig on the podium at last season's Big Ten Championships with her sixth-place finish in the pentathlon. Her 3,815-point personal-best in seventh in program history.
• Cierra Williams returns this season after she missed the 2023-24 season. In 2023 indoor she finished seventh at Big Tens in the 400m (53.75). She is fifth in program history with a 53.33 personal best.
• Other returners in the program's top 10: K'Ja Talley tied No. 4 in the 60m hurdles (8.26) and Payne Turney No. 9 in the mile (4:47.12).
Next Up
Friday's race is the only one in the 2024 portion of the schedule. The team returns to action after the turn of the New Year for a two-day meet at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invite hosted by Kentucky.
The program is set to welcome back 10 men's and nine women's athletes that rank in the top 10 in Purdue history in their respective indoor events.
Purdue returns five men's and three women's athletes that finished top eight in an event at the Big Ten Championships. The men's 4x400m, that finished seventh at the championship, returns all-four runners.
Men's Notes
• Brett Otterbacher is the only athlete to appear in the program's top 10 of three separate races with his No. 2 rank in the 400m (46.83), 500m (1:02.50) and 600m (1:17.52). He was eighth at last season's Big Tens in the 400m.
• Praise Aniamaka, the lone All-American from last year's team, returns after he finished ninth in the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the triple jump with a season-best 15.98m (52-5.25). He was also the Big Ten runner-up last season.
• Cameron Miller returns his program-record 20.40 in the 200m last season. He also ran the second-fastest time by a Boilermaker with a 20.54 in the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Miller earned bronze in the Big Team Indoor Championships with a 20.82.
• Other returners in the program's top 10: Andreas Hantson No. 3 in the heptathlon (5,417 points), Kiefer Bell No. 4 in the mile (4:03.99), Jasiah Rogers tied No. 5 in the 60m (6.66), Logan Sandlin No. 6 in the heptathlon (5,169 points), Bode Gilkerson tied No. 9 in the high jump (7-00.25/2.15m), Nolan Macklin No. 10 in the 200m (21.17) and Nickens Lemba No. 10 in the 500m (1:04.36).
Women's Notes
• Alexia Smith is the one of two women's athlete to appear twice in top 10 program categories with her No. 3 rank in the 500m (1:12.06) and No. 8 ran in the 400m (1:12.06).
• Emma Squires also ranks twice in the top 10 of an event with her No. 4 rank in the 3000m (9:28.12) and No. 10 rank in the mile (4:47.29).
• Zoe Sullivan enters the season second in program history in the 60m hurdles (8.24). She is the highest-ranked active women's athlete in her respective event. Sullivan finished eighth in the event at Big Tens last season.
• Nia Wilson is fourth in program history in the 60m (7.39) - a time she set in last season's Big Ten Championship prelims. She finished ninth in the finals.
• Bryanna Craig led the women's side at Big Tens last season with her runner-up finish in the pentathlon. She ranks fourth in program history with a 4,046-point personal-best in the event.
• Jalen Elrod joined Craig on the podium at last season's Big Ten Championships with her sixth-place finish in the pentathlon. Her 3,815-point personal-best in seventh in program history.
• Cierra Williams returns this season after she missed the 2023-24 season. In 2023 indoor she finished seventh at Big Tens in the 400m (53.75). She is fifth in program history with a 53.33 personal best.
• Other returners in the program's top 10: K'Ja Talley tied No. 4 in the 60m hurdles (8.26) and Payne Turney No. 9 in the mile (4:47.12).
Next Up
Friday's race is the only one in the 2024 portion of the schedule. The team returns to action after the turn of the New Year for a two-day meet at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invite hosted by Kentucky.