ORLANDO, Fla. and RALEIGH, N.C. – Purdue Track & Field had its first day of action this outdoor season in multiple meets on Friday with distance in Raleigh, North Carolina and the rest of the team in Orlando, Florida.
Men’s Notes
• Samuel Vessat, coming off his All-American indoor 400m campaign, ran a personal-best, wind-legal 20.87 in the 200m. He was the UCF Knights Invite runner-up and beat all nine other Big Ten runners in the event.
• Joel Gates took a pair of top eight finishes with his sixth-place mark in the shot put (16.75m / 54-11.50) and eighth-place mark in the hammer throw (52.66m / 172-09). His manner throw mark was a personal best by 4.40m.
• Jack Harmon (57.24m / 187-09) finished sixth in the hammer throw.
Women’s Notes
• Marissa Palmer ran a wind-legal 23.55 to enter Purdue’s record book at No. 7 in her first 200m as a Boilermaker. She finished ninth at the UCF Knights Invite.
• Ashley Odiase finished one spot ahead of Palmer running a wind-aided 23.43 (+2.7) in the 200m. It was her first 200m since setting Purdue’s indoor record (23.34) on Feb. 28.
• Britannie Johnson finished sixth in the shot put (15.25m / 50-05.00), while her sister, Briannia Johnson, finished eighth in the hammer throw (51.53m / 169-00).
• Katherine Valentine ran 4:31.07 in the 1500m and Elizabeth Butler ran 17:28.63 in their respective outdoor collegiate debuts.
Next Up
Purdue concludes its week of action on Saturday at the UCF Knights Invite starting at 10 a.m.
