EUGENE, Ore. – Purdue Track & Field’s Samuel Vessat earned two trips to the NCAA Outdoor Championships podium in the 400m and 4x400m, while Praise Aniamaka took eighth in the triple jump. Chidozie Kalu added an Honorable Mention All-American honor in the triple jump.
Accumulating 11 points on Friday, the Boilermakers finished tied for 23rd and scored double-digit points in an outdoor championship for the second time since 1972.
Vessat Notes
• Vessat broke his own school record in the 400m (44.47) to finish fourth in the finals. He was one of seven athletes to go sub-45 in the race.
• With his time, Vessat moved up to second in French history and missed the record by just 0.01s set by Leslie Djhone in 2007.
• He was the first Boilermaker on the men’s side to earn First Team All-American honors outdoors. He was also on the first team indoors after he finished sixth.
• Vessat was the second Boilermaker in school history to earn two First Team All-American honors in the same season (also first team in the 4x400m), joining Waseem Williams (2019).
Men’s 4x400m Notes
• Victory Achakpoekri, Vessat, Jax Coleman and Zyan Greene ran 3:00.56 to finish fourth in the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
• Relay Splits: Achakpoekri (45.76), Vessat (44.02), Coleman (46.06), Greene (44.73).
• The placement marks Purdue’s highest finish after the 2016 relay took sixth (3:06.25).
• The relay’s performance propelled Purdue into its top 25 positioning to No. 23.
Aniamaka Notes
• A legend at Purdue, Aniamaka jumped 16.43m (53-11.00) to finish eighth in this final meet as a Boilermaker.
• The Purdue triple jump legend earned his third podium finish at an NCAAs meet.
• Aniamaka concludes his career as a five-time All-American with three first team honors and two second teams.
Kalu Notes
• In his first NCAAs appearance as a Boilermaker, Kalu finished 19th (15.60m / 51-02.25).
• Kalu earned his second All-American honor after her was on the second team at Virginia Tech in 2024.
Next Up
Amarianna Lofton concludes Purdue’s season on Saturday in the high jump at 7:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT.
