Purdue to host Track Championships
 By
Greg Doddridge
Staff Writer
The Big Ten Women's Indoor Track Championships
are back at Purdue.
For the first time since 1994, the Big Ten women's
meet will take over Lambert Fieldhouse.
And the Purdue pole-vaulters are looking to continue
their dominance in the Big Ten championship, which starts at 9 a.m.
Saturday with a second day of events slated to start at 10 a.m. Sunday.
"The Purdue women have never lost a Big Ten championship
in the pole vault," said assistant coach Steve Callaway. "And it is
in good hands this year."
The Boilers have the top-three ranked pole-vaulters
in the conference. Junior Amy Spellmeyer, last year's indoor champion,
leads the way. She is followed by senior Katie Meyer and junior Elizabeth
Metzinger, who injured her leg this season.
"She has battled through her injury. But it's been
a struggle because it's never been a real bad injury where it has been
real obvious. It's been kind of a nagging thing," said Callaway.
But Metzinger vaulted for the first time in three
weeks last weekend. Callaway said getting Metzinger back into a meet
will give her a taste of the excitement she'll see at the Big Ten meet.
Metzinger and the Boilers are ranked 11th in the
team power rankings, behind Big Ten teams No. 6 Penn State and No. 8
Indiana. Behind their team ranking, the Boilers have a few top-seeded
individuals.
Seniors Tina Johnson and Serene Ross are seeded
first and third in the long jump and 20-pound weight throw, respectively.
"We're putting more bodies in the meet," said coach
Ben Paolillo. "As long as that is the case we have a chance to score
more."
Senior Angela Craft is an example on a multi-event
athlete who can contribute in multiple ways for the Boilers.
"She is someone who we are counting on the score
us some points," Paolillo said. "I call them bonus points. Her primary
event is not the long jump. But she is good enough where she can come
in and score."
Another athlete looking to score big for her team
is redshirt freshman Kim Jordan in the 1,600 relay.
"I have a lot of confidence in our relay team,"
Jordan said. "We dropped down nine seconds this season from our slowest
time to our fastest time."
The relay team went from a time of 3:51 early in
the season to a time of 3:42 on a banked track. The relay team owns
this year's fastest time in the Big Ten by 1.6 seconds over Ohio State.
After placing second in 1999, Purdue finished fourth
last year at the Big Ten meet and is looking to improve upon that this
year.
"It's feels good to be at home," said Callaway.
"I think we will have a lot of people. If nothing else our teammates
will be here to support us. The girls that didn't make the Big Ten team
from Penn State are still going to be in Happy Valley.
"This is an exciting time in the season. This is
what you live for."
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