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Bird and Dunnett Break School Records in Opening Weekend
Purdue Fort Wayne track and field athletes set new program bests in discus, hammer throw, and 5000 meters
Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:05am
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The Purdue Fort Wayne men's track and field team opened their outdoor season with strong performances at the Marian Knight Invite and WashU Distance Carnival. Thrower Josiah Bird broke school records in the discus and hammer throw, while distance runner Sam Dunnett set a new 5000 meters record. Other Mastodons also achieved top Horizon League marks in events like the shot put, pole vault, and sprints.
Why it matters
Purdue Fort Wayne's track and field program is looking to build on a successful indoor season and continue improving their standing in the Horizon League. These early season records and top conference performances show the team has the talent to compete at a high level and potentially challenge for league titles.
The details
At the Marian Knight Invite, Bird broke the school record in the discus with a throw of 51.08 meters, the best mark in the Horizon League. He also set a new personal best in the hammer throw at 49.95 meters, the second-best in the conference. In the shot put, Bird's throw of 14.93 meters was the top mark in the HL. On the track, Sam Dunnett broke the 5000 meters school record with a time of 14:10.13, the fastest in the Horizon League. Other Mastodons like Colten Gasson, Boden Genovese, Andrew Roman, Noah Morris, and Brevin Miller also achieved top conference performances in their respective events.
- On March 26, the Purdue Fort Wayne throwers competed at the Marian Knight Open.
- On March 27, the Mastodon distance runners competed at the WashU Distance Carnival.
- On March 27, the Purdue Fort Wayne throwers returned to the Marian Knight Open for the shot put.
The players
Josiah Bird
A Purdue Fort Wayne thrower who broke school records in the discus and hammer throw, and also had the top Horizon League mark in the shot put.
Sam Dunnett
A fifth-year distance runner for Purdue Fort Wayne who broke the school record in the 5000 meters with the fastest time in the Horizon League.
Purdue Fort Wayne
The men's track and field program at Purdue University Fort Wayne, competing in the Horizon League.
Horizon League
The NCAA Division I athletic conference that Purdue Fort Wayne's track and field team competes in.
Marian Knight Invite
An early season outdoor track and field meet hosted by Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana.
WashU Distance Carnival
An outdoor distance-focused track and field meet hosted by Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
What’s next
The Mastodons will compete next at the Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State University on April 3.
The takeaway
Purdue Fort Wayne's track and field team is off to a strong start to the outdoor season, with several athletes setting new school records and achieving top conference marks. This early success suggests the Mastodons have the talent and potential to challenge for Horizon League titles this spring.
