MEN'S TRACK & FIELD

The Purdue men's track team served as the Big Ten Conference's doormat in 2006.

Only two years later, coach Jack Warner's Boilermakers are a force to be reckoned with.

Purdue followed up its No. 6 finish indoors a year ago by finishing No. 2 in the league this season -- marking only the third time in school history the Boilers have placed second at the league's indoor meet.

"It just goes to show you that all the hard work we put in paid off," Purdue senior hurdler Brian Kaluf said.

Kaluf, a former Lake Central star, placed third at the Big Ten meet in the 60-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 7.94.

After the Boilers placed second indoors, Kaluf took pride in standing on the awards stand.

"That was a great moment, because just standing on the podium at the Big Ten Championship had always been a dream," he said.

Kaluf, who's qualified for NCAA Regionals in the 110 high hurdles, is the poster child for Warner's program.

He's a team captain, who's developed a reputation for being solid in every meet.

"He's what I consider a true team leader," Warner said. "I can always count on Brian. He's been steady Freddie for us. He's a young man who leads by example in everything he says and does. He doesn't have a bad weekend. I wouldn't trade him for a million dollars."

Two other standout athletes Warner wouldn't trade are Jh'Rome Tuggle (Merrillville) and Nolan Petties (Andrean).

Tuggle, who just missed qualifying for NCAA nationals the past two years, took first in the 200 indoors (21.35) and placed fourth in the 400 (48.19). The senior ran a personal-best 21.29 at Iowa State, which is the third-best time in school history.

"Our freshman and sophomore years here, were really low," Tuggle said. "We always had talent, but we never really put it all together."

Tuggle is shooting for NCAA titles in the 200 and 400. He ran a 21.25 outdoors at Arizona State recently to qualify for NCAA Regionals.

"I have really high expectations for myself," Tuggle said.

Petties, meanwhile, is a redshirt junior, who qualified for the NCAA Regionals last year in the long and triple jumps.

His 24 3/4 is a season-best in the long jump. He placed fourth at the Big Ten meet in the long jump (24 3/4) and took third in the triple jump (50-8).

"I'm shooting for Big Ten titles in both the long and triple jumps," Petties said. "I think I can do a lot of good things outdoors. I have a long way to go in the triple jump, but the coaches say I have the potential to do great."

The Boilers placed 10th outdoors two years ago, but took fifth last year -- only eight points away from second place.

"The kids have believed in themselves and gotten stronger," Warner said. "They're winning and having fun. They've taken ownership of the program and that's what it's all about."