WEST LAFAYETTE − Cameron Miller is as ready as he can ever be.

The environment this week will not faze the Purdue sprinter in his third trip to the NCAA outdoor track and field championships.

Three months ago, Miller was the bronze medalist in the 200 meters at the NCAA indoor championships.

In a college career that started in 2019 and has spanned three schools, Florida and Louisville before coming to Purdue with his father, who is the Boilermaker head coach, Miller makes no bones about how he wants to go out this week, beginning with Wednesday’s 200-meter semifinals.

“Run sub 20 (seconds) and go for the win,” Miller said before departing for Eugene, Oregon, last week.

Last month in Eugene, Miller ran a personal best 20.12 seconds in the 200-meter preliminaries at the Big Ten Championships. Two years ago, Miller placed eighth in the 200 at the NCAA outdoor championships and last season was 12th. He’s the only participant in this year’s 200-meter race to be competing at the outdoor NCAAs for a third time.

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More importantly for Miller, he’s one of four Boilermakers representing the track and field program.

Jalen Elrod, heptathlon

Elrod was heartbroken after missing the NCAA qualifying mark by one point last month. She traveled to Eugene as an alternate. It was announced on Tuesday that an athlete in the heptathlon scratched and she would fill the spot.

“These past few weeks have been the biggest emotional roller coaster of my life,” Elrod said. “When I initially missed the national mark by only one point, I was devastated. It felt like my collegiate career came to such an unsatisfying ending.”

Jalen Elrod is in

She will now take the 24th and final spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the heptathlon. Catch her on Friday & Saturday in Eugene!#BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/cbQNBRWXz5

— Purdue Track & Field / Cross Country (@PurdueTrackXC) June 10, 2025

Elrod was an All-American in pentathlon during the indoor season and now she aims to become Purdue’s first heptathlon All-American since Angela Craft in 2001.

“I know we’re going to make some magic happen this weekend,” said Elrod, who competes on Friday and Saturday.

Bode Gilkerson, high jump

The only Indiana native of Purdue’s foursome in Oregon this week, Gilkerson was a two-time state high jump champion at Plainfield and helped the Quakers win the overall team state title in 2022.

Gilkerson cleared 7 feet, 1 3/4 inches at the NCAA East First Round meet in Jacksonville, Florida, marking the first Boiler high jumper to reach nationals since Eric Blackman in 2017.

The sophomore takes the approach of trying to set a personal record every meet. If he’s able to do that on Friday, he believes that bodes well for All-American recognition.

“Coach (Tony) Miller tells us that this competition is like no other,” Gilkerson said. “I’m looking to do the best that I can do. In my mind, that’s going to take me to the top eight.”

Andreas Hantson, decathlon

A native of Estonia, Hantson has the most unique path to ending up in West Lafayette.

He sent out emails with his high school scores and results to college coaches in the United States.

Purdue assistant coach Raffael Craig responded, After viewing a few YouTube videos and reading up on Purdue University, Hantson made a spontaneous decision to leave his home country and move to Indiana.

Now he’s representing the Boilermakers in the most grueling event at the NCAA Championships.

“My goal was to get there last year,” said Hantson, a sophomore. “This year, I had to. I had to do whatever it takes.”

Hantson qualified with 7,686 points at the Bryan Clay Multi-Event meet in April.

“My goal is to do my best in every event, because if I do that, I’m going to get a good score and then, most likely, I’d be a first-team All-American,” Hantson said.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.

What you need to know about the PIAA Boys Volleyball Championships on Saturday

MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State senior outside hitter Patrick Rogers has been selected to join the 14-man roster of young prospects on the 2025 Beach Collegiate/U26 National Team, as announced by USA Volleyball. Rogers and the BCNT will participate in a 10-day training period (June 9-19) in Hermosa Beach, California.

The group will train with USA Volleyball’s Beach A2 National Team throughout the sessions, culminated by the NORCECA Playoffs (June 18-19) where athletes from both squads will strive for the opportunity to play for the United States at future NORCECA international competitions.

Rogers, a 2025 honorable mention All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association and first team All-Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association selection, returns for the second-consecutive year after competing for the BCNT in 2024. Adding to his eventful summer, Rogers will also play for the 2025 Men’s U23 National Team as part of the NORCECA U23 Pan American Cup, taking place July 27 – Aug. 4 in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

 

Women’s Outdoor Track and Field | 6/11/2025 9:59:16 AM

Rebecca Heuler of the SUNY Brockport women’s track and field team was named the 2024-25 Empire 8 Female Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year, based on a vote by the conference Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs). The award honors one female student-athlete who best exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated scholar and athlete over the course of their collegiate careers.
 
Heuler wrapped up a tremendous collegiate career by earning First Team NCAA All-American honors in the javelin throw at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, placing sixth overall. In 2024, Heuler won the national championship in the javelin with a career-best throw of 47.34 meters (155’ 4”) to be become SUNY Brockport’s fourth female outdoor national champion in any event. Heuler was a two-time SUNYAC Champion in the javelin and also competed in the event at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships, held at St. John Fisher University.
 
Heuler enjoyed a banner debut season in the Empire 8, recording career-bests in the both the shot put and weight throw at the 2025 Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championship in February. She won the E8 title in the javelin at the outdoor championships in Brockport on May 2. She was also honored as the 2025 Empire 8 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Torchbearer Award for academic excellence.
 
“Rebecca embodies everything you want in a student-athlete — relentless work ethic, quiet confidence, and an unshakable drive to lead by example,” said Brockport Head Coach Ed Jaskulski. “Her journey to a national title wasn’t easy, but through every setback and challenge, she showed the kind of perseverance that inspires an entire program.”

A native of Piermont, N.Y., Heuler recently earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education from SUNY Brockport, while carrying a tremendous 4.0 grade-point average. She was named the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division III Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Scholar Field Athlete of the Year in 2024.

 

A three-time USTFCCCA Academic All-American, Heuler was named to the SUNY Brockport President’s List and SUNYAC Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, while also winning the SUNYAC Elite 20 Award for Academic Excellence in 2024.

 

Most recently, Heuler was named SUNY Brockport’s SHAPE America Major of the Year and the KSSPE Departmental Scholar for Physical Education Teacher Education. She was also nominated for the Jay B. Nash Major of the Year Award at the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

 

“Rebecca’s accomplishments in the classroom and community in addition to her accolades as a national champion track and field athlete are remarkable,” said Joe Venniro, Empire 8 Senior Associate Commissioner. “She is epitome of an ideal student-athlete and has a bright future ahead of her.”

Outside of the field and classroom, Heuler excelled in community engagement, volunteering at several events at Brockport, including the Empire State Games for the physically challenged, Westside Challenger Tennis, Rochester Rookies, Brockport Egg-A-Palooza and the SUNY Brockport swim and gym.

Rebecca is an exceptional young woman who is unmatched in everything she does,” said Dr. Lauren Bean, Assistant Professor of Physical Education at SUNY Brockport. Her accomplishments in academics, athletics, and service speak for themselves. What truly sets Rebecca apart is her desire to serve her surrounding community. She also has worked extensively in community programs that host youth with disabilities and is compassionate, dedicated, and encouraging to the youth and students she worked with.”

2024-25 Empire 8 Female Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year Finalists

Abigail Gatza, Alfred University – Softball

Rebecca Heuler, SUNY Brockport – Track and Field

Hailey Roethel, SUNY Geneseo – Field Hockey

Kristen Vacarelli, Hartwick College – Lacrosse

Deborah Cross, Houghton University – Field Hockey

Annika Monfort, Nazareth University – Soccer

Aliva Turk, SUNY Poly – Basketball/Softball

Leah Madore, Russell Sage College – Softball

Sydney Carpenter, St. John Fisher University – Lacrosse

 

ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE

The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit www.empire8.com.

 

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