Joe Purpura

Class:
Redshirt
Hometown:
Pataskala, Ohio
High School:
Watkins Memorial

2008 Junior Season

Indoor Track and Field – Recorded a season personal-best time of 15:10.81 in the 5,000-meter run at the Sykes-Sabock Challenge Cup…top personal time of the season in the 3,000-meter run came at the Kent State Tune-Up where he clocked a 8:44.59.

Outdoor Track and Field – Took seventh place in the 10,000-meter run at the MAC Championships with a time of 31:41.57, his top time of season…his season personal-best time in the 5,000-meter run was a 15:18.17 at the Jesse Owens Classic…timed in at 8:57.50 in the 3,000-meter run at the Campbell-Wright Open, a season personal best.

Prior to Kent State

Transferred from the University of Alabama…also spent a year at Virginia Intermont College…named to the Presidental All-Athletic and Academic team at VIC…member of the 2006 NAIA National Championship team for the Cobras…finished sixth at the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships while at Alabama…a four-time All-Ohio Capital Conference selection at Watkins Memorial High School…also was a regional qualifier as a junior and a state qualifier as a senior for the Warriors…earned four letters in both cross country and track and field at WMHS.

Personal

Born Sept. 18, 1987…son of Bill and Lori Purpura…majoring in sports administration