April 2, 1998
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Toyinda Smith (Gary, Ind., Lew Wallace H.S.), a junior on the Purdue women's track and field team, and Randy Miller (Bunker Hill, Ind., Maconaquah H.S.), a senior on the Purdue men's track and field team were named Purdue's Female Athlete-of-the-Month and Male Athlete-of-the-Month, respectively, for their outstanding performances in March. The award is sponsored by WLFI-TV and Twin City Dodge-Chrysler-Plymouth.
Smith earned All-America honors by placing fourth in the 20-pound weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 13-14 in Indianapolis. Her throw of 68-03.25 set Purdue and Big Ten records and was the fifth-best ever by a collegian. The performance topped her previous best of 65-03.00, which earned her first place at the Last Chance Meet on March 7 in Indianapolis.
Smith also placed first in the 20-pound weight throw at the Big Ten Indoor Championships on March 1 with a throw of 59-10.50.
At the Purdue Open on March 27-28, Smith set Purdue, Rankin Track and meet records in the discus and hammer throw. Her throws of 173-07.0 in the discus and 169-10.0 in the hammer provisionally qualify her for the NCAA Championships in Buffalo, N.Y. The hammer throw mark is also a Big Ten record.
In 1997, Smith earned a Big Ten title in the discus with a heave of 166-02.00 and was a runner-up in 1996.
Miller placed fourth in the pole vault to claim his second indoor All-America honor and third overall. A 1998 Big Ten Champion, Miller cleared the same height, 18-02.50, as the three people who placed above him, but finished fourth based on his misses. His mark was good for a Purdue record, which he previously co-owned with Ed Langford and Greg Fenza following his 18-00.50 effort at the Big Ten meet. His mark at the Big Ten meet earned him his second indoor conference title.
Miller also finished second at the Purdue Open on March 27-28.
In 1997, Miller had an outstanding outdoor campaign, setting a school record (18-04.75), winning a Big Ten title and earning All-America honors. He was a 1996 Big Ten indoor champion with a vault of 17-09.50.