Indiana University Athletics
Q&A: Purcell Enjoying Final Moments of Career at Indiana
4/25/2023 2:00:00 PM | Track and Field
Purcell Q&A
Hope Purcell's outstanding performance in the pentathlon at the 2023 Big Ten Indoor Championships was not only of the brightest moments of the meet for the Hoosiers but a culmination of five years of work for the Ohio native.
Before that weekend, she hadn't competed in a pentathlon since February of 2021. A combination of the scheduling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lingering injuries had made it hard for Purcell to complete the five events in one day.
She spent the early portion of the 2023 indoor season crafting her skills in individual events, even long jumping 6.09m/19-11.75 in January, the biggest mark of her career.
Purcell finally got her chance to take on the pentathlon in Geneva, Ohio at the conference meet. She was top-three in the 60-meter hurdles, high jump and long jump. A 10-second personal best across 800 meters was enough for her to hold off Purdue's Bryanna Craig down the stretch.
Her 4109 points across the five events were a personal best and No. 2 in school history behind only Olympian and Big Ten Champion DeDee Nathan.
With just two months left in her career, and a potential Heptathlon at the Big Ten Championships on her home track, the fifth-year Purcell is taking in every moment that the sport has to offer.
When did you start competing in track and field?
"I had started in seventh grade. I did gymnastics and then switched to competitive cheerleading. I think it was just to be with friends because I was always around them in gymnastics and cheer. It was something to do with my school friends."
What events did you start with?
"I started with high jump and hurdles. I immediately loved it and was good at it and got to hang out with my friends every day after school.
How did you become a multi-event athlete?
"Most gymnasts that switch to track are either pole vaulters or multis because we're very body aware. We're able to pick up on stuff really fast. When I started doing high jump and hurdles, I eventually did some sprinting and long jump too. Most of all the colleges I visited said I was going to be a multi and I was excited about it. I like being able to do all these events. If you do bad, you move on. Obviously, it's stressful of doing it over two days but it's exciting because you get to do something new every day."
What was your first taste of a pentathlon or heptathlon?
"I didn't do one until college. I didn't throw a single thing until college. I got here and we immediately started doing shot put and javelin. I was awful, and I'm still not that great, but for never throwing anything in my life. Yeah, that was a challenge."
"It was kind of weird, because now with AAU track most multis do it in the summer. But I was doing cheer in the summer, so I had kind of switched over from track."
What made IU the right choice?
"I came on my visit and hung out with the jumps group. I got on campus, and it wasn't a huge city but also not a small town. It was a really nice in between. I loved the beautiful scenery. But it was the jumps group, hands down. I connected with them immediately. It's like family."
Where have you seen yourself grow over the years?
"When I came in, I immediately got fourth at the Big Ten meet, so we knew I had potential. My sophomore year, it was a really tough year for the multis. I didn't get on the podium but I increased my points. Then COVID hit and it took a halt to my process. Something with the Heptathlon that's really technical is the javelin, it just takes years of practice to learn those skills."
"Over the years it's been getting more comfortable with those skills and finding more confidence in myself. Knowing that I can stick out two whole days of competition and that I'm strong enough, you see a whole lot of fifth years come out here with a new level of confidence."
You needed a strong 800 meters to win the Big Ten Pentathlon title. What was that final event like?
"The 800 meters has always been my kryptonite and I absolutely fear it. I still do but when there's something on the line, it's just different. This year I had a lot more training where I felt more comfortable. I was able to go out with a plan and hit my times."
When did you figure out you had won it, because it was so close?
"I knew it was going to be close. I didn't know how close. The Purdue girl was pulling away and the hit a wall. I just knew I had to stay within 50-100 meters of her. I was waiting for the scoreboard, but I heard my family cheer first so that's how I knew."
What did it mean to win IU's first pentathlon title in over 30 years?
"The multis are a very tough thing to do. A lot of people will start it but it's really tough to stick it out. Knowing that I'm second to someone who was an Olympian and knowing that it could help the future of multis in the program is exciting."
How are you approaching the final months of your collegiate career?
"I want to appreciate each meet and know that I'm doing stuff that's really cool and stuff that I won't do again. I'm just looking forward to finishing out the season and my last Big Ten's with this team and the experiences it brings."
What are your plans post college?
"I would like to work in a commercial architecture firm in a big city. I'll be doing design."
Hope Purcell's outstanding performance in the pentathlon at the 2023 Big Ten Indoor Championships was not only of the brightest moments of the meet for the Hoosiers but a culmination of five years of work for the Ohio native.
Before that weekend, she hadn't competed in a pentathlon since February of 2021. A combination of the scheduling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lingering injuries had made it hard for Purcell to complete the five events in one day.
She spent the early portion of the 2023 indoor season crafting her skills in individual events, even long jumping 6.09m/19-11.75 in January, the biggest mark of her career.
Purcell finally got her chance to take on the pentathlon in Geneva, Ohio at the conference meet. She was top-three in the 60-meter hurdles, high jump and long jump. A 10-second personal best across 800 meters was enough for her to hold off Purdue's Bryanna Craig down the stretch.
Her 4109 points across the five events were a personal best and No. 2 in school history behind only Olympian and Big Ten Champion DeDee Nathan.
With just two months left in her career, and a potential Heptathlon at the Big Ten Championships on her home track, the fifth-year Purcell is taking in every moment that the sport has to offer.
When did you start competing in track and field?
"I had started in seventh grade. I did gymnastics and then switched to competitive cheerleading. I think it was just to be with friends because I was always around them in gymnastics and cheer. It was something to do with my school friends."
What events did you start with?
"I started with high jump and hurdles. I immediately loved it and was good at it and got to hang out with my friends every day after school.
How did you become a multi-event athlete?
"Most gymnasts that switch to track are either pole vaulters or multis because we're very body aware. We're able to pick up on stuff really fast. When I started doing high jump and hurdles, I eventually did some sprinting and long jump too. Most of all the colleges I visited said I was going to be a multi and I was excited about it. I like being able to do all these events. If you do bad, you move on. Obviously, it's stressful of doing it over two days but it's exciting because you get to do something new every day."
What was your first taste of a pentathlon or heptathlon?
"I didn't do one until college. I didn't throw a single thing until college. I got here and we immediately started doing shot put and javelin. I was awful, and I'm still not that great, but for never throwing anything in my life. Yeah, that was a challenge."
"It was kind of weird, because now with AAU track most multis do it in the summer. But I was doing cheer in the summer, so I had kind of switched over from track."
What made IU the right choice?
"I came on my visit and hung out with the jumps group. I got on campus, and it wasn't a huge city but also not a small town. It was a really nice in between. I loved the beautiful scenery. But it was the jumps group, hands down. I connected with them immediately. It's like family."
Where have you seen yourself grow over the years?
"When I came in, I immediately got fourth at the Big Ten meet, so we knew I had potential. My sophomore year, it was a really tough year for the multis. I didn't get on the podium but I increased my points. Then COVID hit and it took a halt to my process. Something with the Heptathlon that's really technical is the javelin, it just takes years of practice to learn those skills."
"Over the years it's been getting more comfortable with those skills and finding more confidence in myself. Knowing that I can stick out two whole days of competition and that I'm strong enough, you see a whole lot of fifth years come out here with a new level of confidence."
You needed a strong 800 meters to win the Big Ten Pentathlon title. What was that final event like?
"The 800 meters has always been my kryptonite and I absolutely fear it. I still do but when there's something on the line, it's just different. This year I had a lot more training where I felt more comfortable. I was able to go out with a plan and hit my times."
When did you figure out you had won it, because it was so close?
"I knew it was going to be close. I didn't know how close. The Purdue girl was pulling away and the hit a wall. I just knew I had to stay within 50-100 meters of her. I was waiting for the scoreboard, but I heard my family cheer first so that's how I knew."
What did it mean to win IU's first pentathlon title in over 30 years?
"The multis are a very tough thing to do. A lot of people will start it but it's really tough to stick it out. Knowing that I'm second to someone who was an Olympian and knowing that it could help the future of multis in the program is exciting."
How are you approaching the final months of your collegiate career?
"I want to appreciate each meet and know that I'm doing stuff that's really cool and stuff that I won't do again. I'm just looking forward to finishing out the season and my last Big Ten's with this team and the experiences it brings."
What are your plans post college?
"I would like to work in a commercial architecture firm in a big city. I'll be doing design."
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