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GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 28 • 21 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@ GoldandBlack.com B efore competi- tors knew Chuk- wuebuka Enekwechi, they thought maybe he was a bystander, perhaps a fan having wandered over from the stands to get a close-up view of the competition. An easy mistake; Enekwechi didn't look the part, stand- ing only 5-foot-10 while most of his peers are about a half-foot taller. "I'd get funny looks, especially when I had my warm-ups on, because that kind of hides (my physique)," said Enekwechi, the Boilermakers' champion thrower in track and field. "It was like 'What are you doing here? … Spectators aren't allowed in.' Then, I'd take my warmups off and it'd be, 'Oh, he belongs here.' "It's a good experience, makes a lot of jokes." But the results aren't a laugher. En- ekwechi, only a third-year sophomore who had limited throwing experience before coming to Purdue, has been dominant in the Big Ten. Last weekend, he battled adverse conditions — wind, cool temperatures and heavy rain bat- tered the first day of the championships, held at Purdue's Rankin Track and Field — to win the hammer throw with a long toss of 66.22 meters. It was Purdue's first outdoor gold medal in men's track and field since 2011. Enekwechi also finished second in the shot put, throwing 19.38 meters. He and 24 of his qualifying Boiler- maker teammates will travel to the NCAA East Preliminary Round on May 29-31 in Jacksonville, Fla., as they try to make the NCAA Championships. In the Big Ten indoors in early March, the Laurelton, N.Y., native finished third in both the weight throw and shot and matched the place in the weight at the NCAAs two weeks later to become a first- team All-American. Enekwechi succeeds despite some physical limitations; well, at least in height. His physical presence is other- wise imposing, thanks in large part to his work in the weight room. Enekwechi says he has to be a war- rior there to help make up for his height, which creates a disadvantage because his launch angles and his push distance aren't ideal, particularly in the shot put. "Absolutely, he has to be stronger, has to be more explosive than some of the l a f a y e t t e s a v i n g s p r e s e n t s l a f a y e t t e l e g e n d : c h u k e n e k w e c h i An Imposing Presence Enekwechi overcoming the odds EyE i n g a n Ew h o m E? Choose the "Best Bank" to help you move in. Voted the best in the community, Lafayette Savings Bank provides home loans through fast decisions and streamlined paperwork. www.lsbank.com | 765-429-2914 E v E r y A n g l E . E v E r y P o s s i b i l i t y . Purdue Sophomore Chuk Enekwechi is proving to be one of the best throwers in the country, despite some limitations.