Saturday, March 1
Fort Wayne, Ind.
9 AM
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Horizon League Indoor Championships
Ali Sparks
Photo by: Rachel Von Art
Ali Sparks Wins the Weight Throw at #HLTF Indoor Championships
3/1/2025 9:24:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Purdue Fort Wayne women's track & field program, led by Ali Sparks' first-place finish, sits in second place after day one (March 1) of the 2025 Horizon League Indoor Championships. The Mastodons are hosting the event at the Lutheran Health Fieldhouse.
Sparks broke an 11-year-old weight throw school record with her final mark of 18.05 meters. This throw took first in the event, crowning her weight throw champion. Sparks' six attempts of the day (17.76, 17.33, 17.23, 17.09, 17.16 and 18.05) were the five farthest marks in the event.
Louiza Kruiswijk broke her own long jump school record, previously set at the Mastodon Opener (Dec. 7). The senior's leap of 5.93 earned her long jump runner-up.
The distance medley relay squad of Haylee Hile, Marissa Van De Weg, Bella Hodges and Ava Genovese finished off day one by taking runner-up in the event with 12:05.19.
Riley Tate also made a visit to the podium, finishing fifth in the 5000 meters after running the event in 17:24.69.
Two Mastodons joined the podium following the first event of the meet, the pentathlon. Ellie Zagel set personal records in the 60 meter hurdles (9.16) and high jump (1.63 meters) to earn 3493 points and a fifth place finish. Freshman Amelie Mach took sixth (3383) in her first league championship, setting personal records in the high jump (1.63 meters) and shot put (8.54 meters).
The 'Dons also secured 12 spots during day two of the championships after qualifying in the preliminary rounds.
Aniya Young and Jai Reed tied for second in the 60 meter dash preliminary round, finishing in 7.60. Harmony Johnson completed the round in 7.63, finishing in sixth.
Freshman Lillian Hurd will go into the 200 meter dash finals tomorrow as the top seed after a time of 24.90 in the prelims on Saturday. Madeline McClerren secured third (25.05) and Reed qualified with a time of 25.21, finishing sixth.
Hurd and McClerren also qualified for the 400 meter dash, placing third (57.79) and fifth (57.91). Freshman Sanayah Ruffin took seventh (58.46).
Senior Jordan Yanders earned the top spot in the 60 meter hurdles finals after a 8.52 finish. Jaliyah Page placed seventh (8.86)
Bella Hodges finished at the top of the 800 meters prelims, completing the event in 2:16.69.
The 'Dons finished day two with 37 points, sitting only behind Youngstown State (76).
Amanda Williams, Lydia Carrell, Mercedes Sarver, Kynzlei Bassett, Haley Sponaugle, Scout Warner, Kaylee Rogaczewski, Emery Carrico and McKayla Henry will also compete in day two of the Horizon League Indoor Championships.
Sparks broke an 11-year-old weight throw school record with her final mark of 18.05 meters. This throw took first in the event, crowning her weight throw champion. Sparks' six attempts of the day (17.76, 17.33, 17.23, 17.09, 17.16 and 18.05) were the five farthest marks in the event.
Louiza Kruiswijk broke her own long jump school record, previously set at the Mastodon Opener (Dec. 7). The senior's leap of 5.93 earned her long jump runner-up.
The distance medley relay squad of Haylee Hile, Marissa Van De Weg, Bella Hodges and Ava Genovese finished off day one by taking runner-up in the event with 12:05.19.
Riley Tate also made a visit to the podium, finishing fifth in the 5000 meters after running the event in 17:24.69.
Two Mastodons joined the podium following the first event of the meet, the pentathlon. Ellie Zagel set personal records in the 60 meter hurdles (9.16) and high jump (1.63 meters) to earn 3493 points and a fifth place finish. Freshman Amelie Mach took sixth (3383) in her first league championship, setting personal records in the high jump (1.63 meters) and shot put (8.54 meters).
The 'Dons also secured 12 spots during day two of the championships after qualifying in the preliminary rounds.
Aniya Young and Jai Reed tied for second in the 60 meter dash preliminary round, finishing in 7.60. Harmony Johnson completed the round in 7.63, finishing in sixth.
Freshman Lillian Hurd will go into the 200 meter dash finals tomorrow as the top seed after a time of 24.90 in the prelims on Saturday. Madeline McClerren secured third (25.05) and Reed qualified with a time of 25.21, finishing sixth.
Hurd and McClerren also qualified for the 400 meter dash, placing third (57.79) and fifth (57.91). Freshman Sanayah Ruffin took seventh (58.46).
Senior Jordan Yanders earned the top spot in the 60 meter hurdles finals after a 8.52 finish. Jaliyah Page placed seventh (8.86)
Bella Hodges finished at the top of the 800 meters prelims, completing the event in 2:16.69.
The 'Dons finished day two with 37 points, sitting only behind Youngstown State (76).
Day one ✅
— Purdue Fort Wayne Track&XC (@MastodonTFXC) March 2, 2025
Tune in tomorrow to see the finish of the #HLTF Indoor Championships!#FeelTheRumble #GoDons pic.twitter.com/x9CAJD02UG
Amanda Williams, Lydia Carrell, Mercedes Sarver, Kynzlei Bassett, Haley Sponaugle, Scout Warner, Kaylee Rogaczewski, Emery Carrico and McKayla Henry will also compete in day two of the Horizon League Indoor Championships.
~ Feel The Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Multi
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps/Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps/Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Multi
/ Women's Track and Field2025 HL Outdoor Championships
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