Sparks Earns WT Runner-Up With School Record

Saturday, February 28

Youngstown, Ohio

9 AM

Purdue Fort Wayne

Horizon League Indoor Championships

Ali Sparks

Photo by: Robert Hayes

2/28/2026 5:13:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

Photo Gallery

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The Purdue Fort Wayne women's track and field team completed their first day of competition at the Horizon League Indoor Championships on Saturday (Feb. 28).

Ali Sparks broke the weight throw school record with a mark of 18.09 meters, earning runner-up and eight points for the Mastodons. Francesca Carlo also earned points for the 'Dons, throwing a personal record 16.03 meters for sixth. Makenna Dommer also set a personal record in the event, throwing 13.84 meters.

The 'Dons DMR team of Ava Genovese, Amelie Mach, Bella Hodges and Riley Tate took second with a time of 11:47.95, earning eight points for Purdue Fort Wayne as runner-up.

Aubrey Haas finished in seventh in the pentathlon, finishing with a personal record 2943 points. Haas set personal records in the long jump (5.08 meters) and 800 meters (2:39.63). Ava McAlexander set a personal record in the event, tallying 2412 points, and three personal records: high jump (1.36 meters), long jump (4.79 meters) and 800 meters (3:01.98).

Two 'Dons qualified for the 200 meter dash finals. Lillian Hurd ran the qualifying round's second fastest time of the day (24.48) and Lena James ran a personal record time of 24.69 with the third fastest time.

Hurd also qualified for the 400 meter dash finals, finishing in 55.71 for the second fastest time of the day. Sanayah Ruffin also qualified for the finals with the eighth fastest time, running a 56.63.

Purdue Fort Wayne had two more sprinters qualify for a final round, but in the 60 meter dash. Harmony Johnson finished second in the first heat to qualify, running a 7.61, and Aniya Young ended second in the second heat with a 7.70.

Mach qualified for the 60 meter hurdles finals after running a personal record 8.80 time in the qualifying round.

Hodges won the first heat in the 800 meters with a time of 2:17.50 to qualify for the final round. Bethany Lockridge ran a personal record 2:30.35 time in the event.

Kynzlei Bassett (17:57.58) and Nori Silva (18:47.90) both ran personal records in the 5000 meters.

Purdue Fort Wayne sit in fourth after the first day with 21 points. Youngstown State leads with 86 points, followed by Milwaukee (53) and Oakland (23).

The Mastodons will finish out the Horizon League Indoor Championships are: Faith Allen (3000), Bassett (3000), Carlo (SP), Emery Carrico (SP), Genovese (Mile, 3000), James (200), Johnson (60), McKayla Henry (SP), Haylee Hile (3000), Hodges (800), Hurd (200, 400), Mach (60mH), Faith Norris (Mile), Silva (3000), Sparks (SP), Tate (Mile, 3000), Scout Warner (HJ), Amanda Williams (3000), Martia Williams (TJ), Young (60) and Ellie Zagel (SP).

~ Feel the Rumble ~