Bella Hodges Selected For #HLTF Indoor Sportsmanship Award
3/20/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
INDIANAPOLIS - Bella Hodges from Purdue Fort Wayne women's track and field team was selected for the 2026 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Sportsmanship Award, the league announced on Friday (March 20).
"She is a fierce competitor, but she competes with tremendous respect for everyone around her.", Purdue Fort Wayne track and field director Aaron Combs said. "Bella has always made a point to wish the women on the starting line good luck. After races, she is consistently among the first to congratulate competitors, regardless of her own result. At the Horizon League Championships, she went out of her way to congratulate RMU after their DMR win and spent time talking with the other athletes in the 800-meter final.", said Combs. "What makes her sportsmanship even more meaningful is the adversity she has faced. She has battled multiple serious injuries throughout her career, yet she has never allowed those setbacks to affect her attitude toward teammates, competitors, or the sport itself. Her resilience, humility, and respect for others make her a deserving nominee for the Horizon League Sportsmanship Award.", Combs added.
Hodges is the ninth Mastodon across all sports to earn the Sportsmanship Award since the Horizon League first gave the honor in 2024.
The Indianapolis native aided the 'Dons with 16 points in the 2026 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships. The senior ran a school record 2:12.51 800 meters in the finals to earn runner-up on the second day. Hodges also ran the 800 meter leg of the DMR on day one, finishing as runner-up.
This is the second honor in as many days for Hodges, as she was named Academic All-League on Thursday.
"She is a fierce competitor, but she competes with tremendous respect for everyone around her.", Purdue Fort Wayne track and field director Aaron Combs said. "Bella has always made a point to wish the women on the starting line good luck. After races, she is consistently among the first to congratulate competitors, regardless of her own result. At the Horizon League Championships, she went out of her way to congratulate RMU after their DMR win and spent time talking with the other athletes in the 800-meter final.", said Combs. "What makes her sportsmanship even more meaningful is the adversity she has faced. She has battled multiple serious injuries throughout her career, yet she has never allowed those setbacks to affect her attitude toward teammates, competitors, or the sport itself. Her resilience, humility, and respect for others make her a deserving nominee for the Horizon League Sportsmanship Award.", Combs added.
Hodges is the ninth Mastodon across all sports to earn the Sportsmanship Award since the Horizon League first gave the honor in 2024.
The Indianapolis native aided the 'Dons with 16 points in the 2026 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships. The senior ran a school record 2:12.51 800 meters in the finals to earn runner-up on the second day. Hodges also ran the 800 meter leg of the DMR on day one, finishing as runner-up.
This is the second honor in as many days for Hodges, as she was named Academic All-League on Thursday.
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