Ali Sparks and Both Relays Win Events at #HLTF Championships

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Purdue Fort Wayne women’s track and field team finished in third at the 2025 Horizon League Outdoor Championships on Sunday (May 11), earning the most points in program history. Ali Sparks and both relay teams highlighted the final day of the meet.

The Mastodons earned a program-best 129 points to land in third place. Youngstown State secured the victory with 190.5 points and Milwaukee placed second with 148 points.

Following the meet, freshman Makenna Dommer was named Horizon League Women’s Freshman of the Year – Field. The Indiana native was crowned discus champion on day one of the meet (May 9) after throwing a 41.66 meter mark.

The Mastodon relay squads started and finished the day by in the same fashion, taking the title of champion and breaking the school record. The 4×100 meter relay squad of Jordan Yanders, Lillian Hurd, Aniya Young and Harmony Johnson ran a 45.73 to break the school record for the third time this year. The 4×400 meter relay team of Sanayah Ruffin, Amelie Mach, Marissa Van De Weg and Hurd finished in 3:46.12, breaking their own record to finish the meet.

Ali Sparks added another hammer throw champion to her titles, making it six in her career and four between the 2025 indoor and outdoor season. The Fort Wayne native won the event and broke her own school record with a 55.14 meter throw. Francesca Carlo set a personal record in the event, throwing 46.94 meters.

Harmony Johnson and Aniya Young both ran personal record times in the 100 meter dash to earn podium visits. Johnson ran a 11.77, good for second, and Young finished in 11.87 to take fourth.

The 400 meter hurdles was the busiest event for the ‘Dons, sending three runners to the podium. Senior Marissa Van De Weg earned third with a time of 1:01.71. Amelie Mach placed seventh with 1:04.77. Ella Jenkins ran a 1:05.50 for eighth.

Senior Jordan Yanders finished in third during the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 13.71. Jenkins also ran in the event, taking eighth with 14.23.

Bella Hodges ran a personal-record time in the 800 meters, crossing the finish line in 2:11.31 for third.

Riley Tate placed third in the 5000 meters, finishing in 17:16.17.

Louiza Kruiswijk and Kaylee Rogaczewski earned spots on the triple jump podium. Kuiswijk finished in fifth after a 11.98 meter leap and Rogaczewski cleared a personal-record 11.82 meters for sixth.

Young also ran in the 200 meter dash, completing a new school record time of 24.56 that placed sixth.

Ava Genovese was the lone Mastodon to compete in the 1500 meters, finishing in 4:35.80 for sixth.

The freshman pair of Lillian Hurd and Sanayah Ruffin earned podium visits after the 400 meter dash. Hurd took seventh with a time of 57.20 and Ruffin ran a 57.45 for eighth.

 

~ Feel the Rumble ~