BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The IU Indianapolis women's track and field squad posted 13 new personal bests as the Jaguars participated in the IU Early Bird inside Gladstein Fieldhouse on Friday night (Dec. 13). Four freshmen made their IU Indy debuts as the Jaguars essentially broke the ice on the indoor season. 

The night began with four Jaguars setting new personal bests in the 60m hurdles, paced by freshman Pa'Shence Purnell earning a spot in the finals with a time of 9.03 seconds. Sophomore Journey Howard also punched a ticket to the finals with a time of 9.24 seconds in the prelims while Paige Laffoon (9.25), Morgan Hoard (9.34) and Shelby McGee (9.67) all notched new personal bests. Purnell was the team's top finisher in the finals at 9.18 seconds. 

In the 60m dash, junior Modupe Awosanya qualified for the finals with a time of 7.69 seconds in the prelims and later finished sixth overall with a time of 7.71 seconds in the finals. Jahzara McAlister (8.00) and Jade Wiese (8.29) both posted new personal bests in the prelims of the 60m dash. 

Coming off injury, Julie Smith was the team's top finisher in the mile with a time of 5:17.68 while Wini Barnett finished at 5:32.27. Jada-Marie Davis was the team's lone entrant in the 300m dash and notched a personal best time of 46.07 seconds while another group of sprinters closed the night in the 200m event. McAlister placed eighth overall with a personal best time of 25.82 and Purnell finished ninth at 25.92. Laci Spore ran to a win in her heat with a personal best time of 26.29, taking more than a full second off her prior best. 

"It definitely felt very nerve-wracking," Purnell said. "I was highly scared coming in and competing in my first college meet, but after that prelim during the hurdles and seeing how I got a new PR, I definitely felt proud of myself. As well as I was very shocked at myself with that 200. I didn't expect to get a PR in that one either."

In the jumps, Laffoon finished third in the long jump with a best mark of 5.82m (19' 1.25'') and Wiese jumped 5.28m (17' 4''). Hoard's best jump of the night was a mark of 5.09m (16' 8.5''). Howard just missed a new personal best in the high jump, clearing 1.60m (5' 3'') on her third and final attempt. 

In the shotput, redshirt freshman Ava Sullivan made her collegiate debut with a best throw of 9.99m (32' 9.5'') and Hoard threw 9.94m (32' 7.5''). 

The Jaguars won't compete again until the Jan. 17 Mastodon Invitational in Fort Wayne.