INDIANAPOLIS - For the first time during the indoor track and field season, the IU Indianapolis women's squad showcased nearly a full roster as the Jaguars competed at the Hoosier Horsepower Classic inside Fall Creek Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Saturday (Jan. 18). Veterans Ellie Cates and Brooke Neal paced the distance runners while junior Modupe Awosanya finished second overall in the long jump on a busy day of action. 

Neal, making her IU Indy debut after transferring from Purdue Fort Wayne, was the team's top finisher in the 3,000m event at night's end. Cates pulled a tough double, running the mile earlier in the day before running the 800m event a few hours later. On the infield, Awosanya had a strong day against stiff competition as part of her eventful afternoon. 

While the meet was a first opportunity for the newcomers to compete inside the nearby Fall Creek Pavilion, it was the old guard that made the most of the opportunity against a strong field. 

Awosanya trailed only Notre Dame standout Jadin O'Brien in the long jump with a best mark of 6.12m (20' 1'') in a runner-up finish. She just missed qualifying for the finals of the 60m dash with a time of 7.74 seconds before Journey Howard (9.35) and Pa'Shence Purnell (9.44) topped the team's entries in the 60m hurdles. 

Cates had an impressive run in the mile, clocking a time of 5:02.84 to finish seventh overall. Grace Bragg made her indoor debut in the second heat with a time of 5:23.53, placing fourth in her race and 16th overall. 

In the high jump, the trio of Howard, Jada-Marie Davis and Paige Laffoon all cleared 1.54m (5' 0.5'') for their best jumps of the day. 

The 800m event saw Wini Barnett notch a time of 2:20.87, edging Cates' time of 2:23.03. Freshman Julianna Crow earned a heat win with a time of 2:25.64 and Bragg closed at 2:28.03 to cap her double. 

Freshman Jahzara McAlister was the team's top finisher in the 200m dash with a time of 26.41 and Reese McCuan ran 27.84 in her first collegiate 200m race. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Ava Sullivan had a best throw of 9.68m (31' 9.25'') in the shotput, doing so on her final attempt of the day. 

Neal paced the Jaguars' entries in the 3K with a time of 10:15.06 while Hannah Robbins ran an impressive personal best time of 10:33.84, just ahead of Laci Provenzano's time of 10:36.52. Freshman Ella Colclesser made her debut with a time of 10:50.14. 

The Jaguars will return to action on Friday, Jan. 24 when they participate at the Bellarmine Open in Louisville.