FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Sophomore Paige Laffoon highlighted the IU Indianapolis women's track and field team's efforts on opening day of the #HLTF Indoor Championships inside Lutheran Health Fieldhouse, earning a runner-up finish in the pentathlon on Saturday (Mar. 1). Laffoon exceeded her own school record by 250 points in placing second among 14 competitors. 

Laffoon picked the best day to have a best day, opening with a time of 9.08 seconds in the 60m hurdles while teammate Morgan Hoard finished at 9.28 seconds. She followed with a personal best mark of 1.63m (5' 4.25'') in the high jump while Hoard had a season-best jump of 1.45m (4' 9''). In the shot put, Hoard was fourth of all competitors at 10.73m (35' 2.5'') while Laffoon had a best throw of 10.07m (33' 0.5''). 

Laffoon followed with a strong long jump mark of 5.71m (18' 8.75'') and Hoard jumped 4.81m (15' 9.5''). Laffoon closed out the record setting performance with a personal best time of 2:29.16 in the 800m run while Hoard had a season-best effort of 2:46.14. 

Junior Modupe Awosanya had a busy day, competing in the prelims of both the 60m and 200m events, while also placing sixth overall in the long jump. Awosanya ran 7.74 seconds in the 60 and a season-best time of 25.36 in the 200m. Her best jump of 5.77m (18' 11.25'') advanced her to the finals, but she was unable to extend her mark in her final attempts. Laffoon jumped 5.37m (17' 7.5'') in the long jump and Jade Wiese jumped 5.14m (16' 10.5''). 

Jahzara McAlister ran 1:00.23 in the prelims of the 400m dash and Wini Barnett just missed a spot in the finals of the 800m event, crossing at 2:21.72. Freshman Pa'Shence Purnell topped the team entries in the 60m hurdles at 9.22 seconds while Journey Howard finished at 9.25 seconds. 

In the 5,000m event, veteran Ellie Cates finished seventh to contribute to the team's point total, finishing at 17:38.46. Brooke Neal finished at 18:13.98 and Hannah Robbins ran a time of 18:51.75. 

The Jaguars closed the day with a sixth-place finish in the distance medley relay as the group of Grace Bragg, Barnett, Julianna Crow and Julie Smith combined on a time of 12:21.81. 

The Jaguars will return to action at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.