INDIANAPOLIS - The IU Indianapolis women's track and field squad had a strong start to the two-day Hoosier Horsepower Classic on Friday night (Jan. 16), racking up seven personal bests on opening night. Freshman Sarah Madi-Bouabre was the star of stars on day one, winning the long jump in her collegiate debut, while also qualifying for Saturday's finals of the 60m dash. 

Madi-Bouabre began the day with an impressive win in the long jump with a best mark of 5.61m (18' 5'') on her opening jump of the day. She easily made the finals, but was unable to replicate the effort in the win with a second-best jump of 5.23m (17' 2''). 

Senior Morgan Hoard was the team's top entry in the 60m hurdles with a time of 9.24 seconds, just missing her own personal best. Minutes later, Madi-Bouabre punched a ticket to Saturday's 60m dash finals with a school record time of 7.60 seconds, winning her heat for an automatic qualifier. 

In the high jump, freshman Elisa Algozine matched her personal best mark by clearing 1.53m (5' 0.25'') while Hoard set a new personal best mark of 1.49m (4' 10.5''). 

In the 3,000m event, sophomore Ella Colclesser placed 22nd overall with a time of 10:32.41, missing her own personal best by less than a second. Freshman Kaylynn Bedel notched a personal best time of 10:58.63 and classmate Emily Bruns finished at 11:10.48. Senior Julynne Spidell shed four seconds off her prior best with a time of 11:11.08. 

Sophomore Jahzara McAlister was the team's top performer in the 200m event with a personal best time of 25.66 and freshman Sophia Palmer finished at 26.66. Sophomore Pa'Shence Purnell spun a time of 26.95 and freshman Skylar Ferry ran 27.06. 

The meet will continue on Saturday, beginning with field events just before 10:00 a.m.