Grace Sparks has signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Youngstown State women's track and field program for the 2022-23 season, Youngstown State head coach Brian Gorby and throws coach Megan Tomei announced Wednesday.
"Our track and field staff is very excited to have Grace, an OSHAA state champion, join our championship-caliber throws family," Gorby said. "Grace will receive the opportunity to train with Coach Tomei and alongside fellow state champions and top-25 nationally-ranked throwers to continue to help lift our throws program to an elite level!"
Sparks signs with YSU coming off an individual state title in the women's weight throw competition at the OSHSAA state track & field meet during the 2022 indoor season. She ended the 2022 campaign with a personal-best mark of 15.10m (49' 6½") in the weight throw, which was good for the second-furthest throw in the state, along with the 15th-furthest nationally. For her efforts, Sparks was invited to and competed in the women's weight throw event at the Adidas National Weight Throw Championship in Virginia Beach, Va., and logged an impressive runner-up finish.
Adding to her career notables, the Creston, Ohio, native logged the 24th-best shot put in the state during the 2022 indoor season, throwing a personal best 11.25 m (36' 11") mark.
Outdoors, Sparks holds a personal-best mark of 36.11 m (118' 6") in the discus throw. The mark was clocked during the 2021 outdoor season and acted as the 76th-furthest throw across Ohio.
