Brett Maynard (Pawcatuck, Conn./Stonington) and Vinnie Liuzzo (Jamestown, N.Y./Jamestown) finished first and second, respectively, in the javelin throw Saturday at the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Lisle, Ill., leading the Valparaiso men’s squad.

Maynard recorded a career-best throw of 179’0”, the fifth-longest toss in program history, to easily capture the top spot on the podium in the javelin.  Maynard outpaced Liuzzo, who registered a distance of 161’2” with his toss to finish as the runner-up, to qualify for the NCAA Mideast Regional in the event.  This was Maynard’s second straight podium finish in the javelin at the league meet, following a third-place showing in 2008.

Two other Crusaders were able to score points to help Valpo in the team standings on Saturday.  Freshman Bill Rixon (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) finished fourth in the discus throw with a toss of 147’4”, while Chris Walsh (Pittsboro, N.C./Cary Academy) placed fifth in the decathlon, tallying 4,460 points.  Walsh led the field in the decathlon across the line in the final event, completing the 1,500m run in 4:58.17 to tally 570 points.

Tom Heun (Brecksville, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) qualified fifth-fastest for Sunday’s event final in the 110m hurdles, crossing the line in 16.14 seconds.  Leandro Schultz (Valley View, Ohio/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) ran to a seventh-place showing in the 3,000m steeplechase with a season-best time of 9:53.65, while Jarrett Mickens (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) finished tenth in the long jump, leaping a season-best 19’8 ¼”.  Ryan Ruppel (Grand Blanc, Mich./Grand Blanc), Steve Schubert (Lisle, Ill./Benet Academy) and Rich Krupar (Elyria, Ohio/Midview) paced Valpo in the 100m dash, 200m dash and 800m runs, respectively, but none were able to qualify for Sunday’s event finals.

Valparaiso enters Sunday’s competition, which begins at 11 a.m., in fifth place in the team standings, having tallied 24 points through two days of action.  Milwaukee leads the team title chase with 74 points.