Steve Bartholomew (Valparaiso, Ind./Morgan Township H.S.) won the hammer throw Thursday as Valparaiso competed on day one of the Mid-Continent Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Macomb, Ill.

Bartholomew took top honors with his effort of 189'7", extending his own school record by over three feet. It also marks the second time this year that Bartholomew, who won the event by nearly nine feet, has surpassed the NCAA regional qualifying standard.

Bartholomew led four Crusaders who finished among the top-nine in the hammer throw. Jeff Swihart (Wakarusa, Ind./Northwood H.S.) took sixth place with a throw of 157'6", while Matt Stohs (Shawnee, Kan./Shawnee Mission NW H.S.) finished eighth with a toss of 150', both personal bests. Eric Smith (Portage, Ind./Portage H.S.) placed ninth with his effort of 147'5", and Erik Lindamood (Warrenton, Va./Liberty H.S.) rounded out the Crusader contingent, finishing 12th with a throw of 124'10".

In the only other event final of day one, David Wheeler (Saint Charles, Ill./East H.S.) came home 12th in the 10,000m run with a time of 34:41.32. Jordan Stanfill (Goshen, Ind./Goshen H.S.) crossed the line in 34:59.57, good for 14th position.

After two of 21 event finals, Valparaiso sits in third place with 14 cumulative points. Southern Utah leads the competitors with 33 points. Action resumes on day two of the three-day meet Friday at 9:30 a.m.