Saturday, January 23, 2010

Jarrett Mickens (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) and Eric Slenk (Holland, Mich./Christian) each posted top-ten finishes Saturday to lead the Valparaiso men's track and field team on the final day of competition at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Mickens placed tenth Saturday in the 200m dash, showcasing her versatility one day after excelling in the triple jump.  The junior crossed the line in 23.60 seconds for his tenth-place finish.

Slenk, in just his second collegiate meet, posted a time of 51.81 seconds in the 400m dash to finish ninth.  The freshman also competed in the 60m dash, failing to qualify for the finals with a time of 7.38 seconds.  Elsewhere, Derek Schnake (Chicago, Ill./Lincoln Park) paced the Valpo contingent with a 19th-place finish in the 800m run, while David Carter (Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey) led the Crusaders, finishing 26th in the 3,000m run.

Valparaiso returns to action next weekend at the two-day Findlay Classic.  Meet action begins on Friday morning at 10 a.m. CST.