Jarrett Mickens (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) picked up a pair of event victories in the jumps as the Valparaiso men’s track and field team competed Saturday at the Aquinas Open in Grand Rapids, Mich., its final meet before next weekend’s Horizon League Outdoor Championships.

Mickens continued his stellar junior campaign in the jumps with his pair of top-of-the-podium efforts Saturday.  He leapt 23’0 ¾” in the long jump and 46’6” in the triple jump for the wins.  Steve Schubert (Lisle, Ill./Benet Academy) also registered a podium finish in the triple jump, placing third with an effort of 44’2 ½”.

Elsewhere on the infield, Charlie Walesa (Chicago, Ill./Luther North) surpassed his season-best effort in the high jump, clearing 6’0 ¾” to tie for second place.  Nick Babbitt (Milwaukee, Wis./Nicolet) moved into third place in Crusader history in the hammer throw with a career-best toss of 166’11”, while Bill Rixon (Deerfield, Ill./Deerfield) finished tenth in the same event with a career-best mark of 145’0”.  Rixon also picked up an eighth-place finish in the discus throw, tossing the implement 150’6”.

On the track, Mike Kash (Woodridge, Ill./Lemont Township) recorded a pair of top-tens in the hurdles, finishing seventh in the 110m hurdles (17.53 seconds) and eighth in the 400m hurdles (1:00.57).  Derek Schnake (Chicago, Ill./Lincoln Park) paced the rest of the Crusader runners, crossing the line in the 1,500m run in 4:13.46, good for 12th place.

Valparaiso kicks off the three-day 2010 Horizon League Outdoor Championships this Friday, April 30, in Lisle, Ill.  The first event is slated for a 10 a.m. start.