The Crusader men’s track & field team returned to competition this weekend, traveling to Hillsdale, Mich. to take part in the Hillsdale Winter Opener. The Crusaders boasted several top five finishers at the event. Valparaiso’s performance was highlighted by Junior Kevin Adamik who took second overall in the 400m hurdlers, finishing with a time of 1:01.12.

Freshman Brennan Miller took a top five finish in the high jump, clearing a height of 5’10 ½”, while Junior Jacob Frey placed eighth in the shot put, throwing for a distance of 40’4”. Jacob Smutz took fourth overall in the weight throw, posting a distance 49’8 ½”.

In the pole vault, Justin Zosso rounded out the top five, vaulting to a height of 14’3 ½”. Zosso’s effort in the pole vault was good enough to put him at first overall on the Crusader’s all-time chart.

On the track, the Crusader’s 4x400m relay team of Josh Carow, Kevin Adamik, Mark Pinnow, and Joe Holy ran to a fourth place finish, clocking in at 3:39.97. Elsewhere, freshman Matt Pinnow narrowly missed out on a top five finish in the 800m dash, clocking in at a time of 2:13.71, which was good for sixth place.

The Crusader men return to competition on Friday, January 17^th, to compete at the GVSU Invitational in Allendale, Mich.