The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams participated in a two-day meet at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. on Friday and Saturday. The men earned 10^th of 28 teams with 45 points, and the women finished in 15^th with 19 points. Junior Ben Zibricky (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way Central) and senior Liz Owen (Freedom, Wis./Freedom) tabbed first-place results for the Crusaders, both in the 1,500m run.

How It Happened

• Zibricky captured first in the 1,500m run, finishing in 3:56.86. By crossing the line ahead of the pack, he helped Valpo secure 10 team points. Jack Mader nabbed five points for the squad in the race as well, coming in fourth (3:59.12).
• Earning the men’s next best results, sophomore Alexander Bruno (Bloomington, Ill./University) finished second in the 5,000m race (15:02.10) and freshman Ben Sekuloski (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) earned second in the 400m sprint (49.42). These outcomes scored the men eight points apiece to up the team’s total.
• Junior James Sampson collected two points in the 100m dash. He was part of the 4x100m relay that finished in sixth and received three points. The sprinter had help from senior Jeru Lollis (Springfield, Ohio/Springfield), senior Anthony Franze (Gunter, Texas/Gunter) and Sekuloski.
• For the throwers, sophomore Drew McKissick Jr. (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) tossed the javelin 172-3 to receive six points for Valpo. Freshman Jake Rasawehr (Celina, Ohio/Celina) hurled the discus 149-8 for an additional three points for the team.
• Owen hit the ribbon first in the women’s 1,500m race, running a 4:36.15 for 10 points. The veteran trimmed four seconds off her previous season top time.
• Freshman Nicole Berneche (Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West) ran the 5,000m event in 21:02.54, four seconds quicker than her previous best time in the race. This finish earned two points for the Brown and Gold.
• The young 4x400m relay of freshman Kayla Horne (Chicago, Ill./Williams Medical Prep), freshman Carly Bartholomew (Sugar Grove, Ill./Kaneland), freshman Shannon Lahey (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) and junior Allison Baylor (Hudson, Ohio/Hudson) secured two points for the squad.
• For the field events, freshman Anne Mou (Bloomingdale, Ill./Lake Park) led the women in the long and triple jump. In the triple jump event, the rookie leaped a 35-6.5, helping Valpo earn five points.

Next Up

The Crusaders travel south on Friday, April 21 for the Pacesetter Invitational, hosted by Indiana State University. The two-day event will begin at 3:30 p.m. CT on Friday at the Gibson Track & Field.