Saturday, December 10, 2005

Melanie Wilson (Saint Louis, Mo./Rosati-Kain H.S.) posted two top-ten finishes to lead Valparaiso athletes in action Saturday at the Earlybird Invitational, hosted by Illinois State.

Wilson notched a fourth-place finish in the triple jump, the highest finish of the day for any Crusader, jumping 37'5 ¾". She also took seventh in the 60 meter hurdles.

Amanda Body (Harlan, Ky./Harlan H.S.) also had an impressive day. Body finished just behind Wilson in the triple jump with an effort of 36'3", moving into second on Valpo's all-time chart. Body started the day by finishing 13th in the 60 meter dash; her time of 8.20 seconds ranks fourth-best in Crusader history.

Maggie Zellner (Downers Grove, Ill./Benet Academy) led Valpo in the middle sprints, coming home 13th in the 200 meters and 17th in the 400 meters, while Alicia Zinnecker (Cincinnati, Ohio/Indian Hill H.S.) paced three Crusaders in the long jump with an effort of 14'8 ½".

Valparaiso returns to action after the holidays, as they travel to the Windy City to take part in the Chicago Invitational January 21.