Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Valparaiso men's track and field team posted four top-ten finishes on Saturday, including two by freshmen, as they competed at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich., hosted by the University of Michigan.

For the third time in as many meets this season, senior Jarrett Mickens (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley) took top honors in the triple jump.  Mickens, twice already the Horizon League Field Athlete of the Week this year, registered a leap of 46'10 1/4” to take the event victory Saturday, out-jumping his nearest counterpart by three inches.  Senior Steve Schubert (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) tied for sixth in the triple jump as well with a mark of 43'7 3/4”.

Another top-ten placement in the jumps came courtesy of freshman Julian Smith (Chicago, Ill./Brother Rice).  Smith, who has already cracked the Crusaders' all-time charts in a pair of sprints, showcased his versatility competing in the long jump Saturday, leaping 21'0 3/4” in his first collegiate crack at the event.  Smith's distance was good for a tie for fourth place.  The rookie also placed 13th on the track in the 60m dash, completing the qualifying heat in 7.09 seconds before running a time of 7.13 seconds in the event final.

Another freshman registered a top-ten finish on the track Saturday for the Crusaders.  Rookie Logan Coan bettered his previous best time in the 400m dash by nearly a second, finishing the race in 51.68 seconds, good for a tenth-place showing.

Valparaiso returns to action next weekend at the Tadd Metzger Invitational in Kenosha, Wis.  Action from Carthage College begins at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28.