Valparaiso cross country head coach Mike Straubel announced today the Crusaders’ schedule for the upcoming 2013 season, featuring the season-opening Crusader Open.

The Crusader Open will be contested for the 25^th time in 2013, and for the 20^th straight year it will serve as Valpo’s season-opening meet.  Action at Sunset Hills Farm on Friday, Sept. 6 begins at 5 p.m. with the women’s race, set for five kilometers, while the men’s 6K will follow at 5:45 p.m.

Two weeks later, Valpo will head to the Big Apple, running in the Iona Meet of Champions in the Bronx on Sept. 21.  On Oct. 4, the Crusaders will head east on the toll road to run at the Notre Dame Invitational, while Valpo’s final tuneup comes on Oct. 18 as it travels to Peoria, Ill. to cover the course at the Bradley Classic.

With four races under their belts, the Crusaders will aim to be peaking for the 2013 Horizon League Championships, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 2 in Youngstown, Ohio.  The NCAA Great Lakes Regional is slated to be run Friday, Nov. 15 in Madison, Wis.