For the second straight year, Laura Rolf (Rochester, Mich./Lutheran Northwest) took top honors at Valparaiso’s annual Crusader Open, contested Friday afternoon at Sunset Hills Farm.

Rolf dominated the field of 80 runners, crossing the line in 17:51, over a minute ahead of her nearest rival.  The closest rival was her teammate, Rachael Button (Farmington Hills, Mich./Farmington), who completed the course in 18:59, giving Valpo a sweep of the top two spots for the second year in a row.

Alyssa Bradford (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) was the next-best Crusader finisher, coming home 35^th with a time of 21:52.  Rachel Howell (Dexter, Mich./Dexter) placed 41^st in 22:24, while Lauren McLaughlin (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View) rounded out Valpo’s top-five, crossing the line in 23:01, good for a 46^th-place finish.

Valpo registered 125 points, good for fourth place out of the eight teams competing.  Notre Dame took the team title with 38 points.  The Brown and Gold defeated three of the four Horizon League foes entered in the race, beating Wright State, Green Bay and Cleveland State while losing only to Milwaukee.

Valparaiso splits its squad next weekend for two different meets.  Some Crusaders will run at the Boston College Open, while others will run at the Indiana Intercollegiates in West Lafayette, Ind. Both races will be contested over five kilometers on Friday, Sept. 14.