The Valparaiso cross country teams competed in the Horizon League Championships this Saturday at Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wis.

The women had two top-five finishers in senior Jessica Richardson (Columbus, Ind./North) and sophomore Liz Bloy (Freedom, Wis./Freedom), who finished third and fifth, respectively. Richardson capped an incredible regular season with a 21:32 in the 6K, while Bloy ran a career-best 21:57. Bloy’s time put her at number three in Valpo history. Both earned First-Team All-League honors, it is Richardson’s third time earning all-league and Bloy’s first time.

Junior Dezzarae Arce (Orland Park, Ill./Victor J. Andrew) ran a 23:13 to finish in 32^nd place, just outside the top-ten in Valpo history. Juniors Michelle Espino (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northside) and Hannah Schilling (Fraser, Mich./Lutheran North) rounded out the Crusaders with 48^th (23:57) and 54^th (24:07) place finishes.

The women finished in sixth place as a team with 134 points.

On the men’s side, senior David Rutkowski (Cedarburg, Wis./Living Word Lutheran) led the way with a 26:05 to finish in 28^th place. Classmate Michael Salguero (Ebensburg, Pa./Central Cambria) ran a 26:36 to finish in 41^st place.

Sophomores Adam Bruno (Bloomington, Ill./Normal) and Max Morello (Plano, Ill./Plano) finished just behind Salguero in 49^th and 50^th. They ran identical 26:57’s. Sophomore Jesse Greenhagen (Waverly, Minn./Mayer Lutheran) rounded out the Crusaders scoring with a 27:07 to finish in 53^rd place.

The men would also finish in sixth place with 192 points.

Valpo’s last meet of the year is on Nov. 14 when they return to Wisconsin to race in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Madison. Race time is set for 10:00 am CT for the women and 10:45 am CT for the men.