Emilie Marsicek (Spalding, Mich./Carney-Nadeau) kicked off the outdoor season with a record-setting performance in the shot put as Valparaiso competed at the Mike Poehlein Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind. on Saturday.

Marsicek improved upon her own school record in the shot put, registering a mark of 43'10 ¾" on her final toss to surpass her previous best by less than an inch. The distance was good for seventh place among the 25 participants.

Ashley Billstrom (Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall), an NCAA Regional qualifier last year in the 3,000m steeplechase, picked up right where she left off last season by winning the event. The senior crossed the line in 11:18.28, winning by more than five seconds.

Amanda Body (Harlan, Ky./Harlan) started her outdoor campaign the right way, posting two top-five finishes on the day. The sophomore finished the 200m dash in 26.34, good for fifth place, and followed with a fourth-place effort in the triple jump, leaping 34'11 ¾".

Freshman Lakisha Lane (Topeka, Kan./Highland Park), competing in her first outdoor meet as a Crusader, moved onto Valpo's all-time top-five in two events Saturday. Lane completed the 200m dash in 26.42, the fifth-best time in Valpo history and good for a sixth-place finish. The freshman proceeded to record a time of 15.97 in the 100m hurdles, fourth-best all-time by a Crusader.

The Crusaders return to the track in two weeks time. Some team members will be competing at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. on April 13, while most of the squad will be in action at the Miami Invitational in Oxford, Ohio on April 14.