The Valparaiso women's track and field team started competition at the 2011 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday evening, as a trio of Crusaders competed on the first of three days of action in Indianapolis, Ind.

Freshman Erica Funk (Blue Mound, Ill./Meridian) led the way on Friday for the Crusaders, cracking Valpo's all-time top-five with a seventh-place finish in the discus throw.  Funk registered a toss of 130'4” for her seventh-place finish, the fourth-best effort in the event all-time in Crusader history.

Fellow rookie Sarah Drozdowski (Roselle, Ill./Lake Park) also competed in the discus throw on Friday, finishing in 13th place with an effort of 113'5”.  On the track, sophomore Haley Kerlin (Rensselaer, Ind./Rensselaer) represented Valpo in the 10,000m run, crossing the line in 15th place with a time of 41:33.45.

Valparaiso was one of three programs not to register a point on the first day of competition, while Youngstown State currently leads the team standings with 20 points.  Action resumes Saturday morning at 8 a.m. CDT.