It was a busy weekend of activity for Valparaiso University track & field athletes, as the Beacons had representation in the Jesse Owens Classic, hosted by The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and the Gibson Invitational, hosted by Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind.

How It Happened – Jesse Owens Classic

• The top performance by a Beacon came courtesy of Simeon Ehm (Castle Rock, Colo. / Heritage), who stopped the clock in 3:52.06 in the 1500, placing fourth in a 41-runner field. He was joined in the front half of the pack by teammate Evan Walda (Fort Wayne, Ind. / South Side), who placed 17^th at 3:57.13.
• Ehm’s personal-best time of 3:52.06 was the third-fastest in that event in program history, behind only Nate Nunnelly (2001; 3:49.68) and Aaron Crauge (2003, 3:50.72).
• In the 800, Noah Meacham (Tulsa, Okla. / Broken Arrow) turned in an 18^th-place finish at 1:56.43. Ehm also set a PR in the 800 at 1:56.66.
• The team’s top finisher in the 3000 steeplechase was Sean Curran (Plainfield, Ill. / Plainfield North) at 9:58.30, placing sixth. He established a new PR.

How It Happened – Gibson Invitational

• The multi events were highlighted by the performance of AJ Walsh (Lombard, Ill. / IC Catholic Prep) in the decathlon, as he accrued 5,814 points to earn a team point for the Beacons with an eighth-place finish. His total ranks second in program history in that event, behind only the 1998 record of 6,225 by Jason Scott.
• The men received a strong performance in the javelin from Ethan Litavecz (Highland, Ind. / Highland), whose PR of 55.77 meters (182-11) ranked third in a 27-athlete field. His mark ranks fifth in program history (modern era), outdoing Dylan Antonides’ 2015 mark for a spot in the top five.
• Elsewhere in the men’s throws, Nate Smith (Lake Station, Ind. / Lake Station) placed 11^th of 37 in the shot put with a season best of 14.86m (48-9). Will Rinker (Valparaiso, Ind. / Chesterton) was 17^th of 35 in the hammer at 44.75m (146-10). In the discus, Rinker finished in the top half of the field at 42.65m (139-11).
• In the women’s throws, Tori Gerhardt (Westville, Ind. / Chesterton) led the team in the hammer, shot put and discus including a season-best toss of 11.74m (38-6.25) in the shot.
• In the distance, Vivian Rahmel (Springfield, Ill. / Sacred Heart-Griffin) finished 14^th of 43 with a PR of 18:14.77 in the 5000. On the men’s side, Andrew Kerlin (Chicago, Ill. / Marist) had a PR of 4:12.30 in the 1500.
• In the sprints, Tim Whitelaw (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) established a PR in the 100 at 10.79, placing 17^th of 49. Teammate Anthony Vassolo (Tinley Park, Ill. / Andrew) was also in the top half of the field in the 200 at 22.54.
• In the 110 hurdles, Chaise Magnuson posted a PR of 16.03 to lead the team.
• Click here for full results from the Gibson Invitational.

Up Next

The Beacons will take part in the GVSU Extra Weekend hosted by Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. on Saturday, April 27. That will mark the final tune-up prior to the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships.