The Valparaiso University track & field programs began the 2025 Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships on Saturday, highlighted by a pair of Beacons scoring points in the men's javelin. Freshman Colin Maxwell (Jacksonville, Fla. / Wolfson) and junior Brian Sponaugle (Milton, De. / Cape Henlopen) tallied points for the Beacons in that event, while junior Micah Mullings (Minesing, Ontario, Canada / Barrie North) did so in the long jump.
 
How It Happened

• Maxwell obliterated his previous personal record with a javelin toss of 58.68 meters (192-6), placing fourth of 15 in that event. He garnered five points for the Beacons in the team score while inserting his name into the program record book, second all-time behind only Jeremy Getz's modern program record of 212-9 in 2015.
• Sponaugle was not far behind his teammate, placing sixth of 15 in the jav at 55.82m (182-2). He tacked on three points for the Brown & Gold, making it eight total in that event.
• No stranger to scoring points at the conference championships, Mullings added to his career resume with a sixth-place finish in the long jump, notching three points for the Beacons. He peaked at 7.05m (23-1.75).
• In the semifinal race of the men's 1500, sophomore Tim Jochum (Glen Ellyn, Ill. / Glenbard South) crossed the finish in 3:56.62, a personal record. He placed ninth of 22 in the semifinal, qualifying for the final in that event.
• On the women's side in the 1500, fifth-year senior Chante Dixon (Benoni, South Africa / Kempton Park [UTSA]) finished in 4:44.83 to place 13^th of 18 in the semifinal.
• Another Beacon who established a PR was junior Chaise Magnuson (LaPorte, Ind. / LaPorte) as his 110 hurdles time of 15.99 authored an individual best.
• In the women's 3000 steeplechase, freshman Kensington Black (Franklin, Ohio / Franklin Senior) bettered her PR with a time of 10:58.89, placing 11^th of 20. She still ranks third in program history in that event.
• Freshman Tyler Swartz (Warsaw, Ind. / Warsaw Community) competed in the men's 3000 steeplechase and finished in 9:48.33.
• The Valpo men finished Day 1 tied for sixth of 10 in team scoring, ahead of Bradley, Evansville and UIC and even with the host Salukis.

Up Next
The MVC Outdoor Championships will continue on Sunday in Carbondale. Events begin at 9:30 a.m. with a link to live results available on ValpoAthletics.com, and live coverage on ESPN+ will begin at 1:10 p.m.